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Lesson # 61: ATONEMENT

The apostle Paul declared that he was determined to know nothing save Christ and Him crucified. This was the apostles way of emphasizing the extreme importance of the Cross of Christianity. The doctrine of the Atonement is central to all Christian theology. uther called Christianity a theology of the Cross. The figure of a cross is the universal sym!ol of Christianity. The concept of atonement reaches !ack to the "ld Testament where #od set up a system !y which the people of $srael could make atonement for their sins. To atone is to make amends% to set things right. &oth the "ld and 'ew Testaments make it clear that all human !eings are sinners. As our sins are against an infinite% holy #od who cannot even look upon sin% atonement must !e made in order for us to have fellowship with #od. &ecause sin touches even our !est acts% we are incapa!le of making a sufficient sacrifice. (ven our sacrifices are tainted and would re)uire a further sacrifice to cover that !lemish% ad infinitum. *e have no gift valua!le enough% no work righteous enough to atone for our own sins. *e are de!tors who cannot pay their de!ts. $n receiving the wrath of the +ather on the cross% Christ was a!le to make atonement for His people. Christ carried% or !ore% the punishment for the sins of human !eings. He atoned for them !y accepting the ,ust punishment due for those sins. The "ld Testament covenant pronounced a curse upon any person who !roke the law of #od. "n the cross% -esus not only took that curse upon Himself% !ut He !ecame .a curse for us/ 0#al. 12314. He was forsaken !y the +ather and experience the full measure of hell on the cross. "rthodox Christianity has insisted that the Atonement involves substitution and satisfaction. $n taking #ods curse upon Himself% -esus satisfied the demands of #ods holy ,ustice. He received #ods wrath for us% saving us from the wrath that is to come 0$ Thessalonians 32354. A key phrase in the &i!le regarding the Atonement is the phrase% .in !ehalf of./ -esus did not die for Himself% !ut for us. His suffering was vicarious6 He was our su!stitute. He took our place in fulfilling the role of the am! of #od who takes away the sin of the world. *hile +athers wrath is real% it should !e noted that the atonement Christ made was not a case of the 7on working against the +athers will. $t is not as if Christ were snatching His people out of the +athers hand. The 7on did not persuade the +ather to save those whom the +ather loathe to save. "n the contrary% !oth +ather and 7on willed the salvation of the elect and worked together to !ring it to pass. As the Apostle Paul wrote% .#od was in Christ% reconciling the world to Himself/ 08 Corinthians 923:4.

7ummary2 3. Atonement involves a payment to make amends for a de!t. 8. Human !eings cannot atone for their own sins. 1. -esus perfection )ualified Him to make atonement. ;. Christ fulfilled the curse of the "ld Covenant.

9. Christs atonement was !oth a work of su!stitution and satisfaction. <. The +ather and 7on worked in harmony to effect our reconciliation.

&i!lical passages for reflection2 =omans 1283>8?6 923@>3: (phesians 32@6 Philippians 12?>: Titus 123>@

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