The Atonement Of Christ

He Whom We Have Now Received The Atonement

TEXT: Hebrews 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 5:11
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

There has never been a greater attack upon the Body of Christ than that upon the atoning work of Christ. Satan knows so very well that his defeat was made total in the FINISHED work of Christ. Our text proclaims today that Christ, and Christ alone, is able to save the worst sinner from the worst sins, because HE ALONE as atoned for ALL sin. Sin's power and penalty were dealt with at the cross where the FINISHED work of Yeshua will forever stand as the symbol of Satan's defeat. Anyone who comes to God must come by and through the Lord Jesus Christ. In the atonement, or finished work, Christ addressed all sin, past, present, and future, meaning that that not one single sin left unatoned.

This does not mean that the atonement is automatic for the entirety of mankind. It means that the benefits of the atonement can only accrue to those who exercise faith in Christ.

John 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.

As we write this, we are less than a month away from the Jewish high holidays which include, Rosh Hashanah, the day of atonement, or Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These are known as the fall feasts which are in type prophetic foreshadows of things to come in the calendar of God's events for mankind, and especially, the nation of Israel. Yom Kippur is a type of Israel's national day of atonement when in one day, the nation will come back to their Redeemer. It is in type a picture of the atonement for the believer today. The word, "atonement," is used only one time in the New Testament:

Romans 5:11
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The actual translation of this word "atonement" is really, "reconciliation." It is used over 75 times in the Old Testament. Nevertheless, atonement is what Jesus effected at the Cross. It was used so often in the Old Covenant to point us to what was to come in the New Covenant through Christ. Yom Kippur was actually a "DAY" in Israel's history where the high priest could make his only visit into the holy of holies to pour blood on the mercy seat to cover the national sins of Israel. That is the best Israel, and any one in general, could hope for under the Old Covenant. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. The verse in Hebrews speaks of not only a new covenant, but a new priesthood, which referred to the daily sacrifices offered by the priests under the old Jewish economy up to the focus of the Day of Atonement.

Hebrews 7:27
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

This refers to the work of the Jewish High Priest on the Great day of Atonement which specified their unworthiness; Christ did NOT have to function accordingly. His death on the cross brought us much more than even the atonement. It brought and effected forgiveness, cleansing, Justification, Sanctification, Reconciliation, Grace, Hope, plus making it possible for the advent of the Holy Spirit in a completely new dimension. The sacrifices of old spoke to little else other than themselves. The one bringing the sacrifice only had hope that his sins were covered. The atonement of Christ brought us much more in that it made and brought those who are estranged into a unity, which the sacrifices of old, could only do in a limited way.

Atonement signifies a harmonious relationship or that which brings about such a relationship, i.e., "reconciliation." It is principally used of the Reconciliation between God and man effected by the work of Christ. The necessity for such Reconciliation is the breech in the relationship between the Creator and the creature occasioned by man's sinful rebellion.

It is important to note with respect to the Sacrifices of the Old Covenant that they bear witness to the rupture of fellowship between God and man the sinner, acknowledging the Righteousness of the Divine judgment upon man as a sinner, and finally, they constitute a provision for man's forgiveness and Reconciliation to God which has been divinely appointed. The New Covenant thought is added that the sacrifices of bulls and goats could NEVER fully cleanse the conscience from the defilement of sin and as well, appease an offended Deity. The Old Covenant sacrifices had their fulfillment in CHRIST. More importantly, and this is greatly important, the DEATH of CHRIST, who is the TRUE lamb of God.

Romans 3:23-26
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] 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; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Hebrews 9:11
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

The word means "a making it one," and points to a process of bringing those who are estranged into a unity, which the Sacrifices of old, could only do in a limited way. One may then say that Sacrifice, and more particular, Blood Sacrifice at that, is the basic New Testament category used to describe the Death of Christ. Because this is true, Atonement – which the Old Testament Sacrifices wrought in a ceremonial way – is the term commonly employed by theologians to describe the Work of Christ.

By the same token, because the meaning of Christ’s death is central in the New Testament, a much wider range of Biblical teaching than that bearing on Sacrifice has been included in the meaning of Atonement, to which we have already alluded. All we know according to scripture about the Nature of God, the significance of the Law, the character of sin, the power of demonic forces, the meaning of Salvation, and the coming Resurrection of the Redeemed – have their root meanings in the word "Atonement."

