Soteriology - What is Atonement?

Soteriology as the Doctrine of Salvation

Want to welcome everyone to our lesson tonight. I know some of you are joining us online and some have come here to to be together. We are going to be continuing tonight in our study of Soteriology. Soteriology is the doctrine of Salvation.

This is a part of our larger study which is an overview of Christian theology and doctrine. Last week we began with the first lesson the title of that lesson was saved from what? And if you were not here that the the simplest answer of that question is that we are saved.

From the wrath of God as we said in the lesson last week. We are saved from God by God. For God. We're saved from his wrath. We are saved by his grace. We are saved for his glory. Salvation is of the Lord as it says in the Old Testament scriptures.

Tonight we are going to look at part two, which is the definition of the atonement. You'll notice there are ten parts to this lesson. And I do not know how long each of these lessons will take each of these parts.

But I've tried to make them fit into one week sections. But you know me that will probably not actually be the case especially for tonight. Because tonight we are going to be looking at the definition of the atonement.

The Fall, Human Sin, and the Need for Restoration

How can a sinful man? Be made right. With a holy God. From the moment man sinned He was at war with God. His relationship with God was severed. He was the object of God's divine disfavor and He was worthy of God's wrath.

Can you imagine if that's where the story ended? If you can imagine just for a moment. What if Genesis was simply in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth? Here's how he did it in these six miraculous days.

Here is the day he rested. Here is the explanation of how he created man. He gives man a singular command do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He gives man a wife. The woman goes and takes from the fruit of the tree.

She shares it with her husband. God brings his wrath immediately upon both game over story. Ended and you imagine well you can't imagine because if that's how the story ended you wouldn't be here. If that was where the story finished There would be no more story.

But we are very aware of the fact That the message of Scripture does not end with the hopelessness of Genesis chapter 3 the Scripture is Actually a whole book about hope. There is a hope of Restoration for the broken relationship that man has with God there is hope of being redeemed from the lawless condition in Which he fell and there is hope of salvation and That hope is founded on something called Atonement and so this is the subject of tonight.

What Atonement Means as Reconciliation

What do we mean? When we say Atonement. What is? Atonement. Well The word atonement is actually an interesting word. Because it's not One that really is found in the New Testament. Even though the idea is found in the New Testament how many of you have a King James Bible with you tonight?

No one interesting. That's that's surprising because in general I usually have at least somebody who has a King James Bible. Most modern Translations you will not find the word atonement in and the King James Bible only has it once in the New Testament.

The word atonement only comes in in Romans chapter 5 verse 11. So go there with me very briefly and let's look at that passage and we'll see how the ESV chooses to translate it. Again, that is Romans chapter 5 Verse 11.

It's everyone there Romans 5 11. It says in the English Standard Bible more than that. We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have received Reconciliation. Now if you don't have an ESV Bible That word reconciliation may be translated different.

That's the word that in the King James Bible is translated atonement. Does anyone have a different word at that place than reconciliation? You the new American Standard uses reconciliation. Does anyone have anything other than a ESV or NAS?

Do you brother you have your ESV, right? Okay. All right. I wasn't sure who all had what I usually like I said usually I get a Lisa King James or a new King James. Andy is a new King James guy. And so I wonder if the new King James would would have the word atonement.

I'm not sure. Yes. That's what you have is new King. Okay, so it's reconciliation. So it's interesting that that word doesn't show up again, even at that place only in the King James Bible and The reason why I bring it up is because it is such an important word.

But it's it's a word that is based on a biblical principle. But not really a word that is used in the Bible sort of like the word Trinity, right? We all know the word Trinity is not in the Bible, but the word Trinity is is a Concept that is clearly taught in the Bible.

The Trinity God is Father and Son and Holy Spirit one in essence three in persons that is something that the Bible clearly teaches about the nature of God, but The word Trinity is not there. In fact, if you ever have Jehovah Witnesses want to argue with you about the Trinity one of the first thing they'll tell you though.

Sorry, no, that's not what one of the first things they'll tell you is the word Trinity is not in the Bible to which we have to say Absolutely, that is true. But isn't it interesting that the word atonement also really doesn't have its place in the New Testament.

