THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST
Who is Jesus Christ? The name Jesus or Jesus Christ has name recognition. In the world scene many hear His name most often being used in profanity. Most of those hearing the name Jesus or Jesus Christ have no real understanding who He is. Many today will say as the religious leaders in the Old Testament said that he was a great prophet, a great teacher, or healer.
Do you know that many “Christians” do not know or believe that Jesus Christ is God? All you have to do is ask: do you believe Jesus is God? Many people believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Correctly speaking they should be addressed as: God the Father, Jesus is God the Son, and Holy Spirit is God the Spirit. They are the three in one. Jesus is God the Son.
I realize that the mystery of the triune of God is difficult to understand yet it is one of the doctrines revealed in Scripture. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Genesis 1:1 says that “God created the heavens and the earth.” Then, Colossians 1:16 gives the added detail that God created “all things” through Jesus Christ. The plain teaching of Scripture, therefore, is that Jesus is the Creator of the universe. Continue on by reading John 1:1 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Word when capitalized refers to Jesus. There are three important things in this passage about Jesus and the Father: 1) Jesus was “in the beginning”—He was present at creation. Jesus had existed eternally with God. 2) Jesus is distinct from the Father—He was “with” God. 3) Jesus is the same as God in nature—He “was God.” One additional point is that the Holy Spirit was present at the creation.
My second question is: what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Many have heard that “Christ died for their sins” but they have no idea what it really means. The Apostle Paul writes in: 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 (KJV) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This is the basic of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul also wrote in Romans 1:16, “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.”
It is important to know that it is through the Gospel that God works to take people from death to life. A person who does not believe he is a sinner will see no need for a Savior. Romans 3:23 says that there is none righteous, no not one. Romans 3:23 says we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Everyone has transgressed the laws of God in thought, words, and deeds more times than you can ever imagine. Where most people fall short is when they put other gods before God as stated in the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3. This can include family, job, possessions, fun, and the list goes on. The Gospel is the truth that we are all sinners before God and under the sentence of eternal death or separation from God and all the good things He offers.
Another part of the Gospel is God’s love. Again, most people cannot comprehend God’s love for us. One reason is they don’t understand that there are four types of love found in the Bible; Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape. The one attached to God is Agape love. Agape love is a sacrificial love. Most of us live with the other three because it is difficult for us to be sacrificial. It goes against our selfish nature.
My third question is: what is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? The Atonement is the heart of the Gospel. This is where you can see and understand the great love that God has for us. God the Son became a man, lived a perfect life, allowed himself to be arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified. Crucifixion was one of the cruelest form of punishment ever performed on a person. I would recommend that everyone read how much suffering takes place when a person is crucified. Maybe, just maybe it might tell you how much God loves you. Before Jesus was placed on the cross he was beaten beyond words and recognition.
The love of God continues as Jesus is hung on the cross. God the Father takes all the sins we have committed and will commit and put them on Jesus, Jesus became our substitute for our sins. Jesus bore the wrath of God for the sins we commit. Jesus suffered the punishment and death we deserve. On top of all this, God turns His back on Jesus as Jesus cried out: “My God, My God why has thou forsaken me” as seen in Matthew 17:46. Why? Because Jesus took our sins upon Him. God hates sin.
After hours of suffering, Jesus finally said “it is finished” and died on the cross. He died bearing our sins. He overcame the enemies of sin and death. Jesus was buried and on third day He came back from the dead, never to die again. Again, God shows us how much He loves us by giving us eternal life after our physical death.
Atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin in general and original sin in particular through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, enabling the reconciliation between God and his creation.
Finally I ask, is the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary important in the atonement? After God delivered Israel out of Egypt the whole sacrificial ceremony was established by God. According to Leviticus 17:11 God says of the blood: ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’ Let’s look at additional Scripture.
Matthew 26:28 (KJV) for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:12 (KJV) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission.
2 Corinthians 5:15 (KJV and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
When was the last time you heard a sermon on the blood, the atonement or the gospel. The whole idea of the blood sacrifice of Jesus, His atonement, and the Gospel has been disappearing in last couple of generations among the Christian churches. About the only time you hear of the blood is when we partake of communion. It appears that the modern church attempts to deal with the guilt of sin through counseling or some other type of program. For the most part if we are honest, the sting of sin remains in our conscience. The Bible still makes it clear that only blood can take away the guilt of sin.
That old hymn of Robert Lowry sums it up so well: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
The sacrifice Jesus Christ made in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary to help us overcome sin and death is the Atonement. He paid the price for our sins. This is the most important event in the history of mankind.
If you would like to draw closer to God, you must deny self-according to Jesus in Matthew 16:24 (KJV) then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
I believe that this can be accomplished by following Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Here are some suggestions that may help:
To renew your mind you need to ask God for help as this is a gift that He gives to those that ask.
Ask God for forgiveness of your sins and then forgive yourself.
You need to realize that there is no limit to forgiveness.
Change your lifestyle and the environment you live in.
Understand what Jesus did for you because of the sins you did and do.
Realize that you are the only one that can change yourself by putting on the armor of God as found in Ephesians 6:10-18
Have faith and believe that God loves you and he will help you. This can be a test as the devil will try to hinder you. Stay strong in Jesus.
What does Jesus Christ, the Gospel, and the Atonement mean to you? Can you understand how much God loves you and so do I?