Further notes on the atonement

1. Importance of the atonement

The incarnation was for the purpose of the atonement.  Jesus partook of flesh and blood in order that He might die.  He was manifested to take away our sins (1 John 3:5; Hebrews 2:14). Christ came into the world to give His life a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).  The faith of the atonement presupposes the faith of the incarnation.  

The incarnation is certainly a declaration of the purpose on the part of Jesus to save the world, but how was the world to be saved if not through the atonement?  

The atonement is the scarlet cord running through every page in the entire Bible.  Cut the Bible anywhere and it bleeds.  One out of every forty-four verses in the New Testament speaks of the atonement and the death of Christ is mentioned one hundred and seventy-five times.

Moses and Elijah were interested in the death of Christ (Luke 9:30-31).  The Old Testament prophets searched deeply into this great subject (1 Peter 1:11).  The theme of the song in heaven is that of Christ’s death (Rev 5:8-12).