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Week 4 - Substitutionary Atonement
Preparation...
• Please turn your assignments into the
In-Basket on the table.
• In Genesis 4:7, God tells Cain, “...sin
is crouching at the door. It’s desire is
for you, but you must rule over it.”
• What does the phrase, “It’s desire is for
you” mean here?
Introduction
• So far...
• Theology Proper - study of God’s person
and attributes
• Christology - study of Christ (the person of
Jesus Christ
• Anthropology - the study of humans
Introduction
• Tonight starting Soteriology
• Week 4: Substitutionary Atonement
• How did God make our salvation
possible?
• Week 5: Eternal Security
• How does salvation change our standing
with God?
• Is our salvation secure or can we lose it?
Introduction
• Tonight starting Soteriology
• Week 6: God’s Sovereignty and Human
Choice in Salvation
• Did we choose our salvation, or does
God determine in advance who will be
saved?
Introduction
• All major religions are concerned with
salvation, but differ on the two most
important salvation issues:
• Humanity’s biggest problem
• The Solution to Humanity’s biggest
problem
Introduction
• Humanity’s biggest problem
• Animistic religions - view our biggest
problem as appeasing the various spirits
that control different aspects of our lives.
(tribal religions)
• Pantheistic religions - view our biggest
problem as desire (Buddhism) or
ignorance of our oneness with God
(Hinduism).
Introduction
• Humanity’s biggest problem
• Monotheistic religions (Judaism;
Christianity; Islam) - view our biggest
problem as true moral guilt—our objective
guilt before God because of our violations
against his holy character.
Introduction
• The solution to the problem
• All other major world religions except for
Christianity teach that salvation (however
it is defined) is something that we must
accomplish or earn through religious
observances and/or good works
Introduction
• The solution to the problem
• Only Biblical Christianity teaches that God
accomplished salvation for us, and that we
receive his gift of salvation by trusting his
promise
Introduction
• The Bible teaches that God makes
salvation available to us through
substitutionary atonement.
• “Substitutionary atonement” means that
God in his love provides a blameless
substitute to bear his righteous judgment
for our sins.
Introduction
• Substitutionary Atonement Notes:
• Substitutionary atonement is a "given" in
the Bible.
• We can explain its logical coherence
Introduction
• Substitutionary Atonement Notes:
• Substitutionary atonement is a "given" in
the Bible.
• We can explain its logical coherence
• We can provide analogies of it from
human life
Introduction
• Substitutionary Atonement Notes:
• Substitutionary atonement is a "given" in the
Bible.
• We can explain its logical coherence
• We can provide analogies of it from human
life
• We cannot accomplish it on our own
•
—his
Introduction
righteousness
— in his love
and justice
and mercy
Substitutionary
Atonement
Notes:
demand
the
God provides
payment of
that payment
•death
Godfor
was
not
obligated
in
any
way
to
our
for us himself.
provide atonement for us
sins
• It is a free, unmerited gift extended by
God
• (1 John 4:10) - The motivation for the
atonement comes from within God
himself
•
—his
Introduction
righteousness
— in his love
and justice
and mercy
Substitutionary
Atonement
Notes:
demand
the
God provides
payment of
that payment
•death
Godfor
was
not
obligated
in
any
way
to
our
for us himself.
provide atonement for us
sins
•
It is
a free,
gift us
extended
by
Knowing
this
oughtunmerited
to stir within
a
Godgratitude that God has provided, at
deepening
infinite cost to himself, a way to forgive us and
(1 John
4:10) though
- The motivation
for the
fully accept
us even
we daily deserve
atonement comes from within God
his judgment!
himself
•
Introduction
• Substitutionary Atonement Notes:
• God was not obligated in any way to
provide atonement for us
• Both the Bible and animistic/tribal
religions emphasize the offering of
sacrifices, but they view these sacrifices
in very different ways...
