The last post was a TRACT that can be used for witnessing, so now we are back to regular lessions for those who are keeping up with the Bible College Course in Theology
LESSON 15 – CHRIST'S SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH
Ephesians 2:1-10
Leviticus 16:20-22
John 3:16-211 Unlimited Atonement
The Cross and Satan
Crucified with Christ
SALVATION
Salvation is the greatest theme in the Bible and centers on the Lord Jesus Christ. It involves bringing people from condemnation to justification, death to eternal life and from being an enemy to being a friend. This is an extremely important area to get right; as it is here that the cults attempt to attack the Christian faith.
Ephesians 2:1-9 - "but God" in verse 4 is a great contrast to where we were in the fact that we were spiritually dead. By the grace of the Lord; he found us while we were spiritually dead and brought us to newness of life. His purpose was to lift us up to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus v 6 that we should walk in him.
WHY DID HE DO IT?
[a] To show His love - John 3:16, Romans 5:8
[b] To show his grace in eternity Ephesians 2:7,
[c] That we should represent God on earth - Ephesians 2:10
When God found us we were a dead branch on a dead tree, the tree of sin but God found us and brought us new life. Salvation is in three tenses, past - in the past we were saved, at present we are being saved from sin and evil some of which we are oblivious to and in the future we are saved forever and will be delivered from this body of death.
WE ARE SAVED FROM
[a] The condemnation of sin Ephesians 2:8, Titus 3:5,
[b] Dominion of sin in the Christian life Hebrews 7:25,
[c] The presence of sin in heaven Romans 5:9-10
ATONEMENT
The Day of Atonement is the holiest day in Israel - Yom Kippur - it is the day of the substitution or atonement which speaks of the day when the Lord became our substitute on the Cross. 1 John 2:2. The atonement has its roots very deep in Old Testament ritual. Leviticus 16: 20-22 - he becomes the scape-goat, the person who is blamed even though he is not guilty and takes the consequence of the sins.
The procedure was that the hands are placed on the head indicating transference or delegation. Here the sinner is transferring symbolically his sins to the animal. In this specific case Aaron is placing the sins of the whole people on the goat and that goat is sent out into the wilderness to be set apart to die in the wilderness. The guilty parties should die for their own sins but they have a substitute.
The Lord Jesus Christ was not only a substitute but also a perfect substitute. He was an efficacious substitute which means that what He did worked perfectly. The Lord's sacrifice was perfect and solved sin for all men.
To atone is to completely blot out the consequences.
The substitutionary sacrifice - did he die for the sins of all mankind or only for the elect? This is the difference between the evangelical and the hard Calvinist. This is an area of conflict between conservative Christians.
The death of Christ represents on His part as an act of obedience to the law which the sinners have broken as, a propitiatory sacrifice, satisfying God's righteous demands on the sinner. It is important that the people understand in depth the death of Christ on the Cross. You should teach them the large words but give an explanation for each.
The death of Christ removed all moral hindrances to the mind of God to the saving of sinners seeing that the penalty of sin has been paid through the blood of Christ. God has been propitiated and man has been reconciled, the barrier is down.
LIBERAL FALLACIES INVOLVING THE DEATH OF CHRIST
[a] The substitutionary death is immoral and God could not be righteous and still lay the sins of a guilty person on an innocent one. From the Old Testament however we see that God has constantly done this and that it is a means of teaching grace. God's love is pure and He has concern and cares for you.
[b] That Christ died as a martyr but it was not efficacious so that it did not solve sin but it is a good example of how man can die. He died as an example to us.
[c] Another fallacy is that he died to reject evil even if it costs your life. This is what a lot of the theological institutions teach. When they talk about the importance of the cross this is what they mean.
[d] The liberals do not believe in the physical resurrection. What they believe is that there is a spiritual presence in our life if we believe what he believed and that He died as an example rather than a sacrifice. They use familiar language but they do not mean what we do. It is therefore critical to discern what is going on so that you can smell the wolf in sheep's clothing.
The word Vicar is the Latin for substitute from which we get the word vicarious. The Lord Jesus Christ is a true vicar as he stands between God and man.
BEFORE AND AFTER THE CROSS
The cross is the watershed in history; it divides history into two areas. The payment in full of sin is shown by the release of those in Paradise to heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prior to the Cross it was quite appropriate to pray as the tax collector did, “God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13.
Prior to the Cross there was no completed provision made under the law for sin so this person could not rely on a finished sacrifice to the sin, as this only occurred at the Cross. Since the cross there has been no need to ask God to be satisfied. He is satisfied eternally by the death of Christ. WE have received the Saviour who received the wrath of God.