The First Yom Kippur

Before elaborating this larger array of ideas involved in interpreting the meaning of the Death of Christ as an Atonement, one must deal, at least in a cursory way, with the meaning of Atonement in the Old Testament, which is foundational to the New Testament Doctrine of Christ’s atoning work. The crucial material in this regard concerns the "Day of Atonement," or as it is sometimes referred to "the Great Day of Atonement." Of the Several Passages alluding to this day (Lev. 23:26-32; Num. Chpt. 18; 29:7-11), Leviticus, Chapter 16 is of capital importance, giving us a detailed set of instructions, given by the Lord to Moses, concerning the preparations and ceremonies then enacted. It is eminently clear that on this day there was the highest exercise of the High Priest’s Mediatorial office. It was a type and foreshadow of Christ's work for us today as believers.

It speaks to us of several things:

There must be the correct approach to God
There must be a correct preparation made by the High Priest (a symbol of Christ)
There must be the righteous, sinless standing of the High Priest before God
There must be the atoning sacrifice - the covering and taking away of sin - for the people
There must be an acknowledgement that cleansing and sacrifice are necessary for reconciliation with God
There must be a permanent observance of this great day - the Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur

The Manner Of The High Priest - The Correct Approach To God

There is a wrong approach to God as we saw in our last journal, "Strange Fire." Aaron's sons were self-righteous and it cost them more than just service, it cost them their lives. Acknowledging our sinfulness and the majestic holiness of God are paramount in our approach to God - even in these modern times when everything religious man does has a formula and approval from man himself. Man's sinfulness cannot enter God's presence (the Most Holy Place) apart from the shed blood of the sacrifice. Should man ever confront the holy presence of God he would DIE apart from the shed blood of Christ.

Neighbor, hear me today. That message is NOT new and it's not changed. Man without God is lost and he will suffer eternal death unless he comes by faith through the blood of Christ. How we in the modern church world would not want to keep proclaiming this message is beyond me. Why we would want to pursue everything else than the preaching of the cross is as absurb as a doctor not wanting to pursue a medical degree. It's like a lawyer not wanting to pursue a law degree. We have been given "great and precious" promises, that we are to proclaim, not tinker with with our brain-dead theologies and hardened, arrogant hearts. God appeared before the mercy seat at the day of Atonement and He still appears there today. The mercy seat must be sprinkled with BLOOD.

Leviticus 16:1-2
And the Lord spoke unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died; [2] And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

The problem with man is SIN. Some day in the future God's wrath against sin and evil is coming. Nothing - no person and no thing - can prevent God from executing JUSTICE. Justice will be executed at the Great White Throne Judgment and nothing can stop it. Not denial, no ignorance, not neglect, not the best effort to escape it - "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN," as Jesus said. Born again is not a cliché, used by most churches in their weekly bulletins, but it's a change in our hearts and lives by the power of the Holy GHOST when the blood of Christ has been appropriated to us by faith.

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Forgiveness and reconciliation (atonement) are absolute essentials in order for man to live with God. Sin must be taken away and removed or else man has to face judgment. Justice demands judgment. But that is the powerful message of Yom Kippur and the atonement of Christ - SIN HAS BEEN PAID FOR! Glory to God. Sin has been dealt with. Sin has been defeated. The powers of darkness no longer have a hold on me. The powers of sin's blight no longer can stand in the power of the Lord's MIGHT. Hanging upon the cross, our Lord Jesus Christ:

Bore our sins, taking them away
Died for our uncleanness, removing it
Allowed the justice and judgment of God to be executed against Him, suffering our punishment
Paid the penalty of death, bearing the alienation and separation of God for us on the cross

Being a sinner himself and representing a sinful people, the great high priest discarded his gorgeous High Priestly garments and, having bathed himself, he assumed an attire which was destitute of all ornament as fitting one who was suing for forgiveness. Christ did not need forgiveness but as a type of our coming High Priest, put aside His garments of glory and beauty. Calvary was not a pretty picture. It was a bloody mess, a travesty by natural man's eyes. The modern church world struggles even today with the gruesomeness of the cross. People have been "offended," at Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ because of the violence in it as if we somehow don't really believe the crucifixion could possibly be that gory.