Introduction
• Substitutionary Atonement Notes:
• Differing views on animal sacrifices
TRIBAL RELIGIONS
THE BIBLE
The gods’ wrath is arbitrary and
capricious (moody).
God's wrath is rational and
dependable.
Sacrifice is often meeting a
god’s physical need (hunger,
sensuality).
Sacrifice satisfies God's
righteous wrath upon our sins.
The worshipper innovates ways
to appease the gods.
God ordains and prescribes
the way to atone for sin.
The sacrifice is an animal,
vegetable, mineral, or a human.
The sacrifice is ultimately God
himself in human form.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Progressive Revelation
• God revealed his plan of salvation
gradually over time.
• Not something Jesus or apostles made
up
• Taught all throughout the OT (predictions
and foreshadows)
• NT authors could say that SA was
according to the scriptures (Paul - 1 Cor.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Clothing for Adam and Eve (Gen 3:21)
• Adam and Eve were ashamed of their
nakedness after they sinned, and sought
to cover their shame by dressing in fig
leaves
• God rejected this way of dealing with
their guilt by providing clothing made
"Immediately after their rebellion, (Adam and Eve)
were now afraid and tried to cover themselves.
Progressive
of S.A.
But in verse
21, God took Rev.
this covering
away and
gave them a coat of skins . . . This indicates, I
believe, that man could not stand before God in his
•
Before Jesus’ Death
own covering. Rather, he needed a covering from
God—a
coveringfor
of Adam
a specific
• Clothing
andnature—a
Eve (Gen covering
3:21)
that required sacrifice and death, a covering not
Godbut
teaching
and
that a
provided Was
by man
by GodAdam
. . . It is
myEve
opinion
death
to occuroffor
their
and
that this was
thehad
beginning
the
Oldshame
Testament
to be
truly covered?
sacrificialguilt
system
looking
forward to the coming of
the One who would crush Satan’s head . . . God
Summary:
of animals was
himself provided
thisDeath
picture.”
provided to cover our shame and guilt
•
•
~Francis A. Schaeffer, Genesis in Space and Time, The
Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer, Volume 2
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Cain and Abel’s offerings (Gen. 4:3-5)
• God had apparently already instructed
Adam and his children that they must
approach him through sacrifice.
• Hebrews 11:4 tells us that Abel’s sacrifice
was acceptable because it was offered
by faith.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Cain and Abel’s offerings (Gen. 4:3-5)
• Cain’s sacrifice was evidently rejected
because it was not offered by faith.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Cain and Abel’s offerings (Gen. 4:3-5)
• Cain’s sacrifice was evidently rejected
because it was not offered by faith.
• SUMMARY: God instructed humans to
approach him through faith by the
sacrifice that HE prescribes.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Noah’s sacrifice (Gen. 8:20,21)
• Noah had obviously been instructed
about animal sacrifice—including which
animals were “clean.”
• This sacrifice is connected with the idea
of sinful people avoiding God's
judgment—God accepted this sacrifice
and promised never to destroy the earth
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Noah’s sacrifice (Gen. 8:20,21)
• Because of inherited human depravity
(8:21), we are dependent upon God's
mercy and forbearance. So, sacrifice is
probably thus a picture of how God
extends that mercy.
• SUMMARY: God extends mercy to sinful
human beings through HIS chosen
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Abraham’s offering of Isaac
(Genesis 22:1-18)
• Note: Abraham and Isaac had knowledge
about animal sacrifice, including what
would serve as an acceptable animal
• God orchestrated this event, in part, as a
prophetic picture of the way he would
provide a sacrifice for our sins:
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Abraham’s offering of Isaac
(Genesis 22:1-18)
• God later made it very clear that he
detested child sacrifice as a form of
religious worship
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Abraham’s offering of Isaac
(Genesis 22:1-18)
• God later made it very clear that he
detested child sacrifice as a form of
religious worship
• SUMMARY: The location (Moriah) of the
future sacrifice; the identity (only Son) of
God’s Substitute; a picture of the horrible
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Passover meal (Ex. 12:1-14)
• The good news was that God was going
to judge Egypt so that Pharaoh will let
God's people go (11:4-8).
