5 VITAL TRUTHS CONCERNING CHRIST'S ATONING DEATH

Yom Kippur, or "Day of Atonement," begins today (Wednesday) at sundown and is the most holy day of the year on the Jewish calendar. Yom means "day" and Kippur is probably derived from the Hebrew kofer, meaning "ransom." Yom Kippur falls on two of our calendar days because the Jewish day begins and ends at sunset.

It was on this Day of Atonement that the Old Testament high priest went into the holy of holies, and with animal sacrifices, made sacrificial atonement for the sins of the people of Israel (Leviticus 16). Interestingly, there was to be absolutely no work on this Day. This Day was God’s idea and God’s work, with the high priest being the one carrying out the proceedings.

The Old Testament Day of Atonement was a type and foreshadowing of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, not just for Israel, but for the world. Jesus Himself said in Mark 10:45 that He had come to give His life a ransom for many. Paul speaks of the death of Christ as a sacrifice, even referring to Him as our Passover lamb. (I Corinthians 5:7).

The atoning death of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift God has given the human race. It offers forgiveness, freedom and peace with God that cannot be attained or achieved from any other source. It is, therefore, necessary that we understand the truth concerning the atonement for many false teachings abound today, which are based on a distortion of this wonderful act of grace.

Here are 5 truths that are vital for understanding and appropriating the full blessing of Christ's atoning death.

Truth #1
We Cannot Add to His Atoning Work

As mentioned above, there was to be no work on the Day of Atonement. All human labor was to cease. This speaks to the fact that God did not ask or require our help in Christ’s atoning work. Hebrews 1:6 speaks of how Christ, by Himself purged our sins. We have nothing to add. We can only come, and in faith receive the benefits of the work He has already done. It is a Christ centered atonement.

Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul the apostle, Paul had to learn that his own religious works would not make him right with God. Concerning the righteousness that comes from keeping the Law, Paul said he was “blameless” (Philippians. 1:6). He came to realize, however, that he was just a proud Pharisee. Struck down and lying in the dust of the Damascus Road in the presence of the risen Messiah, he saw how unworthy and undone he really was, and how all his human righteousness was nothing more than “rubbish” (Philippians 1:8).

There are many proud Pharisees today who are depending on their church membership, or singing in the choir, or their occasional good deeds to take them to heaven. They are like John Wesley who was a baptized, confirmed, and ordained Anglican. He even went as a missionary to colonial America to "convert" the American Indians. 

Wesley, however, had his own Damascus Road experience and later wrote, "I who went to America to convert the Indians had never been converted myself." He came to realize that, like Paul, he had built his faith on a faulty foundation—himself and his own works. He came to the stunning realization that only faith in Christ, and Him alone, would save him, and he was never the same.

Many Christian notables have had this Christ-centered revelation, including Martin Luther, George Whitefield, and Pandita Ramabai. This revelation transformed their lives and they impacted their generation for Christ. As the old hymn says, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Truth #2
The Benefits of the Atonement 
Must be Appropriated by Repentance & Faith

Yes, the forgiveness and blessings of Christ’s atoning death are free and available to all, but must be appropriated by repentance and faith. This is why Paul, when speaking to the Ephesian elders, reminded them how he had testified to both Jews and Greeks, Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our English word "repent" comes from the Greek word, metanoia.  Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon defines metanoia as "a change of mind, especially the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their misdeeds and have determined to enter upon a better course of life."

One serious misunderstanding of the Atonement is the idea that its benefits are automatically applied regardless of attitude or behavior. This idea seems to run parallel with the popular teaching that since Christ has paid for my sins, I do not have to confess sins I commit or be watchful concerning sin.

They speculate that if Jesus paid the penalty for all sins, then any sins I have committed in the past, or am committing now, or will commit in the future, have already been paid for, and borne away, by Christ. I, therefore, do not have to confess sin or be concerned with sin. There is no longer a sin problem for me or for the human race.

For many, this theory has an attractive ring to it, but it is at odds with so many passages of Scripture. For example, Simon the Sorcerer, who had been baptized in the great Samaritan revival led by Philip, offered Peter and John money in return for the authority to lay hands on people to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter’s answer to him was very telling.

Peter said to Simon, Your money perish with you because you thought the gift of God could be purchased with money (Acts 8:20). Peter went on to say, Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22).

Simon’s request had revealed that true repentance had not taken place even though he had been baptized. Peter said that Simon was in a state of perishing and he called on Simon to repent of his wickedness and ask God for forgiveness.

Peter obviously did not see the benefits of the atonement being automatically applied in Simon’s case. He did not take Simon’s sin lightly. There was a need for repentance and contrition of heart on Simon’s part if he was going to experience the blessings and benefits of Christ’s atoning death.

This is why Paul expressed concern to the Corinthians about un-repented sin in their midst and said he feared that when he would come to them,

My God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced (I Corinthians 12:21).

