Tag Archives: life
The Doctrine of Salvation – Part 12
IX. Atonement
A. Atonement means “restoration” or “divine favor.”
B. A Laymen’s Definition of Atonement: “At-one-ment” or “At-one-with-God.”
We are made “at-one” with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:11 “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
Note: Leviticus is the bloodiest book in the Bible. Blood is mentioned 84 times. Seventy-one times it is referring to a sacrifice to be made for sins. But the word “atonement” also appears in Leviticus more than any other book in the Bible (49 times). Thus, there is a parallel between the blood of Christ and the doctrine of atonement.
“Atonement” is found almost exclusively in three books: Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It is only found once in the New Testament – Romans 5:11 above.
A further definition of atonement is “to appease, to ally resentment, to expiate, to placate, to cancel the obligation to punish the crime.”
Illustration: A just judge must condemn the guilty or let the innocent go free. He would not be just if he did not. God is just – Isaiah 45:21 “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”
Seeing it is against the nature of God to be unjust, He must punish all, for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). He is obligated to punish, thus there must be a place to punish the guilty.
Jesus was punished for us, and — through the shedding of His perfect blood — made atonement for us, thus canceling the Judge’s obligation to punish us for our crimes. That is atonement. God is no longer obligated to punish the believing sinner. Jesus satisfied that obligation for us. When lost sinners reject Jesus and His atonement, they deserve the just punishment.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Jesus Cares for Widows
Ronald Rae Widow Woman 1992. Ragley Hall (Photo credit: amandabhslater)
“Jesus raises a widow‘s son from the dead”
Luke 7:11-17 “11. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him,and much people. 12. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about.”
As we see in the passage, there was “much people” with this widow, making much ado, grieving the death of her son. Though it is human to grieve for those who pass, I should think it would have been more of a solace to the widow if someone had stepped up and offered to take her in or give her aid. Instead, the crowd of mourners would go home, having accomplished their all-important ritual, and she would be left destitute and alone.
Back in those days there was no such thing as Medicare or Social Security. Women, especially elderly, were dependent upon their husbands and their sons to take care of them. Not only did Jesus care that this woman was in pain over her loss, I believe that He felt her pain. He also knew that her situation was dire, and that it required drastic measures. She had lost her husband, and now her last avenue of support through her only son. She was most probably past the age of childbearing and would never marry again. I would guess that the widow found Jesus’ words, “Weep not,” much more consoling than the raucous commotion that the crowd was causing. He knew that He was her only hope, and “he had compassion” on her and immediately brought her son back to life.
The Jews had many traditions they were bound to and their display at funerals was an important one to them. The family of the dead person followed the body as it made its way through town. There were hired mourners who cried out drawing bystanders to the procession as well. The family then continued their mourning for 30 days. One thing the scribes and pharisees hated about Jesus’ ministry was that he chastised them for their many traditions and laws that were too hard on the people. Instead of seeking to know God and have a relationship with Him, they made stringent rules that only burdened the people. Jesus taught that those rules and traditions will not secure our home in eternity. He is the only Way.
Jesus also never missed an opportunity to glorify His heavenly Father. He used this event to illustrate salvation to a world that is lost in sin, just as the widow’s son was dead. We, like the dead, can do nothing to help ourselves. But God had compassion on us, while we were yet sinners, and sent His only Son to raise us to newness of life in Him. As the woman’s son could not earn a second chance at life, so we cannot earn our new life in Christ. We can, however, accept God’s gift of eternal life, praise Him for it, and live our lives to do His will.
Related articles
- Blessed Are Those Who Mourn (jackblackburndotorg.wordpress.com)