• The bad news was that the Israelites
would be judged also—unless they
observed this ritual. If they did observe it,
his judgment would “pass over” those
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Passover meal (Ex. 12:1-14)
• After they experienced this, God ordained
•
this to become the great Spring Festival
for Israel
Note the following key elements of this
ritual meal: (see bullets in notes)
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Passover meal (Ex. 12:1-14)
• After they experienced this, God ordained
•
•
this to become the great Spring Festival for
Israel
Note the following key elements of this
ritual meal: (see bullets in notes)
SUMMARY: Substitute must be without
defect; individuals must place faith in the
death of the substitute to avoid judgment;
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• We may come into God's presence only in
the way which he prescribes—or else his
holiness will consume us.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• We may come into God's presence only in
the way which he prescribes—or else his
holiness will consume us.
• The high priest was the only one who could
enter the Holy of Holies, and he had to
dress and bathe in a way which symbolized
purity (16:4).
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• The Ark of the Covenant was a box a little
larger than a family-size cooler (roughly
45”x27”x27”). It resided in the Holy of
Holies, a cube-shaped room (15’x15’x15’)
in the center of the tabernacle. The phrase
"Ark of the Covenant" literally means the
“box of the evidence.” The contents of the
Ark were an indictment against the sins of
the people.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• Box of evidence:
• MANNA: rejection of God's provision
• ROD: rejection of God's leadership
• TABLETS: rejection of God’s law (rebellion
and stubbornness)
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• Two cherubim (angels often associated
with God’s righteousness) were attached to
the mercy seat, one on either end. They
faced each other and looked down onto the
top of the mercy seat apparently viewing
God’s mercy covering the sins of His
people.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• Two goats were used as sin-offerings
representing the nation of Israel.
• The blood sacrifice for the nation’s sins
that year
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• Two goats were used as sin-offerings
representing the nation of Israel.
• The blood sacrifice for the nation’s sins
that year
• The scape goat to carry away the nation’s
guilt
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• Two goats were used as sin-offerings
representing the nation of Israel.
• Chosen by lot ➔ teaches that the sacrifice
is chosen by God rather than by humans.
• They were offered to the Lord at the
doorway of the tent of meeting ➔ may
emphasize that God is communicating
substitutionary atonement to all the people.
It may also foreshadow Jesus’ public
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• The Day of Atonement is a powerful symbol
of God’s provision for dealing with our true
moral guilt—God removes our sin from us
through the death of a substitute.
• The fact that this sacrifice had to be
reenacted year after year indicated the
insufficiency and temporary nature of the
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-22**):
• SUMMARY: Greater development of
separation caused by sin; removal of guilt
through the death of a substitute; the priest
is a mediator who must be “clean;” the
emergence of the priest from Holy of Holies
signifies God’s acceptance of the sacrifice
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Anonymous Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:12**)
• This passage shows that God never viewed
•
the animal sacrifices as satisfactory in
themselves.
They were always a prophetic picture of
God's chosen forgiveness —a blameless
Jewish person whose voluntary death
would pay for the sins of both Jews and
Gentiles.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Anonymous Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:12**)
• This passage shows that God never viewed
•
the animal sacrifices as satisfactory in
themselves.
They were always a prophetic picture of
God's chosen forgiveness —a blameless
Jewish person whose voluntary death
would pay for the sins of both Jews and
Gentiles.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Anonymous Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:12**)
• NOTE: Why is the Servant described in the
past tense?
• This is a stylistic device ("prophetic past
tense"), in which God often describes
future events in the past tense to
emphasize his sovereignty over human
history (see Jer. 51:24-32).
• Furthermore, the passage indicates that
this Servant's death is a future event (see
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Anonymous Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:12**)
• NOTE: What about the view that the
Servant is the nation of Israel?
