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THE GREAT ATONEMENT
Firstly we must understand that the Moral law of God was not created. It is simply the reflection of God’s self-existent nature. God did not create the Moral Law in a hope to destroy all humanity, rather it reflects the nature of God, by which all humanity must abide, for their own natural good and the foundation by which all men have intimate relations with God as a free moral agents. Since no free moral agent could ever create the Moral Law, there are none who can change it or adjust it. Since none could change it all were obligated to perfectly fulfill it, such is the letter. 2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. There are two parts to the Moral Law, the letter and the Spirit. The letter relates to the outward acts. The Sprit relates to the motive or intentions, from which the acts proceed. The letter of the Moral Law sometimes required exceptions, which violated or disregarded the Moral Law. However to the Spirit of the Moral Law there can be no exceptions or violations. For example: the letter of the Moral Law required that on the Sabbath day there should be no labor or activities. Yet the Spirit of the Moral Law required certain labor and activities to be done on the Sabbath, in exercising complete Biblical love toward man and God. For instance the compassion in helping the sick, or aiding and relieving the poor, feeding the animals, all these acts of Mercy and Labor of Love. Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. The Sovereign Lord himself reiterated this in his perfect display of Mercy under the Spirit of the Moral Law. The letter brought sentence to all who violated the Moral Law. Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. The letter condemned all violation, without any regard to Atonement or Repentance, as the illustrated Blood sacrifice was only in likeness, a figurative of the Great Atonement done by Christ. Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. For this reason the Spirit of the Moral Law required that, in Christ fulfilling and satisfying the need of God’s Universal Law. Promoting the obedience and securing the obedience in delivering the Spirit of the Moral Law, he became the perfect substitute. Based on Christ, the sinner will return to complete obedience and Repentance, in supreme love for Christ and thus will live and not die. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Kingdom of God required that justice be executed without pardon, unless a perfect substitute could take the place of all the complete requirements, as to give merit to the repented sinners based on the Lords Obedience. The whole purpose of the Penalties of God was to secure obedience to the commandment; fear was the principle of service. The eternal penalty of hell displays the abhorrence of disobedience to the Lawgiver and His complete disgust to sin. Hab 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: you see without the Atonement of Christ, mercy acts as a weakness to the Kingdom of God. By giving the sinning lawbreaker a false hope of continuing in sin, being free from the Punishment he deserves. However the same false hope has been placed in the mind of sinners as to the Atonement of Christ, hoping to escape punishment yet continuing in sin, thus I will show the correct understanding of the Atonement. The person who breaks the Moral Law still deserves to be punished. Depending upon the extent to which he has willfully pushed Gods benevolence. However due to the Cross of Christ and the Spirit of the Law of Love he may be pardoned and spared. It must be clearly understood that pardon is not given, or extended, just because the offender has fulfilled the conditions of forgiveness. In other words the person who has sinned does not have the power to attain pardon by his own merit. Otherwise the offender would consistently sin and be sure to escape without punishment all within his own power. The whole counsel of Mercy and Pardon is that, mercy and Pardon is to be granted and exercised upon the condition that the offense is not to be repeated. Mercy and Pardon cannot be given as a covering to persist in sin. The Kingdom of God is preserved by God upholding the best interests of His Kingdom, in promoting His Glory, and protecting the Saints. Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Atonement of Christ will succor this, as will be seen. The Kingdom of God cannot do away with the execution of Penalties, upon any condition that will encourage a false hope of impunity (freedom from punishment or injury). The Spirit of the Moral Law requires that when someone has broken the Moral Law that the penalty must be executed, or that something will satisfy the administration of the penalty, or complete the requirements of the Offender, and thus be the substitute. Not allowing sin to escape but securing obedience to overcome sin. Therefore sin cannot be forgiven merely upon the condition of repentance, because this is within the power of the sinner, which will in this case continue in sin because the power of forgiveness is at his disposal. Forgiveness cannot be granted upon a condition that will be repeated. Or else this would encourage sin to continue. The meaning of Atonement. The term properly means Substitution. In total the Scriptures declare that the Atonement is The Kingdom of God’s substitution of the Sufferings of Christ for the punishment of sinners. It is a covering of their sins by his sufferings. In light of the Atonement of Christ and His complete Compassion, it is important to note the great evil of humanity, in a fallen state of Selfishness is the way in which unconverted men live their daily lives denying Compassion. The Atonement teaches us that Mercy was displayed and manifested in the actual Pardon of Sin, yet this is done only when it upholds the safety of Gods Divine Government, in accordance to His Word. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Anything which will threaten to bring disorder to God’s Kingdom will not be permitted even underlying requests by Sinners for Mercy and Pardon. The Atonement demonstrates that the power of Forgiveness is not within the sinner’s repentance alone. This would bring all the members of Gods Kingdom to have no fear of God or of Punishment, as there forgiveness was secure, however much they trampled under the Divine authority. Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? The Atonement teaches that God could not for the Sake of his own intelligence, or characters, or the Universe, do away with the Divine Law. Except there should be a Substitute of such nature that it would secure the Obedience in perfectly fulfilling the Moral Law and displaying the lesson and importance of disobedience to it and the necessary execution thereof. The Cross of Christ was that Christ was sinless and perfect, yet he faced under his perfection the execution of sinners upon Himself, showing the Obedience needed and the effect of sin upon such a perfect sacrifice. The Atonement displays that God gave His Son that it would be Just in Him alone to forgive sin. Rom_3:24-26 : "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." The Kingdom of God required that an atonement should be made, or that the Law would executed upon every offender. Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Yet the atonement would fully meet the requirements of Gods government, by preventing of sin, as well as a more powerful persuasive to Holiness, rather than a legal penalty would do. Atonement removed the obstacles to allow free benevolence toward humanity. The great act of the Atonement is “God manifest in the flesh” the following scriptures will show the Covenant made between the Father and the Son. . "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah."-- Psa_89:3-4. "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."-- Isa_53:10-12. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."-- Joh_6:37-39. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."-- Joh_17:6, Joh_17:9, Joh_17:11. I will next quote some passages to show, that, if sinners were to be saved at all, it must be through atonement. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."-- Act_4:12. "Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Act_13:38-39. "Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom_3:19-20. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."-- Gal_2:16, Gal_2:21. "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but the man that doeth them shall live in them. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law, then, against the promises of God? God forbid, for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."-- Gal_3:10-12, Gal_3:18-21, Gal_3:24. "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
I will now cite some passages that establish the fact of the amazing death of Christ, and redemption through his blood. "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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."-- Isa_53:5-6. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."-- Mat_20:28. "For this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins."-- Mat_26:28. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."-- Joh_3:14-15. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."-- Joh_6:51. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."-- Act_20:28. "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Therefore, as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."-- Rom_3:24-26; Rom_5:9-11, Rom_5:18-19. "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."-- 1Co_5:7; 1Co_15:3. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."-- Gal_2:20; Gal_3:13-14. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."-- Eph_2:13; Eph_5:2. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."-- Heb_9:12-14, Heb_9:22-28. "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."-- Heb_10:10-14. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrate for us through the vail, that is to say, his flesh," &c.-- Heb_10:19-20. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."-- 1Pe_1:18-19. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed."-- 1Pe_2:24. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."-- 1Pe_3:18. "But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."-- 1Jo_1:7. "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."-- 1Jo_3:5. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."-- 1Jo_4:9-10.
These, as every reader of the Bible must know, are only some of the passages that teach the doctrine of atonement and redemption by the death of Christ. It is truly wonderful in how many ways this doctrine is taught, assumed, and implied in the Bible. Indeed, it is definitely the great theme of the Bible. It is expressed or implied upon nearly every page of Divine inspiration.
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom_3:24-26.
The atonement Justifies God in the Pardon of sin.
Isa_53:10-12 : "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong: because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
The Atonement effectually revealed God, made known his hatred to sin, his love of order, his determination to uphold his Government, and to promote the holiness and happiness of his creatures, as the execution of his law would do. An atonement was greatly needed and obviously designed to contradict the slander of satan. For he seduced our first parents into believing that God was selfish, in not allowing them to eat of the tree. Now at the atonement the whole of creation could see that the prohibiting of the tree completely justifies God. An atonement was needed, therefore, as the great and only means of sanctifying sinners. The atonement was not to show the Mercy of God, but to reconcile the creation in the greatest act of upholding the Kingdom as well. God's great love to sinners themselves was a prime reason for the atonement.