No, the atoning merits of Christ’s death are not automatically applied across-the-board. The New Testament is filled with passages about the importance of repentance and faith in appropriating the forgiveness and blessings provided through Christ’s atoning death. This understanding is vital for another Great Awakening in our land.

Truth #3
The Atonement Was Not a Commercial Transaction

We must realize that the atonement of Jesus Christ was not a commercial transaction in which He paid the aggregate penalty for every single sin that ever was, or ever will be, committed. If this were the case, there would be no mercy or forgiveness on God’s part. God would be like an ice cold businessman who demands exact payment for every debt and obligation.

If such were the case, the sinner would be in the position of being able to demand his/her salvation from God since the precise debt for any sins they have committed, or ever will commit, has been paid. Salvation would not be a gift from God but something He owes and must give to every person regardless of their attitude, because the precise debt has been paid.

Instead, however, God is presented in Scripture as a merciful and caring being, willing to forgive those who come to Him in reverence and faith. The word “forgive” means “to remit” or “to cancel” or “to write off.” Because of what Christ has done, God is willing to “remit” or “write off” our sins when we put our faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work through the cross.

We, therefore, should not think of the Atonement in terms of a quantitative payment for every individual sin. We should, instead, think of the Atonement in terms of “quality.” It was the quality of the sacrifice--Jesus Christ being God incarnate--that made His sacrifice acceptable in the sight of God and the basis for God to offer amnesty and pardon to a race of rebels, if they will only come to Him in repentance and faith.

The death of Christ on the cross was a public demonstration of God’s love for humanity and a public showing of His willingness to grant forgiveness and new life to those who will come to Him in repentance and faith. It also, however, showed the terribleness of sin and provided satisfaction for the just nature of a holy God who cannot wink at sin.

Truth #4
The Blessing of Repentance & Confession of Sin

On the Old Testament Day of Atonement, the people were instructed to “afflict their souls.” In other words, they were to examine themselves and repent of wrong and sinful attitudes and behavior. But is such an approach appropriate for a New Testament believer?

In I Corinthians 11:27-32 Paul cautions the Corinthian believers about taking communion in an "unworthy manner," that is, with unconfessed sin in their lives. Communion is a celebration of Christ's atoning death and sin is not to be treated in a light, trivial manner by those who participate. Paul instructed, Let a man [person] examine himself and so let him eat . . .. In verse 31 he says, But if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world. 

As New Covenant believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we judge ourselves by opening our hearts to the Lord and inviting Him to show us anything in our lives that is displeasing to Him. As He brings attitudes and behavior to our attention, we then acknowledge, or confess, our sins before the Lord as we are instructed to do in I John 1:9, a passage and letter written to believers. The results of such repentance and confession can be astounding.

This was the experience of a church, described by Charles Finney, that led to great revival. Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, the leaders of this church came to realize that in seeking numbers and recognition from the culture and community leaders, they had compromised their commitment to Christ. They, therefore, formulated a public statement concerning their “backsliding and want of a Christian spirit” (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, 177).

It was submitted to the congregation for their approval and then read before the congregation. As the confession was being read publicly, the entire congregation stood to its feet with many of its members weeping. Finney said that, from that moment on, the revival went forward in great power, and the opposition, which had been bitter, was silenced.

Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son to reveal the merciful, forgiving heart of God. However, the parable also reveals the attitude of heart in which the wayward son or daughter must return to the Father.

After coming to the end of himself in the pigpen, the prodigal departed for home with a different attitude. He determined that on arriving home, he would say to the Father, Father I have sinned against heaven and in Your sight and I am no longer worthy to called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants (Luke 15:18-19).

The prodigal was not perfect. He probably smelled like a pigpen. He probably had pig manure on his shoes and straw in his hair. But he had left the pig pen with a changed attitude and was headed in the right direction, back to the Father’s house. That is a picture of true repentance.

When the Father saw him afar off He ran and fell on his neck weeping. He then brought him into the house, completely restored him to his place in the family, and initiated a time of rejoicing for his safe return.

Truth #5
You Can Appropriate the Atonement Blessings Now

God rejoices today when erring sinners return to Him in faith and sincerity of heart. If you have never appropriated the wonderful forgiveness and blessings of Christ’s Atonement, I urge you to do so today. Come to Him now in faith and sincerity of heart. He will receive you with open arms.

If you are a believer, I urge you to invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart for any attitudes, or any compromise with the world, that are displeasing to Him. As He brings these sins and weights to our minds and we confess them before Him with contrition of heart, I am convinced that we will see a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives, our churches, our nation, and the world.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is an author, Bible teacher, and ordained minister with a vision for Spiritual Awakening in America and around the world. His numerous books on revival and Spiritual Awakening are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html. To schedule him to speak at your church, group, or conference, send an email to dreddiehyatt@gmail.com, and visit his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.