The Atonement - What is Salvation

Romans 5:1-11

Introduction

In answering the question, "What is salvation?" it is absolutely necessary that we deal with the need for atonement.

There is only one place in the entire New Testament where the English word "atonement" is used, Romans 5:11, although the same Greek word (kat-al-a-GAY) is translated "reconciliation" in several other places. And "atonement" or "reconciliation" is at the heart of being "saved", being right with God.

There are at least six shades of meaning that can be brought to mind when we use either the word "atonement" or "reconciliation," or seek to express the truth these words convey.

In non-technical words: the Bible tells us what we already know by instinct- that somehow we want to be near God, but are out of touch with Him; but by His love to us in Jesus Christ, we can be brought near, made to know and love and have fellowship with Him. This "coming near" is by Christ's atonement.

I. SOME DOCTRINAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE ATONEMENT

  1. A DEFINITION

    I know it is extremely old-fashioned to quote theologians, especially conservative theologians. But on this world-wide communion Sunday I want to define what we mean by "atonement:"

    1. We define the atonement of Jesus as "The satisfaction offered to divine justice by the death of Christ for the sins of mankind, by virtue of which all true penitents who believe in Christ are personally reconciled to God, are freed from the penalty of their sins, and entitled to eternal life." (Richard Watson, in his monumental Theological Institutes, 1851.)
    2. Or, another definition, "The atonement is the satisfaction made to God for the sins of all mankind, original and actual, by the mediation of Christ, and especially by His passion and death, so that pardon might be granted to all, while the divine perfections are kept in harmony, the authority of the Sovereign is upheld, and the strongest motives are brought to bear upon sinners to lead them to repentance, to faith in Christ, the necessary conditions of pardon, and to a life of obedience, by the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit." (Thomas O. Summers, Systematic Theology.)

    I understand this simply to say that in Jesus Christ, by His death on Calvary, we have been offered the free gift of eternal life. LIFE HAS BEEN OFFERED TO ALL WHO BELIEVE!

  2. A NECESSITY

    I also know it is extremely naive to believe that atonement is necessary. For "sin" has all but disappeared from the vocabulary and from the thinking of our culture. We live in a no-fault, no-sin society.

    But all the same, all have sinned, and desperately need to be reconciled to God. We may have the image of God, but not all people everywhere KNOW God or have Him in their thoughts. So atonement is needed, on your part and mine, because we have sinned.

    And atonement is needed on God's part, also. For He is perfectly holy and just. And even though He yearns with love for His creatures, He cannot fellowship with sin. And so He needs Someone to take away the creature's sin so that God can know again (what Dr. Bob Hubbard called last Tuesday) "the Eden experience."

  3. A CENTRAL SCRIPTURAL TRUTH

    Before I leave this "doctrinal side" of my message, I would show how the scriptures clearly point to Jesus as the only One who can reconcile us to God.

    1. In the Old Testament, the doctrine of atonement unfolded beginning with the primitive sacrifices of the pre-Law, pre-Mosaic time, when Abel and Noah and Abraham, and no doubt many others who sought after God offered sacrifices and were accepted of God.
    2. Then came the sacrifices prescribed by the Law, and given in detail in Exodus and Leviticus, where God made it plain that life was precious, that the life was in the blood, and that without the shedding of blood there was no remission for sin.
    3. But the high point of Old Testament understanding of "atonement" came in the prophetic statements of the One Who would come to bear the sins of the world.

    Listen to Isaiah 53:4-5:

    "Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. 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."

II. JESUS HIMSELF IS OUR ATONEMENT

But all doctrine, and all necessity, and all scriptural fulfillment are found in Jesus Christ Himself. And Paul, the greatest theologian of all summed up my understanding of the atonement in four words, found in Romans 5:8. They are the words of my text for this communion worship hour: "Christ died for us."

Will you say them with me, reverently? "Christ died for us."

The closing part of my meditation today has three parts, each of which I will open with a question. And the answer to each question is the text, these four words: "Christ died for us." But the emphasis is different, with the stress being laid on the obvious answer. You will understand as we go along.

  1. WHO died for us? "CHRIST died for us!"

    It is a humbling thing to be died for! And we all have had moments of reflection when we have pondered the wonder of ordinary men who have gone off to some foreign land because they loved this land— and there they have died so that we would not have to be enslaved. Maybe THAT is old-fashioned and corny, too. But I have stood at Arlington National Cemetery and felt deep emotion to think that here lie men who have died for me.

    But all others who have died for us have bought life and freedom that is limited, and that will one day end. They themselves were sinners, and needed atonement. If there were only someone who were NOT a sinner, who was willing to die, and would not have to purge his own sins— then his death would have vicarious, substitutionary grace.

    And if that perfect, sinless person were God Himself, infinite in power and grace and life, then his acceptance of our penalty would satisfy perfect justice. And this is exactly what happened. As Cecil Alexander wrote in the hymn,

    There Is a Green Hill Far Away:

    "There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin He only could unlock the gate of heav'n, and let us in."

    But there is a second question:

  2. Christ DID WHAT for us? "Christ DIED for us!"

    Jesus Christ not only came to reveal God, as the Eternal Word, He came to make us the sons and daughters of God as we receive Him by faith!

    And so He has fully paid our penalty for sin. If we will receive the free gift of atonement, as the Holy Spirit enables us to reach out and take it by faith, we shall be saved. NOT because sin is not deadly, and NOT because we have not sinned, and NOT because God has simply "excused" sin. But because Jesus DIED, and so we do not need to pay the penalty ourselves! Jesus DIED for us!

    And there is a final question:

  3. Christ died FOR WHOM? "Christ died FOR US!

    This is where God the Holy Spirit makes the truth of "atonement" very personal! The truth of salvation is magnificent, and hard to grasp in all its splendor— that God should care for mortal men and women. But that He should care for common, ordinary people like me and you is incomprehensible apart from divine revelation.

    But God does care! And Jesus died not only for great and famous people in other times and other places; Jesus died for you, and for me— for us who are gathered right here and right now in this place!

The atonement is HERE!