Joh_3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God’s great love for the universe at large is another reason. Its greatness has an amazing influence over all beings whether accepted or not, nothing can bring down the awesome power of the Atonement. Another reason for the suffering Christ substituting the place of eternal damnation of sinners, is that a great amount of suffering might be prevented. The relation of Christ to the universe is one of such loyalty and Deity that in one simple fact namely this: Christ chose his sufferings. As the lawgiver he adhered, honored and obeyed his own law. Showing on one hand the abhorrence of sin, and on the other his great love for his subjects. It is impossible to conceive of a higher order of virtues than are exhibited in the atonement of Christ. The atonement shows the Lord with his preference of mercy over Judgment, by willing to suffer as to afford him the opportunity to exercise pardon. The atonement presents the highest possible motives to virtue. Christ as the example was the highest moral influence given in the entire universe in all time. The Lord desired mercy, benevolence, and love, and thus first manifested it himself in the atonement. If the compassion displayed in the atonement does not by nature subdue sinners, there is forever no hope nor any other way deserving for them than certain hell. To lead us to imitate this love by contemplating on it would indefinitely lead to complete happiness. To simply destroy the wicked would never solve the horror of sin, it was originally not the desire of the Lord Eze 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? By the atonement of the Glorious Christ infinite and divine law was upheld and maintained. Yet the power of the Penalty of the Law would become a secondary step, after the act of repentance to salvation. To conform all beings to Holiness it required that it be wrought in displaying confidence and love un-feigned, as this is the character of God and his true nature, he cancelled anything to interfere with the intimate relationship, lest we continue in our sin. As mentioned earlier there was much slander against God and still is, yet he silences all those scoffers and to shut every mouth and close all opposing lips, by making a willing and loving sacrifice for sinners. By the atonement not only was a greater moral power displayed, yet the power to obey such a Moral Law was also given. Another reason for the atonement was to cancel the influence of the devil in selfishness, which was so powerfully exerted that it cost the Son of God to destroy those evil works. 1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. There is another great impression of the atonement, being the punishment of the wicked in light of such an infinite love. Namely because the atonement is the highest testimony of God that bears witness against selfishness. It testifies of his own example. Yet what a wonderful illustration of the attributes of God displayed at the Atonement, each move and direction was perfect in the motives of Love and Justice. It is the incarnate Christ that demonstrated his heart both to the Kingdom of God and the World of man, by taking on human flesh and emptying himself, in order to gain a greater Glory in men. Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The Law was holy in that by it the knowledge of sin was established. Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Rom 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. Rom 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. The whole universe was in slander against God as obedience was secured in fear of punishment, the atonement however revealed a deeper understanding and revelation of the love and the compassion of God. This was necessary in order to guard against the influence of slavish fear.
FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST:
UNDER the Kingdom of God all that are the Children of Christ belong to him, and received purely for his sake. The favor and rewards of the righteous are received and bestowed upon them completely on the grounds of his merit and his sake. The Kingdom of God is so well pleased lawfully and lovingly that any who are in unity with Christ by faith are treated as righteous. God made the atonement to satisfy himself and by fulfilling his Glory and happiness, first which is the best interest of the entire universe, secured the best interest of the entire universe as well as within all of its creation. Thus the Knowledge of God is indispensable. The atonement is to benefit the whole universe. All holy beings are, and must be benefited by it, from its very nature, because it gives them a higher knowledge of God than ever could have been experienced before, or gained in any other way. All the inhabitants of the Kingdom of God are fully and deeply interested in the atonement as it portrays the character of God in it. Therefore the atonement is the greatest blessing ever bestowed upon the universe of Holy beings. The Word declares that Christ tasted death for every man. Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. All of existence would have had complete destruction had it not been for the atonement of Christ. All the blessings of mankind are given to them on an account of the atonement of Christ. Because God could not wait on sinners and save them if it were not for the atonement. All sinners are therefore universally condemned for not receiving the atonement. As for the extent of the atonement let the Bible speak for itself: "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved." "And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."-- Joh_1:29; Joh_3:16-17; Joh_4:42. "Therefore, as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so, by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."-- Rom_5:18. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."-- 2Co_5:14-15. "Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe."-- 1Ti_2:6; 1Ti_4:10. "And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."-- 1Jo_2:2. Salvation is offered to all men without reservation. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." -- Isa_45:22; Isa_55:1-3. "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." "Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage."-- Mat_11:28-30; Mat_22:4. "And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready."-- Luk_14:17. "In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."-- Joh_7:37. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me." "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."-- Rev_22:17. the atonement is sufficient for all men as is earnestly welcomed by the Lord to be accepted and be freed from our own deserving damnation. "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." -- Pro_1:20-23. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."-- Isa_1:18. "Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."-- Isa_48:17-18. "Say unto them, as I, live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"-- Eze_33:11. "Hear ye now what the Lord saith: Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me."-- Mic_6:1-3. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"-- Mat_23:37. the atonement not only has it cost sinners nothing on their own behalf, yet God still goes further to show the punishment and the rewards in advance and still the foolish sinners continue in their selfishness."O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"-- Deu_5:29. "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"-- Deu_32:29. "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee."-- Psa_5:4. "Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever." -- Psa_81:13-15. "O that thou hadst hearkened unto my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."-- Isa_48:18. "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."-- Eze_18:32. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes."-- Luk_19:41-42. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."-- Joh_3:16-17. "I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."-- 1Ti_2:1-4. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."-- 2Pe_3:9. it is a sorrowful thing in the eyes of the Lord that sinners reject his salvation."Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded."-- Pro_1:24. "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass; that, as he cried and they would not hear: so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts."-- Zec_7:11-13. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and treated them spitefully, and slew them."-- Mat_22:2-6. "And sent his servant at supper-time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife; and therefore I cannot come."-- Luk_14:17-20. "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."-- Joh_5:40. "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."-- Act_7:51. "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee."-- Act_24:25. Again, the same is inferrible from the fact, that sinners are represented as having no excuse for being lost and for not being saved by Christ. "And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless."-- Mat_22:12. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."-- Rom_1:20. "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."-- Joh_5:40. "Now, we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."-- Rom_3:19.
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE ATONEMENT.
As illustrated by Charles G Finney
1. The atonement was the beginning of the revelation of the compassion of God.
2. Sinners will not give up their enmity against God until the full understanding of the Death of his Son is realized, as their substitute in true belief.
3. But faith in the atonement of Christ rolls a mountain weight of crushing and melting considerations upon the heart of the sinner.
4. Thus, the blood of Christ, when apprehended and believed in, cleanses from all sin.
5. If the atonement is not believed in, it is to that mind no revelation at all, and with such a mind the gospel has no moral power.
6. The atonement shows how solid a foundation the saints have for unbroken and eternal repose and confidence in God. If God could make atonement for men, surely it is infinitely unreasonable to suppose that he will withhold from those that believe anything which could be to them a real good.
7. We see that selfishness is the great hindrance to the exercise of faith. A selfish mind finds it exceedingly difficult to understand the atonement, inasmuch as it is an exhibition of a state of mind which is the direct opposite of all that the sinner has ever experienced.
8. The atonement renders pardon consistent with the perfect administration of justice.
9. It greatly glorifies God; indeed it does so far above all his other works and ways.
10. It must be to him a source of the purest, most exalted, and eternal happiness.
11. It has united God in a new and peculiar way to human nature.
12. It has opened a way of access to God, never opened to any creatures before.
13. It restores the life of God to the soul, by restoring to man the influence of the Holy Spirit.
14. It has made Christ our surety: "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." Heb_7:22.
15. It has arrayed such a public sentiment against rebellion, as to crush it whenever the atonement is fairly understood and applied by the Holy Spirit.
16. It has more fully developed the nature and importance of the government of God.
17. It has more fully developed the nature of sin.
18. It has more fully developed the strength of sin.
19. It has more fully developed the total depravity and utter madness of sinners.
20. It has given scope to the long-suffering and forbearance of God.
21. It has formed a more intimate union between God and man, than between him and any other order of creatures.
22. It has developed and fully revealed the doctrine of the Trinity.
23. It has given a standing illustration of the true intent, meaning, and Excellency of the law of God. In the atonement God has illustrated the meaning of his law by his own example.
24. It has for ever condemned all selfishness, as entirely and infinitely inconsistent with virtue.
THE END
As studied in light of Charles G Finney’s systematic works under the Inspiration
Of the Holy Ghost, to benefit the whole Body of Christ.
Chad Hutchinson