We don't see it. Why do we use it then we use it because the concept is clearly taught Throughout the Bible. It's clearly taught in the New Testament. Let us then ask the question What is the concept of atonement?

We've we've said this word several times. What is the concept? Well, I want to quote to you from Easton's dictionary. This is just one of the many Dictionaries, it's out there that Bible word dictionaries.

Easton's is not really an exhaustive dictionary. But it's useful at times and I think this time is one time when it is useful the meaning of the word is simply at one meant ie the state of being at one or being reconciled so that atonement is Reconciliation.

Thus it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ and I've shown this before. But I don't know if you've all seen it the word atonement and I'll switch to red just for a moment.

It really is the concept of being at one. That is where the word atone comes from it comes from the idea of being at one and therefore atonement is To be in the state of being at one or it is to be at one meant.

And so I think the Easton's dictionary makes a simple way of saying what what does it mean to be at one with someone? Well, it means you were divided. It means you were separated and now you have been Reconciled it means you were separated and now you've been brought back together you who were apart have now been made at one.

Restoration yes. Yes restoration Reconciliation all of those things being at one when we study the atonement. We are studying what happened. What occurred in the death of Jesus Christ? The Bible is clear that in the death of Jesus Christ.

We have received Reconciliation a good Bible verse to mention at this point and out. In fact, let's go there and look at it is Galatians 3. I've been preaching through Galatians. It's set free for a while.

So I've been enjoying being able to dive more into the context but in Galatians 3 13 we see Paul is expressing here What accomplished or rather what Christ accomplished on the cross and it says in Galatians 3?

Verse 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. By becoming a curse for us for it is written cursed as everyone who is hanged on a tree. So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law that is the Result of him going to the cross. He Reconciled us to God and again as we saw in Romans 5 we have now been given Reconciliation and then if we go to 2nd Corinthians 5, you don't have to go there.

But just in your mind remember this the Apostle Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5 not only were you reconciled to God? But you have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Your job now is to go out and preach the gospel so that other men might be reconciled to God.

So in a sense, what is 2nd Corinthians 5 commanding us to do go out and preach atonement? Because you were reconciled you were atoned. Now you go and you preach to other men so that they might receive that atonement and So really what Paul is saying in 2nd Corinthians 5 is that the atonement is the heart of the message.

In fact, he says we appeal to you be reconciled to God. It's as if God is appealing to men through us when we go out and we say be reconciled to God. Receive the atonement is what is being said. So in Your notes you will notice under the question.

What is atonement? What is? Reconciliation is another way of asking that question. You'll notice I have listed seven Divergent theories about the atonement. Yes, Richard. You have a question. Yes, that's in 2nd Corinthians 5 we are ambassadors of Christ we preach the reconciliation.

Yes, sir. Yep. But under the question of what is the atonement? What is atonement? You'll notice I've given seven divergent theories now. What does divergent mean? Wrong that's a. They have diverted or diverged from what I believe the Bible teaches and Somebody might say well, why would you teach what's wrong?

Well We're going to look at the right view what I believe is the right view what what our elders believe is the right view what? I would say the Bible believes is the right view of the atonement. But before we do that, I just want to mention some of the wrong views.

Because I must admit In the history of the church The question of the atonement the question of what happened on the cross is Not one that has had unilateral Support there have been various arguments and divisions over the question of what actually happened on the cross and I want to share some of these with you.

I'm going to spend a little bit more time with others because I think there's some value in some. Looking at them a little closer, but let me say this about these seven things. These things are all still taught in churches today.

These are not things that have been lost to history. I'll give you an example. Just a few weeks ago when I was preparing for this I prepare. I prepare my Wednesday night lesson several weeks in advance.

Because I want to know where I'm going. I want to make sure that I'm consistent with my teaching so oftentimes I'll be preparing four or five weeks ahead for what I'm teaching on Wednesday night and as I was preparing this message I came across a debate.

Where two modern pastors? Were debating. What? The atonement. What happened on the cross? What is the atonement the title of the message will grab you by the gizzard? Because the title of the debate was monster God.

