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).

2. Unscriptual views of Christ's death

To some minds the death of Christ was just the death of a martyr.  To others Christ’s death was an exhibition to a sinful world of God’s great love.  To others He was an “Example” only.  Still others see it in the light of the fact that God being holy, deemed it necessary to show to the world His hatred for sin, and so His wrath fell on the Christ of Calvary.

Modern thought fails to see the necessity of Jesus dying.  Stephen died a martyr, Saul of Tarsus watched him die, but (Paul) did not preach forgiveness of sins through Stephen’s death (Acts 13:38).

Light and erroneous views of the atonement come from light and erroneous views of sin. If we regard sin merely as an offense against man a weakness of the human nature or a mere disease, we shall not of course see the need for atonement.  We must see sin as it is revealed thru the Bible, which depicts it in its exceeding sinfulness, which must be punished and guilt, which needs expiation then and only then will we understand the reason for the cross of Christ.

3. Effects of Christ's death on the universe

Just as the entire world was affected by the fall of man, even so does the death of Christ have an effect on the entire universe (Romans 8:19-23).

Jesus Christ is the center of the universe, which revolves around Him and has now been reconciled by His death.

Colossians 1:20 “And having made peace by the blood of his cross by Him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him I say;
whether they be things in earth or in heaven.“

The propitiation reaches to the farthest bounds of the universe and as far as sin goes. In other words the remedy is as great as the need.  Through the death of Christ Satan’s power has been neutralized (to be made of none effect). The lifting up of Christ on the cross meant casting down of Satan.  Man need no longer be a slave to sin.  

Calvary brings to the needy a remission of the past present and future sins.  Now it is not so much a question of what shall I do with my sins?  But rather what shall I do with Jesus, which is called Christ?

Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of
the way nailing it to the cross.”

References:

• John 12:31-32
• Romans 3:25-26
• Hebrews 9:26