• 53:8 says the Servant is killed “for the
transgression of MY people.”
• Also that he is righteous (unlike Israel), and
that he is described as an individual, not as
a nation.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• The Anonymous Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:12**)
• SUMMARY: God will send a blameless
human to atone for humanity's sin; he will
die and be resurrected.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• John the Baptist’s description of Jesus’
mission (Jn. 1:29)
• John the Baptist (the last Old Testament
prophet) declared that Jesus was the
fulfillment of the symbolism in the sacrificial
system and the stream of prophecy
predicting that a man would come and
“take away” (airo - “bear”) the sin of the
world.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• John the Baptist’s description of Jesus’
mission (Jn. 1:29)
SUMMARY: Jesus’ substitutionary death
was his main mission.
•
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Jesus’ own claim about his mission
(Mk. 10:45)
• “For even the Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many.”
• Jesus clearly understood that his
substitutionary death was his main mission
in his First Coming
•
SUMMARY: Jesus’
substitutionary
Progressive Rev.
of
S.A.
death was his main
mission.
Before Jesus’ Death
• Jesus’ own claim about his mission (Mk. 10:45)
• Jesus did not go to the cross merely to be the
perfect expression or example of sacrificial
love.
• Although the cross does communicate this, its
primary purpose was to actually pay for our
true moral guilt. Paul insists that unless Jesus'
death was atoning, it was needless
(Galatians 2:21).
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Jesus interprets the Passover meal
(Matt. 26:26-30)
New Covenant:
•
1)
the
day
when
all
Progressive Rev.
of
S.A.
God’s people would
know him
Before Jesus’ Death personally,
• Jesus interprets the Passover
meal
2) when God will
(Matt. 26:26-30)
empower them to
obey
his
The head of the household normally
commands,
and
passed the bread out in
silence—but
Jesus
•
spoke (26:28), explaining
that itthey
3) when
represented his death receive
which would
complete
inaugurate the New Covenant
(Lk. of
22:20)
forgiveness
their
that was promised in Jer.
31:31-34.
sins.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Jesus interprets the Passover meal
(Matt. 26:26-30)
They normally drank four cups during the
celebration
•
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Jesus interprets the Passover meal
(Matt. 26:26-30)
They normally drank four cups during the
celebration
• The third cup was called the “cup of
redemption,” and Jesus explained its
significance in 26:28
• The fourth cup was called the “cup of
consummation” looking forward to God's
future kingdom, but Jesus refused to drink
•
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Before Jesus’ Death
• Jesus interprets the Passover meal
(Matt. 26:26-30)
• The Jews customarily ended this meal by
singing Ps. 116-118. Note Ps. 118:6-9, 17, 18,
22, 23 which speaks prophetically of Jesus'
death and resurrection.
• SUMMARY: Jesus’ death is the ultimate
fulfillment of the Passover meal, and the means
through which God brings the blessings of the
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• At Jesus’ Death
• Jesus was crucified on the Day of
Passover, as the ultimate Passover Lamb
(1 Cor. 5:7).
• One of Jesus’ last statements from the
cross was “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30), which
announced that his death fulfilled God’s
plan of substitutionary atonement.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• At Jesus’ Death
• Matt. 27:45-54 narrates three unique events
that demonstrated that Jesus’ death was an
atoning sacrifice:
• (27:45) - The land was covered with
darkness, which signified that God was
pouring out his judgment on his Son as he
bore our guilt.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• At Jesus’ Death
• Matt. 27:45-54 narrates three unique events
that demonstrated that Jesus’ death was an
atoning sacrifice:
• (27:51) - The Temple curtain was torn at
the moment of Jesus’ death. This signified
that Jesus’ death had opened the way into
God’s presence for all who come through
him.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• At Jesus’ Death
• Matt. 27:45-54 narrates three unique events
that demonstrated that Jesus’ death was an
atoning sacrifice:
• (27:52,53) - Dead believers were raised
from the dead after Jesus’ resurrection,
signifying that Jesus’ death and
resurrection broke the power of sin and
death.