Because the man who was debating was Brian's on. Very popular in the charismatic movement, and he was saying if you believe that God Poured his wrath out on Christ for your sins. Which is what I'm going to teach in a little while just in case just tip my hand.

That's a position I take. You believe God is a moral monster now. The man he debated Was Michael Brown now Michael Brown I have many issues with for as far as charismatic theology and stuff. But I will say this he took a very good and strong biblical stand for penal substitutionary atonement.

Which is the view I believe is correct and biblical and he makes the biblical argument both from the Old Testament and the New Testament. So my encouragement to you would be if you have interest in diving into these divergent theories further go home and look up monster God debate with Brian's on and and Michael Brown and Hear what the other side because he will say if you believe this about God, then you have an awful view of God.

But here's the thing when he tried to explain his position. It was it was a Horrible mess, especially when they came to the cross-examination. By the way If you ever want to really know how a debates going wait until you get to the cross-examination.

Because anybody can sound good when they're the only one talking. But when they have to answer questions and when Zahn had to answer questions about his position the wheels fell off the cart. Almost immediately just just fell apart.

So I encourage you you have the YouTube. Are you the YouTube? You have YouTube. If you're watching from home, you definitely have YouTube because that's what we're streaming to now. Go and watch that debate.

It's it's two hours well spent because not only will you hear the bad arguments, but I believe dr Michael Brown provides some very good arguments based in Old Testament texts because again the Sacrifice of Christ the atonement of Christ is not founded just in the New Testament.

It's based on the system of sacrifice God created in the Old Testament. Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and he is the one upon whom our sins are placed and he Receives in himself the punishment we are due.

That's the Atonement that's what happens in the atonement and therefore It's all based in this Old Testament system that God provides to us in the law. Christ came under the law to fulfill the law that we could become Adopted as sons and be reconciled to God so Here's the the seven Divergent theories.

I'm going to again not spend a ton of time on these. I'm willing to give you my notes if you'd like to look further. I have taken a lot of this from the Moody handbook of theology. That's just the best way I could as far as trying to explain these because some of them get a little little wonky.

Divergent Theories of the Atonement

The ransom to Satan theory. This theory was developed by origin Who lived between 185 and 254? So this is a almost 2 ,000 year old? position and it advocated that Satan had People captive like a victor in a war he had us captive and this theory holds That God essentially sent Christ to pay a ransom to Satan for our sins.

That we were being ransomed because we were held under the bondage of Satan and what makes this theory bad is that it places too high of you on Satan and It makes the cross a payment to him. The Bible never says that the Bible never says the cross is intended to pay Satan's price for our sins.

I don't believe the ransom to Satan theory stands. But it is an older theory that is believed by some. The next one is called the recapitulation Theory. This was advanced by Irenaeus also who lived in the The early church 130 to 200.

He taught that Christ went through all the phases of Adam's life and experienced including the experience of sin. And in this way Christ was able to succeed where Adam failed. The element of truth is that Christ is known as the last Adam.

However Christ did not sin and the idea that The idea of he did in any way experience sin is a I think is unbiblical and The theory is incomplete in that it neglects the Atonement. It is the death of Christ that saves not his life.

Even though we are saved by his righteousness is ultimately we are forgiven because of his payment. Of sin payment not to Satan of course, but he did make a payment that we're going to see later. The payment is to God himself.

The next one is called the commercial theory. This one's a little hard to understand. This was not developed until Anselm of In the in the who lived between 133 or 1033 and 1109. So this is only about a thousand years old and he taught that through sin God was robbed of the honor that was due him.

This necessitated a resolution that could be achieved either through punishing sinners or through Satisfaction. God chose to resolve the matter through satisfaction by the gift of his son. Through his death Christ brought honor to God and Received a reward which he passed on to sinners.

The gift was forgiveness for the sinner and eternal life for those who live by the gospel. It's actually not that far off and that's why I say not all these are so divergent that they're horrible but what the issue with this one is is Even though it does the right thing of changing the view from paying Satan now to paying God which is in a sense, correct it.

