"The Glory Of The Atonement"

Every once in a while I post two articles in one day. It usually stems from having much on my mind. I have been blessed to have been asked to contribute to this blog. Not only do I get to preach the Word of God to the flock of God but now I also get to share other thoughts that are on my mind. Those that are in the ministry and herald the Gospel of Christ know what I am talking about. It's like "fire in your bones." Once it's there you have to get it out. The atonement has been something that I love to dwell on and preach.

It irks some to focus so much time and energy on the Gospel. Many want to "move on" while others think that it "reduces" the Gospel to focus on the atonement of Christ. The fear is that doctrine and theology only lead to mere intellectualism. That God is not concerned about those "that have the right beliefs about Him." Yet it is the glory of God ,in the Gospel of Christ, that is my foundation for my daily walk in the faith. Knowing that I went form being at war with Him to having a place in His household, as His son, because of the work of Christ in both his law keeping life and substitutionary death and resurrection is my only hope and comfort. It is what brings me consolation when I sin (on a daily basis) against Him. It is the only hope of the Christless sinner. What other message can I give to the person under the condemnation of God? Nothing of eternal value. Nothing that will deliver them from His great wrath. Nothing that will deliver them their slavery to sin. Nothing that will bring them joy and life.

Only the atonement of Christ can save. If not for the Gospel of Christ we would all perish. Therefore: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Ro 1:16–17) 


"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Ga 6:14)


Some further thoughts from godly men that taught the atonement of Christ and whose lives reflected their sound theology:

Reading the Scriptures and gaining insight through a dialogue with history still does not address application to the individual Christian life. Apprehending the truth is not always the same thing as internalizing it. To fail to internalize the atonement in one's own life, both behind and in front of the Sunday morning pulpit is to fail at a crucial point. If the atonement is rightly understood, it must have a practical and personal significance. Moreover, the atonement belongs in the evangelical pulpit, and if it is as valuable as we think it is, it must be preached in the church. We fundamentally agree that of the gospel. He would echo the words of Stephen Neill, who stated: "The death of Christ is the central point in history. i4 The doctrine of the atonement is like a pebble dropped into a theological pond-it makes ripples throughout the entire system. Historically, systematic theology has tended to understand the atonement as part of the priestly work of Christ. As our priest, Christ is our representative with God, and his special responsibility is to act on behalf of the people of God to bring them near to God. The atoning work of the great high priest is viewed from various angles in the New Testament. It may be viewed in terms of Christ's sacrifice-that he paid the penalty of death for us; or his propitiation-that he removed the wrath of God from us; or his reconciliation-that he overcame our separation from God; or his redemption-that he redeemed us from our bondage to sin. But the atonement also must be connected with its implications for soteriology. In the words of Leon Morris, "The crucifixion is rightly understood only when it is seen as God's great saving act.i5 Thus, in the panoramic view of the priestly work of Christ, not only is redemption accomplished for the people of God, but it also provides the only foundation for the application of redemption in terms of calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification and glorification.* 

1. Conscience demands a satisfaction or atonement. To this necessity on the side of conscience there are various allusions by our Lord, and all of them full of significance. Thus, when He invites the weary and heavy laden, He plainly alludes to the state of an awakened conscience desiring a satisfaction or atonement which the individual is not able to offer (Matt. 11:28). The thirsty invited to come and drink are those who are in a similar condition (John 7:37). They who are described in the Sermon on the Mount as hungering and thirsting after righteousness are obviously those who feel the oppression of conscious guilt, and who pant for that immaculate “righteousness,” or atonement which alone can fill and satisfy the wants of human nature (Matt. 5:6). Our Lord’s words assume that such is the harmony between the voice of conscience and the claims of God, or, in other words, between man made in the image of God and the rights of Him whose image he bears, that nothing will satisfy conscience that does not satisfy the perfections and law of God. As God’s representative within, it is taken for granted that conscience will acquit only when God acquits, and possess peace only when God has spoken peace through the finished redemption. There is an inner or subjective necessity which must come to its rights. Thus conscience acknowledges that wherever sin is punishment ought to be suffered. We see in the old economy the intense longing of the heart after sacrifices, and a conviction of their insufficiency in the ceremonial law. Till the waters of reparation and punishment quench it, guilt burns in the human heart, nay, it would continue to burn in the human heart for ever if there were no sufficient atonement; so that they who would have pardon merely by God’s retreating from the demand of satisfaction would be followed, even if they had their wish, by the inward pursuer wherever they went. And as their holiness grew, they would still be haunted by a keener sense of guilt, remembering that they were the same person still, and that no reparation had been made. They would be disturbed by self-accusations, by shame, and a gnawing conscience, till they would long to have the faculty of memory destroyed. We read that they who went to heaven before the finished redemption rejoiced when Christ’s day came (John 8:56), and that in some sense, and doubtless in this subjective sense, they were made perfect by sharing with us in that which we enjoy (Heb. 11:40). Thus it appears from all history and experience, that conscience is so sensitive, that it will reject everything which may be offered to calm or heal it, till it finds repose and peace in the vicarious death of Christ; and no atonement will avail which is not infinite. Man discovered to himself, and aware of his wants, will fall into despair, if the growing sense of guilt is not stilled by the great redemption of the cross. It is true that mere conscience cannot of itself tell what is an adequate atonement; that it is but a dumb sense of want; and that it often tries false remedies and vain reliefs. The man is a prisoner under guilt, and knows it. God alone knows and provides the adequate atonement; and the unburdened conscience attests that it is adequate when it is found. But no one can persuade conscience that an atonement is unnecessary.*

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Ti 1:8–10).


Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*Charles E. Hill;Frank A. James III. The Glory of the Atonement: Biblical, Theological & Practical Perspectives (p.17- 18). Kindle Edition.

 *Smeaton, G. (2009). The doctrine of the atonement, As taught by Christ Himself (Second Edition) (26–27). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.