That's why some churches are taking songs about the blood of Christ out of their song books to not "offend," the seeker sensitive. God help us. That makes about as much sense as a doctor telling me he's going to do surgery on me but he never graduated from medical school. That's about as relevant as a lawyer practicing law without a degree. BOTH situations would put both the doctor and lawyer in jail for doing business without a license. PREACHER, when you preach this mighty gospel and you take out the cross, you've done just the same. You are sending people to hell with your seeker sensitive message that dare not offend the drunk. You are sending people to hell with your promises of prosperity and blessing without warning the sinner he need repent and come to Christ = his only means oaf atonement. There IS no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved. There IS no other means of atonement neighbor. It's Christ or hell. It's the cross or darkness. It's the cross or the devil. It's the cross or false religion. It's the cross, the cross, the cross, Paul said " I will glory in the CROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

On this particular day, which came about once a year, his attire was white, symbolizing the purity required of those who would enter into the Presence of the Holy One of Israel. Being thus prepared and properly dressed, at least in this humble manner, he performed the Sacrifices which climaxed the whole system of purification in Leviticus. By these Sacrifices, which involved the confession of sin (the High Priest laid his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessing Israel’s transgression, so putting them upon the head of the goat, Lev. 16:21), and the sprinkling of the shed blood seven times toward the Mercy Seat where the Presence of the Lord dwelt, the Priest made Atonement for the sins of the people.

Leviticus 16:21
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Thus, by a ceremonial act at the central Sanctuary, peace and fellowship with the God of the Covenant were restored. The entire removal of the cause of God’s alienation was symbolically set forth, both by the giving of the life of one animal and the sending of another into the wilderness. That animal sacrifice was a type of Christ, the great sacrificial lamb Who was to come, and HAS come to pay man's sin debt.

You say, "what does this mean to me today?" It means you can be free sir. It means you can be free ma'am. It means you can be free young person. You don't have to be bound by depression any more. He has broken the chains and shackles of sin so you can walk free from the powers of darkness. You don't have to go home every night drunk and so full of alcohol you don't even know your address or name. You don't have to lust after everything that moves. You don't have to look to cocaine or other drugs for a "high" any longer. The atonement means there is an open door to the Father, who welcomes your coming to Him through His Son Christ Jesus. If you will but put your faith in HIM, He will cleanse you and set you free today. No, things will not be fine and dandy, cotton candy. When you come to Christ, to be frank, all hell is about to break loose. Satan will fight with everything in hell to keep you in that bondage. For some the struggle takes longer than others, but once you anchor your faith in this atoning sacrifice I speak of - victory friend, is on the way. Victory neighbor is just in sight. Victory brother is on the horizon. Satan may try and fight for a season but he KNOWS that at the cross His legal claim to you was removed by the power of the blood of the CHRIST. That should make us shout friend. That should make us say "PRAISE GOD." That should make us say "GLORY TO GOD." That should give us something to sing about, to shout about, to praise God about. Glory to God.

The New Covenant Atonement

Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It is the ceremonial Great Day of Atonement which constitutes the principal Doctrine as Paul outlines it in Hebrews, regarding his interpretation of the Death of Christ. In his use of the Levitical example to illumine the meaning of Christ’s death, one has a striking example of redemptive history. What Christ did is analogous to what the High Priest did in the Old Testament.

All the symbols and ceremonies in the Old Testament teaching regarding the Atonement find their true meaning and fulfillment in the New Covenant in Christ’s Blood, which Paul constantly proclaims (Mat. 26:28; Heb. 12:24). Christ is the suffering servant of the Lord Who brings Redemption to all mankind. Along with this fundamental continuity of Redemptive Revelation, there is also a discontinuity, which speaks of some things dropping off.

Matthew 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Hebrews 12:24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The Covenant in Christ’s Blood is a New Covenant; in fact, Paul in the Book of Hebrews sharply contrasts the work of the High Priest in the Old Testament with that of Christ in the New Testament, particularly in terms of its effectiveness. Whereas every year the ritual of the Day of Atonement was reenacted as the Priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of the appointed victim, Christ has entered once and for all into the True Sanctuary, not made with hands, into the Presence of God, to make intercession for us with His Own Blood. He has secured a lasting deliverance for mankind. Access to God is no longer granted to the High Priest alone, who himself was limited to restrictions of time, place, and circumstance. Rather Christ, the Great High Priest, has opened a new and living way to God, a way by which all whose hearts are purged from the guilt of sin may at all times have free access to the Father. Having made Atonement for sin, He has reconciled man to God (Heb., Chpts. 7-10).