The Cross shows that God has been merciful to us. Mercy is no longer needed because grace has already been provided. You can now bow before Him and thank Him for the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin. The door has been opened as the book of Hebrews says through the veil which is His flesh. You need to be precise in what you are preaching. You are post Cross and not in the Old Testament. This puts us in a different position to the Old Testament and this is focused on by the epistles and letters.
What was prayed for prior to the cross does not need to be prayed for after the cross because it has been done. You name your sin to the Lord rather than begging for forgiveness. Our guide is 1 John 1:9. We have to be obedient and name our sin and recognize that it is an affront to the righteousness of God. Many of the prayers that are offered today are an affront to God as it is not in conformity with His Word.
DOCTRINES
ATONEMENT: UNLIMITED ATONEMENT
1. Definition:
a) The totally effective work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty of sin on behalf of mankind.
b) Atonement as a noun means reconciliation after enmity and includes reparation made for wrong or injury.
c) The verb has several related meanings such as to be at one, to be in accordance, to make reparation or amends, to make up for errors or deficiencies, to reconcile.
d) In the Old Testament, the true meaning of atonement is related to the Hebrew verb "to pass over, to cover" - it is also the word for 'pitch' used to seal Noah's Ark.
2. In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were used to cover sin.
a) God forgave and restored where sin was covered by the blood of animal sacrifices.
b) However, the true basis for atonement was not found in these animal sacrifices. This is why the sacrifices needed to be repeated time and time again.
c) Animal sacrifices were used as a cover for sin until the true sacrifice, Jesus Christ, could be offered on the cross.
d) Atonement in the Old Testament refers to the use of animal sacrifices to picture the saving work of Christ.
e) The two concepts of atonement (Old and New Testament) are brought together in Romans 3:23-26)
3. Atonement is unlimited
a) When Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for sins he paid for the sins of the entire human race, not just the elect. (Romans 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Timothy 2:6, 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:2)
b) "Limited Atonement", the concept that Christ died for believers only is incorrect.
4. Unlimited Atonement eliminates sin in the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgment.
a) When Christ died on the cross, He was judged for all sins of the human race.
b) Therefore the issue in salvation is not sin, but faith in Christ. People choose either to accept the work of Christ (John 3:18, 36), or their own "good" works to gain the approval of God.
c) Therefore, human ‘goodness’ will be the basis of the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:12)
THE CROSS AND SATAN
1. With His death on the Cross Christ dealt with sin as a whole. (Colossians 1:15-22, 1 John 2:2)
2. With the removal of the sin barrier Satan's power was negated. (John 12:31, 16:11, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 2:14,)
3. Judgment upon Satan has been pronounced but the sentence has not been executed, he is still prince of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2)
4. He is still the deceiver and liar who seeks to ensnare foolish believers (1 Peter 5:8-9)
5. The cross is God's grace provision for the salvation of all who will believe in the Lord. Satan's attack is the philosophy of works, promoting the idea that man can do without the need of a Saviour. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
6. Satan's judgment has been progressively revealed:
a) In the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:15)
b) At the Cross. (John 12:31)
c) In the Tribulation. (Revelation 12:7-12)
d) At the Second Advent. (Revelation 20:1-3)
e) At the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:10)
7. Satan's rebellion centers on two sins, pride and lying. (Isaiah 14:12-24, Ezekiel 28:17, John 8:44)
8. God's plan calls for sin to be removed and with it Satan's power. The victory on the Cross will lead to the glory of God and the proclamation throughout all eternity of the perfect justice of God. (1 John 3:8)
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
1. SCRIPTURE (Galatians 2:20) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me"
2. Evaluation or Literal Translation
a) "I am crucified with Christ". I have been crucified with Christ in the past with a result that I keep on being crucified with Christ forever identification with Christ in His death). Passive voice - I have received this crucifixion (this occurs at the point of salvation). We are dead to the law after crucifixion with Christ because Christ fulfilled the law. (Matthew. 5:17). We are over-comers (1 John 5:4, 5)
b) "yet not I" - I no longer live - my old life of sin and self has died
c) "But Christ lives in me" - Christ keeps on living in me. (Galatians. 4:19). Christ lives in us for fellowship as well - (Revelation. 3:20, John 14:20, 2 Corinthians. 13:5, Romans. 8:10, Colossians. 1:27)
d) "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith (or power) of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."
3. The only way to fulfil the law is through the character of Christ formed in the believer through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2-4). In our own strength we are unable to keep the law because we have a sinful nature.