It ignores this the vicarious suffering of Christ rather than Emphasizing Christ dying for the penalty of sin. This view embraces the Roman Catholic concept of penance Christ. Christ paid for certain sins and then of course you have to pay for certain sins through penance.

And of course, we we would neglect it. We would say that is not true at all. You understand that in Roman Catholicism that even though you receive justification through baptism that you also have to maintain and work for those things in the process of giving of the Confession and then once you give a confession you might have penance things that you have to do to essentially re-establish your place with God and.

And this again treating it as a commercial action and I would say it's it's got some some correct things but a lot that is that is not good. The moral influence theory was proposed by Abelard between 1079 1142 it advocated that The death of Christ was not necessary as an expiation for sin rather through the death of Christ God demonstrated his love for humanity in such a way that sinners hearts will be softened and brought to repentance.

So essentially Jesus is a moral character who takes punishment as an example to all of us. This is very similar to Brian Zahn's argument. If you go and watch the debate and listen. Basically, what he says is when Christ died on the cross, he wasn't taking the punishment.

We deserve. He was taking the punishment we dish out. Hear that again Christ wasn't taking the punishment we deserve he was taking the punishment we dish out and how did he respond with forgiveness? Father forgive them.

They know not what they do, right? So Jesus is here the moral example. So he's not taking the punishment we deserve. He's taking the punishment we dole out to him and therefore he didn't receive the wrath of God.

He received the wrath of us. You See how wildly different that is. It's very popular in liberal churches. I give you an example of why I say that There is a song that states. For on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was Satisfied our every sin on him was laid there in the death of Christ.

I live you guys heard that song before. When the I believe it was the Methodist Church. United Methodist Church wanted to include that song in their hymn books. They would not accept on that cross when Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied because they do not believe That Christ was receiving the wrath of God.

They don't believe that view of the atonement as such. They wanted the words changed to on that cross when Jesus died the love of God was magnified. They wanted it changed from his wrath to his love. Now I do believe the love of God was magnified.

I don't necessarily have a problem with it. What I have a problem with is changing the the truth that it was stated before. You're going from one truth to another. But you're denying the other truth. That's the problem.

Both are true. But you're denying the wrath of God and again if you listen to Brian's on he will say this our Sin went into Christ as we nailed him to the cross and he took the punishment. We gave him and he offers us forgiveness and result and therefore becomes our moral Example that sounds great.

But that's not what the Bible teaches as the purpose and the result of the cross. Okay. The next one I'm just going to kind of run through the next one is the accident theory. This was Advocated by Albert Schweitzer in the 1800 well 1875 to 1965 and he basically taught that Christ became enamored with his Messiah ship and he was preaching the coming kingdom and Got himself into a lot of trouble and ended up getting killed.

He didn't really see it coming. Basically, it violates all of our understanding of who Christ is and his purpose and coming and certainly the passages would say that Christ Is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world?

It's an accident. His death on the cross was not the purpose for his coming it was something he didn't really see coming now again I'm probably being very superficial in my explanations of these because I'm not reading everything and From the book if you are interested in studying a little further in these you're welcome to but here's here is the the ultimate point the Schweitzer's you said this that the the death of Christ is not Valuable to us it wasn't because it was not purposeful and it was accidental.

That's a that's a major false view of the cross. The example theory is similar to the moral theory and that or moral influence theory in that it was Christ died as an example or a martyr and Christ. Here's the major point in this one Christ death was unnecessary and atoning for sin because sin did not need to be punished.

He is a martyr not in That sense a Savior and then finally the governmental theory. This was Grossius and 1583 to 1645 taught that the governmental theory as a reaction to the example theory of Sassinius that was the one we just talked about.

The governmental theory served as a compromise between the example theory and the view of the Reformers. Grotius taught that God forgives sinners without requiring an equivalent payment. Grotius reasoned that Christ upheld the principle of government in God's law by making a token payment for sin through his death.

God accepted the token payment of Christ set aside the requirement of the law and was able to forgive sinners because the principle of his Government had been upheld. Notice what that last statement I just made he was able to set aside the requirement of the law.