Actually, the same basic interpretation of Christ’s Death prevails throughout the New Testament. According to Paul, one is justified by the Blood of Christ (Rom. 5:9), for God has set forth Christ to be a propitiation through Faith in His Blood (Rom. 3:25).

Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 3:25
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;

As well, both Jews and Gentiles have been reconciled to God by the Cross (Eph. 2:16). Christ has made peace by the Blood of His Cross, reconciling man to God in the body of His flesh through death (Col. 1:20-22).

Eph. 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Col. 1:20-22
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled: [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Christ suffered for all, bearing our sins in His Own body on the Tree, healing us by His stripes (Isa. 53; I Pet. 2:24).

1 Peter 2:24
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.

Isaiah 53:1-5
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] 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.

The Son of Man came to give His Life a ransom for many (Mat. 20:28). One day we all who have received this great atonement will join with the redeemed in the Book of Revelation in ascribing praise to Him "Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His Blood" (Rev. 1:5-6). Neighbor, that day is soon to come.

Rev. 1:5-6
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, [6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The Origin and Reason For This Great Atonement

We must never forget that Atonement originated with God; it was He Who provided it. One may trace the development of blood sacrifice, because it was blood sacrifice which was demanded, among the Hebrews, and one will find in both the Priestly and Prophetic writings of the Old Testament it is God Who appointed the various Rites, giving to Moses and those who followed him, instructions concerning the manner in which they were to be rendered which they secured to the worshiper. So it is in the New Testament as well. The Atonement for sin provided by the Death of Christ had its source in God. It is He Who "was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (II Cor. 5:19).

2 Cor. 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The ultimate reason for this initiative is not to be found in any necessity laid upon God, but in His free and sovereign will. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal Life" (Jn. 3:16). In fact, this is the ultimate of Revelation; i.e., the Atonement finds its ultimate explanation in an unfathomable urge in God toward His sinful and alienated creatures. He has been pleased, for reasons known only to Himself, to set His Love upon those who are unworthy. The Lord has loved men with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3), and in due time commended that love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). This is the reason for the atonement of Christ, there is no other.

Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

John 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.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

When Scripture says that God is love (I Jn. 4:7-8), it teaches that love is no incidental aspect of God’s Being, something which He may choose to be or not to be at His pleasure. Rather, it is the very essence of His Being. Though people, at least if they properly evaluate themselves, can discover no reason in themselves, no value or worth which would evoke such love, yet He loves us because He is God Who is love. The Lord says that He set His love upon His people, not because they were greater in number than any other – for they were the fewest – but because He loved them (Deut. 7:6-8). That is, He loved them (and us) because He loved them; the reason for His love is hidden in Himself Whose Name is, "I Am Who I Am" (Ex. 3:14).

1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Deut. 7:6-8
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [7] The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Exodus 3:14
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

The principle word which the New Testament uses for the Divine Love is "agape." Significantly, "eros," the most oft used word for love in Greek philosophy, does not even occur one time in the Bible. The most plausible explanation is that erotic love, whether it describes the relation of the sexes, or, as in Plato, the aspiration of the soul for ideas, it is the love of the worthy, a love based on value.

By contrast, God’s Covenant Love for His people (agape), which moved Him to provide an Atonement for sin, is a love for the unworthy. Even when His people, like an unfaithful wife, went whoring after other gods, the Lord loved them still (Hos. 11:8-9). "In this is love," wrote John, "not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins" (I Jn. 4:10). This "Love Divine, all loves excelling" cannot be frustrated; it is a love, says Paul, from which nothing can separate us (Rom. 8:38-39). The reason for this is that this love is not dependent upon anything in man; it is a love which is sovereign and free.

Hosea 11:8-9
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. [9] I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And yet, even though nothing can separate one from the Love of God, these Passages in Romans, Chapter 8, say nothing about an individual purposely separating himself from God, which one can do, if one is so inclined. In fact, that’s what the entirety of the Book of Hebrews is all about. In other words, we can CHOOSE to leave this great salvation by an act of our own volition. God did make robots, nor does He demand anything from man in the sense of man being "forced," to serve God. God doesn't want people serving Him because they "have" to, He wants us to love Him because we WANT to. God wants "willful and loving worshippers of Jesus," in these last days.