LESSON 15 – CHRIST'S SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH
Ephesians 2:1-10
Leviticus 16:20-22
John 3:16-211 Unlimited Atonement
The Cross and Satan
Crucified with Christ
SALVATION
Salvation is the greatest theme in the Bible and centers on the Lord Jesus Christ. It involves bringing people from condemnation to justification, death to eternal life and from being an enemy to being a friend. This is an extremely important area to get right; as it is here that the cults attempt to attack the Christian faith.
Ephesians 2:1-9 - "but God" in verse 4 is a great contrast to where we were in the fact that we were spiritually dead. By the grace of the Lord; he found us while we were spiritually dead and brought us to newness of life. His purpose was to lift us up to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus v 6 that we should walk in him.
WHY DID HE DO IT?
[a] To show His love - John 3:16, Romans 5:8
[b] To show his grace in eternity Ephesians 2:7,
[c] That we should represent God on earth - Ephesians 2:10
When God found us we were a dead branch on a dead tree, the tree of sin but God found us and brought us new life. Salvation is in three tenses, past - in the past we were saved, at present we are being saved from sin and evil some of which we are oblivious to and in the future we are saved forever and will be delivered from this body of death.
WE ARE SAVED FROM
[a] The condemnation of sin Ephesians 2:8, Titus 3:5,
[b] Dominion of sin in the Christian life Hebrews 7:25,
[c] The presence of sin in heaven Romans 5:9-10
ATONEMENT
The Day of Atonement is the holiest day in Israel - Yom Kippur - it is the day of the substitution or atonement which speaks of the day when the Lord became our substitute on the Cross. 1 John 2:2. The atonement has its roots very deep in Old Testament ritual. Leviticus 16: 20-22 - he becomes the scape-goat, the person who is blamed even though he is not guilty and takes the consequence of the sins.
The procedure was that the hands are placed on the head indicating transference or delegation. Here the sinner is transferring symbolically his sins to the animal. In this specific case Aaron is placing the sins of the whole people on the goat and that goat is sent out into the wilderness to be set apart to die in the wilderness. The guilty parties should die for their own sins but they have a substitute.
The Lord Jesus Christ was not only a substitute but also a perfect substitute. He was an efficacious substitute which means that what He did worked perfectly. The Lord's sacrifice was perfect and solved sin for all men.
To atone is to completely blot out the consequences.
The substitutionary sacrifice - did he die for the sins of all mankind or only for the elect? This is the difference between the evangelical and the hard Calvinist. This is an area of conflict between conservative Christians.
The death of Christ represents on His part as an act of obedience to the law which the sinners have broken as, a propitiatory sacrifice, satisfying God's righteous demands on the sinner. It is important that the people understand in depth the death of Christ on the Cross. You should teach them the large words but give an explanation for each.
The death of Christ removed all moral hindrances to the mind of God to the saving of sinners seeing that the penalty of sin has been paid through the blood of Christ. God has been propitiated and man has been reconciled, the barrier is down.
LIBERAL FALLACIES INVOLVING THE DEATH OF CHRIST
[a] The substitutionary death is immoral and God could not be righteous and still lay the sins of a guilty person on an innocent one. From the Old Testament however we see that God has constantly done this and that it is a means of teaching grace. God's love is pure and He has concern and cares for you.
[b] That Christ died as a martyr but it was not efficacious so that it did not solve sin but it is a good example of how man can die. He died as an example to us.
[c] Another fallacy is that he died to reject evil even if it costs your life. This is what a lot of the theological institutions teach. When they talk about the importance of the cross this is what they mean.
[d] The liberals do not believe in the physical resurrection. What they believe is that there is a spiritual presence in our life if we believe what he believed and that He died as an example rather than a sacrifice. They use familiar language but they do not mean what we do. It is therefore critical to discern what is going on so that you can smell the wolf in sheep's clothing.
The word Vicar is the Latin for substitute from which we get the word vicarious. The Lord Jesus Christ is a true vicar as he stands between God and man.
BEFORE AND AFTER THE CROSS
The cross is the watershed in history; it divides history into two areas. The payment in full of sin is shown by the release of those in Paradise to heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prior to the Cross it was quite appropriate to pray as the tax collector did, “God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13.
Prior to the Cross there was no completed provision made under the law for sin so this person could not rely on a finished sacrifice to the sin, as this only occurred at the Cross. Since the cross there has been no need to ask God to be satisfied. He is satisfied eternally by the death of Christ. WE have received the Saviour who received the wrath of God.