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• After Jesus’ Death
• Rom. 3:21-28
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• After Jesus’ Death
• Rom. 3:21-28
• 3:21 says that the Old Testament clearly
taught and predicted salvation through
substitutionary atonement.
• 3:23,24* explains humanity’s dilemma and
concisely explains Jesus’ atoning death as
the answer
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• After Jesus’ Death
• Rom. 3:21-28
• 3:25 explains that God “passed over” the
sins of the Old Testament believers
because of Jesus’ future payment for
them. They were NOT forgiven by the
animal sacrifices.
• 3:26 summarizes substitutionary
atonement as the way God can accept
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• After Jesus’ Death
• Rom. 3:21-28
• 3:22,25,26,27,28 emphasize the necessity
of faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. This is
not universalism (salvation for all
regardless of belief), but salvation by
grace alone, through Christ alone, through
faith alone.
• Note the three terms Paul uses to describe the
freedom we receive through Jesus’ substitutionary
atonement:
HUMAN
SETTING
MEANING
SPIRITUAL
RESULT
Justification Rom. 3:24 Law-court
Acquitted;
declared
innocent
Freedom from
guilt
Bondage in
Redemption Rom. 3:24 Egypt;
slave-market
Delivered by
payment of
ransom
Freedom from
bondage
TERM
PASSAGE
Propitiation Rom. 3:25
Temple
Satisfaction of Freedom from
judgment
wrath
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• After Jesus’ Death
• Hebrews 9:11-14, 23-26
• This passage contrasts the temporary and
insufficient sacrificial system of the Old
Testament with Jesus’ atoning death:
LEVITICAL SYSTEM
(Old Covenant)
WHO?
Sinful priest
The
Old
Earthly tabernacle;
WHERE?
Covenant is
temple
now obsolete.
JESUS' DEATH
(New Covenant)
Christ/Messiah
Heaven; the presence
of God
WHAT?
Animal sacrifices
His own blood
WHEN?
Year after year
Once for all
Ceremonial cleansing
RESULT?
Full salvation
only
Progressive Rev. of S.A.
• Why is it that we no longer do animal
sacrifices?
• Not because we now see they are primitive,
barbaric, etc.
• But because they have been fulfilled by the
most terrible sacrifice of all! And now that
Jesus has fulfilled the Old Covenant
system, it is obsolete (Heb. 8:13).
Ritualism
contradicts
God’s
Progressive
Rev. of S.A.
movement from
ritual to personal
• This is why New Testament Christianity
relationship.
should not be ritualistic.
• Old Covenant worship prescribed a ritualistic
approach to God in order to teach God's
people the elements of redemption.
• But now that Christ has come and God's Spirit
indwells us, God wants us to relate to him
personally rather than ritualistically (Gal. 4:311).
Summary
• Substitutionary atonement is the heart
of biblical theology/soteriology. Apart
from it, there is no salvation!!
Summary
• Substitutionary atonement is the heart
of biblical theology/soteriology. Apart
from it, there is no salvation!!
• People have always been saved by
grace through faith (Heb. 11:2), and
always through Jesus’ death.
Questions?
Next Week
• Soteriology (3 weeks)
• Substitutionary Atonement
• Eternal Security
• Calvinism vs Arminianism
Memory Verses
• Please note: the last page of your notes
gives a description of the verses, not the
actual wording of the verses
• Leviticus 16**
• Isaiah 53**
• Romans 3:23,24*
Assignment
• Read Rom. 8:1, 31-39 and summarize what it
seems to say about whether we can lose our
salvation;
• Read Heb. 6:4-6 & 10:26-31and summarize what
it seems to say about whether we can lose our
salvation;
• Write one paragraph attempting to harmonize
Romans’ & Hebrews’ seeming contradiction.
Corporate Prayer