That's a problem when we say God is setting aside his holy standard. Certainly, we would not accept that position. So I've given you seven Divergent views. The question then becomes if you got seven divergent views could there possibly be a right one?

I Given you seven of the many others that I could have mentioned. We've looked at ransom recapitulation commercial moral accidental exemplary and governmental. What. And how could we dare say we think we're right?

That's the key. Not that we not that we have a theory. Seems like everybody has a theory but how in the world could we say that we're right? Well, I want to make the argument and it's going to have to carry into next week.

But I want to make the argument that we can know. Not that we're right. But we can know what the Bible teaches about the cross because it's clear. You say well if it's so clear, how do you have seven different views that you've just explained about the Atonement?

Beloved there's 7 ,000 different views about the nature of God as being one. You realize even the Jehovah Witnesses would tell you. But yes, God is one, but he's not the only one because they say Jesus is a God.

You have to understand that just because there are multiple views about something doesn't mean there's not a right view. Just because there are variations in belief doesn't mean there's not a correct belief and it is not.

And I'm gonna say this hopefully this comes out clearly it is not arrogant. To say that we believe that we are standing on the right view if our view is based on what the Bible clearly teaches. I'm going to give you quickly These six things I'm going to give you a quick Definition the next week.

I'm going to break them down more further more more. More further. That's a bad Double comparative. I'm going to break them down more clearly next week. But let me give you just quickly. There are six principles that apply to the Atonement which provide for us a solid definition of The Atonement and provide for us.

I believe an answer to the question. What happened on the cross? What is the Atonement the first and I would say the most important and the one that is denied? By all of these seven that I've already put out to you is the word substitution.

The Bible clearly teaches that Christ died as a substitute for sinners and that is. The first word I would say is missing from these other Divergent views and you say well where in the world do you get the word substitution?

I'm going to break it down more later. But if you want to spend some time with the word substitution find your way to Isaiah 53. He was bruised for our transgressions. He was wounded for our iniquities upon him is the chastisement of us all and by his stripes.

We are healed the word the word Substitution is Not there, but the concept of substitution is found clearly in all of the Old Testament sacrifices, but most clearly Isaiah 53. The next word is the word redemption.

There is a sense in which a payment was made in the cross and we're going to talk more about that next week. But the pain that's what redemption think about you redeem this coupon or redeem this for this payment.

Pay redemption means payment. The Bible clearly teaches a payment was made but not to Satan and certainly not to us. But a payment was made to God. And we'll see that next week. Reconciliation reconciliation.

We've already talked about that to bring warring parties back together. Propitiation. Huge word we're going to deal again next week. The word propitiation means to satisfy wrath to satisfy wrath. Forgiveness this word is so full of meaning.

But forgiveness in its simplest sense means to not hold something to someone's account if you think of Someone that you have a debt that is owed to them and they say your debt is canceled. They could also say your debt is forgiven your debt is Forgiven and so forgiveness we're going to talk about that next week.

And finally justification that we would be declared righteous before God. Those six things are all clearly taught in the Bible and They bring us to the only one conclusion Christ died on the cross. To take the wrath of God.

For sinners and In doing so he provided for them redemption reconciliation forgiveness and justification. So we'll talk more about that next week. I'll break down those give you more Bible verses to chew on.

I hope this was encouraging to you. I hope it was helpful to you. This is this is the heart of the gospel. This is the meat and potatoes of everything we believe. So, please spend some time Meditating on what we've talked about and we'll dig in a little deeper next week.

Christ Bore the Wrath of God in Our Place

Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this opportunity for us to study. I pray that this has been somewhat helpful in helping us get a better understanding of the atonement Lord. I pray.

Pray that those who would not teach. The simple atonement that Christ bore the wrath of God on the cross that those who would not teach that would not teach at all. For Lord, they are denying the very clear teaching of Scripture.

Lord that you would shut their mouths break their teeth. If you have to or that they might not preach something so atrocious as to say Christ did anything else other than Receiving in himself the wrath and penalty that we are Are all do and in turn gave us the wonderful blessing of his righteousness Whereby we are justified.

Thank you God for him. Thank you for this day and for all that you give us in Christ's name Amen.