The Atonement And The Church's View In These Last Hours

How one interprets the Atonement is of great significance, even as should be obvious. To misinterpret the Atonement, or in common terms, the "finished work of Christ," is to misunderstand the entirety of the Plan of God for the human race. The atonement is an ETERNAL matter friend. I know some think that we can talk about this too much but I don't think so. If we talked about this "great salvation," for the rest of eternity starting today believe me, we'd STILL have something to talk about after we thought we had exhausted the matter. You can't talk too much about JESUS! You can't sing too much about JESUS and what HE has done, not us. You can't praise HIM too much. You can't love Him "too much." You can't obey Him too much. Now you can take certain truths and go into extremes and cause people to be so confused they don't know whether they're saved or not. That happens quite a bit to be honest in modern church circles. That's why when we preach the cross, we can be sure we're pointing people in the right direction and the right place to find whatever answer they need for the problems of life.

The message of the atonement is a message of LIFE, not death. It's a message birthed by the ETERNAL SPIRIT (Heb. 9:14) which made the "eternal covenant," a reality. In Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28, Jesus said concerning Himself, "For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His Life as a ransom for many." To ransom someone means to redeem him by purchasing his release through the payment of a price.

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Hebrews 9:14
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?

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

From these Passages, some have claimed, and we refer to the Jesus died spiritually doctrine, that Christ gave His soul, in lieu of man’s, to the Devil which paid the ransom price of the delivery from his powers. The theory is that since the first parents had sold their souls to the Devil, he had a legal claim over men, which God, in justice, must satisfy. Hence, Jesus gave His soul as the ransom price for man’s release and "descended into Hell," and by that statement, they are claiming that He went to the burning side of the Pit. There it is claimed by these Teachers, that Jesus was Born-Again, with it then becoming impossible for Satan to hold Him in Hell. The third day He rose in triumph, taking with Him all whom He had redeemed. Such teaching is a serious misunderstanding of the Atonement, and any misunderstanding of the Atonement is serious indeed! In fact, there’s nothing in the Bible about this which we have just portrayed. I'm not going to rehash this here but I will say this.

One of the leading proponents of this doctrine says themself, "I can't prove this in the Bible, you have to 'see' it in your spirit." That statement alone should send so many red flags up in our hearts we'd run from this morass of stupidity like a diamondback rattlesnake. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth. BUT, the Spirit of God is not the originator of truth, JESUS is. ALL TRUTH IS IN JESUS - Eph. 4:21. The Spirit's job is to lead us into truth, which is in essence, summed up in the person of Christ. (John 14:6). Yes, the Holy Spirit IS GOD. But the SPIRIT, the water, a type of the WORD (JESUS), and the BLOOD (the atonement) agree both in earth and in heaven. ALL these three are in unison when it comes to man's redemption AND victory.

Eph. 4:21
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 John 5:3-7 - This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. [7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, (WORD) and the blood (ATONEMENT): and these three agree in one. [9] If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

You can't separate the atonement from the Holy Spirit. Paul said we must never neglect this great salvation and when we see how Christ has atoned for our sins, all we can say to that is "AMEN."

As we draw closer to the High Holidays of Israel this year which include Yom Kippur, let us never forget that 'we have received the atonement," of Christ if we by faith have believed in His finished work. Most who are born again have no problem with that. But let us also never forget that we must KEEP our faith anchored there as well.

Romans 5:11
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

RECEIVE this atonement today. Embrace the finished work of Christ. Some reading this may be under severe condemnation over past sins. Know today that HIS BLOOD covers your past and there is NO condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST and living by the law of the Spirit of life. Be free today. Praise the risen Lamb that HE IS OUR YOM KIPPUR and we will never cease glorying in HIS FINISHED WORK. I will glory in the cross.

Heavenly Father, we praise You today for this great salvation YOU have given to us through Christ. Help us to never take it for granted. Forgive your Church for tampering with this great doctrine of our faith to the point we have watered down the power of the cross and as a result brought DEATH instead of true life to those who embrace the false doctrines of this hour. Bring Your church back to the cross - in Jesus name we pray, Amen.

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