The Cross shows that God has been merciful to us. Mercy is no longer needed because grace has already been provided. You can now bow before Him and thank Him for the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin. The door has been opened as the book of Hebrews says through the veil which is His flesh. You need to be precise in what you are preaching. You are post Cross and not in the Old Testament. This puts us in a different position to the Old Testament and this is focused on by the epistles and letters.
What was prayed for prior to the cross does not need to be prayed for after the cross because it has been done. You name your sin to the Lord rather than begging for forgiveness. Our guide is 1 John 1:9. We have to be obedient and name our sin and recognize that it is an affront to the righteousness of God. Many of the prayers that are offered today are an affront to God as it is not in conformity with His Word.
DOCTRINES
ATONEMENT: UNLIMITED ATONEMENT
1. Definition:
a) The totally effective work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty of sin on behalf of mankind.
b) Atonement as a noun means reconciliation after enmity and includes reparation made for wrong or injury.
c) The verb has several related meanings such as to be at one, to be in accordance, to make reparation or amends, to make up for errors or deficiencies, to reconcile.
d) In the Old Testament, the true meaning of atonement is related to the Hebrew verb "to pass over, to cover" - it is also the word for 'pitch' used to seal Noah's Ark.
2. In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were used to cover sin.
a) God forgave and restored where sin was covered by the blood of animal sacrifices.
b) However, the true basis for atonement was not found in these animal sacrifices. This is why the sacrifices needed to be repeated time and time again.
c) Animal sacrifices were used as a cover for sin until the true sacrifice, Jesus Christ, could be offered on the cross.
d) Atonement in the Old Testament refers to the use of animal sacrifices to picture the saving work of Christ.
e) The two concepts of atonement (Old and New Testament) are brought together in Romans 3:23-26)
3. Atonement is unlimited
a) When Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for sins he paid for the sins of the entire human race, not just the elect. (Romans 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Timothy 2:6, 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:2)
b) "Limited Atonement", the concept that Christ died for believers only is incorrect.
4. Unlimited Atonement eliminates sin in the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgment.
a) When Christ died on the cross, He was judged for all sins of the human race.
b) Therefore the issue in salvation is not sin, but faith in Christ. People choose either to accept the work of Christ (John 3:18, 36), or their own "good" works to gain the approval of God.
c) Therefore, human ‘goodness’ will be the basis of the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:12)
THE CROSS AND SATAN
1. With His death on the Cross Christ dealt with sin as a whole. (Colossians 1:15-22, 1 John 2:2)
2. With the removal of the sin barrier Satan's power was negated. (John 12:31, 16:11, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 2:14,)
3. Judgment upon Satan has been pronounced but the sentence has not been executed, he is still prince of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2)
4. He is still the deceiver and liar who seeks to ensnare foolish believers (1 Peter 5:8-9)
5. The cross is God's grace provision for the salvation of all who will believe in the Lord. Satan's attack is the philosophy of works, promoting the idea that man can do without the need of a Saviour. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
6. Satan's judgment has been progressively revealed:
a) In the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:15)
b) At the Cross. (John 12:31)
c) In the Tribulation. (Revelation 12:7-12)
d) At the Second Advent. (Revelation 20:1-3)
e) At the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:10)
7. Satan's rebellion centers on two sins, pride and lying. (Isaiah 14:12-24, Ezekiel 28:17, John 8:44)
8. God's plan calls for sin to be removed and with it Satan's power. The victory on the Cross will lead to the glory of God and the proclamation throughout all eternity of the perfect justice of God. (1 John 3:8)
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
1. SCRIPTURE (Galatians 2:20) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me"
2. Evaluation or Literal Translation
a) "I am crucified with Christ". I have been crucified with Christ in the past with a result that I keep on being crucified with Christ forever identification with Christ in His death). Passive voice - I have received this crucifixion (this occurs at the point of salvation). We are dead to the law after crucifixion with Christ because Christ fulfilled the law. (Matthew. 5:17). We are over-comers (1 John 5:4, 5)
b) "yet not I" - I no longer live - my old life of sin and self has died
c) "But Christ lives in me" - Christ keeps on living in me. (Galatians. 4:19). Christ lives in us for fellowship as well - (Revelation. 3:20, John 14:20, 2 Corinthians. 13:5, Romans. 8:10, Colossians. 1:27)
d) "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith (or power) of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."
3. The only way to fulfil the law is through the character of Christ formed in the believer through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2-4). In our own strength we are unable to keep the law because we have a sinful nature.
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