THE NATURE OF THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST

THE NATURE OF THE ASCENSION

 

An Event Apparent to the Physical Senses

Acts 1:9 - heard, saw "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Yet no Attempt is Made to Explain its Nature

Think of the problems involved.

• Suppose Luke was writing fiction! He would have added more details and explanations.
• But note how a veil is quickly drawn - "a cloud received Him out of their sight."

The Ascension is Regarded as a Part of the Mystery of Christ

1 Tim. 3:16 (cf. 3:9) "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
"Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."


Col. 2:2-3  "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
"the mystery of God, even Christ"  The phrase occurs in the record of another of the Apostle's prayers. His desire for all the saints was that they might know "The mystery of God, even Christ." That he desired this, shows us that in the true Christian sense a mystery is not something which cannot be known. It is something which man is unable to discover or explain; but it is something which may be disclosed to him and which therefore he may know. And that is perhaps Paul's ultimate word about Christ. The last word has never yet been spoken about Him. There is nothing more wonderful than the persistence and ever-increasing discussion of all sorts and conditions of thinking men concerning the Person of our Lord. The subject is never exhausted; it never becomes out of date. Again and again men feel that they have formulated a Christology, only to find that some others have seen other facts not included in their system. And so He moves on, the Enigma of the ages, the inclusive Word, Whose ultimate secret is not expressed, the very mystery of God. Nevertheless through all the intellectual processes, He finds the heart of man, and gives Himself to it, so that in Him it finds rest, joy, satisfaction. Multitudes of simple souls who are unequal to any explanation live in daily comradeship with Him. They know Him, and know Him well. They are more intimate with Him than with their dearest earthly friends. They tell Him all their grief's and joys, their doubts and hopes, their successes and failures, and they hear Him speak to them positively, prevailingly He is indeed the Mystery of God, profound in the wonder of His being, and yet so real that the tiniest child talks of Him with sweet familiarity.

Some day we shall know more -- when we "ascend"!

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST

Introduction

• Not enough attention has been given to the ascension of Christ.
• We do not expect to exhaust the theme, but hope to stimulate you to further study.
• The following is only a bare outline.

 THE FACT OF THE ASCENSION

 

Prophesied in the Old Testament

Psa. 68:18 (Eph. 4:8) "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them."
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
Psa. 110:1 (Acts 2:34) "A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."
"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,"
Isa. 52:13 "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high."

Anticipated and Foretold by Christ

John 7:33-36 "Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?"
John 8:21 "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come."
John 14:28-29 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."
John 16:5-7 "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
Matt. 25:14, 15 "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey."

Described as a Historical Event

Mark 16:19-20 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
Luke 24:50-51 (a textual problem here) "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."
Acts 1:9 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Confirmed by the experiences of Stephen, Paul, and John

Stephen - Acts 7:55-56 "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

Paul - Acts 9:3-5 (Deep impression -- tells story twice) "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
Acts 22:6-8; 26:13-15 "And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest."
"At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest."

John - Rev. 4:1; 5:6 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter."
"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."

 

Assumed by Entire Doctrine of Second Coming

1 Thess. 1:9-10 "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

Assumed by the Whole Christian Faith

We worship a living Savior Who is at the right hand of God.

CONCLUSION TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

CONCLUSION TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

 

 The Nature of the Resurrection Body

 He Ate Food with His Disciples:

• Luke 24:42 "And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb."
• Acts 1:4 (ASV margin) "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."
• Acts 10:41 "Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead."

And yet he passed through material substances: John 20:6-8 (through linen cloths)  "Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed."

Matt. 28:2 (through the great stone) "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it."

John 20:19 (through the walls of the upper room) "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

False Theories of the Resurrection

The Swoon Theory: Did not really die. The effect of crucifixion was so devastating that he fainted. But later he revived within the cool atmosphere of the tomb and the aromatic spices with which He was embalmed.

The Deception Theory: The disciples practiced a deliberate lie and imposed this untruth upon the world. They stole the body and concealed it, but said that He arose. The authorities had already anticipated such a move and had provided against it. They sealed the tomb and paid money to men to lie about the dis­appearance of the body (Matt. 28:13).

The Vision Theory: The disciples were so much in love with this man and wished that He could remain among them that they actually developed visions of having seen Him. Thomas was against any such thing, and Paul declared that he was not mad when He said he had seen Him (John 20:24-29; Acts 26:24-25). This would require more miracles than the resurrection to convince 500 Jews that Christ was risen (1 Cor. 15:6).

The Spirit Theory: that His Spirit rose and ministered to the disciples, but it was their psychological frame of mind that led them to reconstruct a body clothed in features such as they had once witnessed.

THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

 

 

 

The New Testament Records

• The unique life of Jesus
• The empty tomb
• The transformation of the disciples
• The birth of the Church
• The Day of Worship Changed to Sunday 1 Cor. 16:2; Acts 20:7 The earliest account of a first-day worship experience is found in Acts 20:7-12. Here Paul joined the Christians of Troas on the evening of the first day of the week for the breaking of bread (probably a reference to the Lord's Supper). The actual day is somewhat uncertain. Evening of the first day could refer to Saturday evening (by Jewish reckoning) or to Sunday evening (by Roman reckoning). Since the incident involved Gentiles on Gentile soil, however, the probable reference is to Sunday night.

    The importance of Sunday to first-century Christians is also intimated in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Giving instructions about a special relief offering he wanted to take to the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul suggested that the Corinthians should set aside their weekly contributions on the first day of the week. Paul probably mentioned this day because he knew that his readers routinely assembled on that day for worship and that would be the logical time for them to set aside their offering.

    Two other second-century documents also shed light on the significance of Lord's Day for the early church. First, Ignatius in his Epistle to the Magnesians (about A.D. 110-117) stressed the importance of Lord's Day by contrasting the worship done on that day with that formerly observed on the Sabbath (9:1). Second, Justin Martyr (about A.D. 150) wrote the first extant Christian description of a worship service. He noted that the early Sunday morning service began with baptism, included Scripture readings, expository preaching, and prayer, and then concluded with the observance of the Lord's Supper (Apology 65-67).

    First and second century Christian documents indicate that Sunday quickly became the standard day for Christian worship, but they do not explain how or why this change from Sabbath to Lord's Day came about. The most obvious reason, of course, was the Resurrection of Jesus which took place on that first Lord's Day. Since the earliest collective experiences of the disciples with the risen Lord took place on Easter Sunday evening (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23), one might naturally expect the disciples to gather at that same hour on subsequent Sundays to remember Him in the observance of the Supper. This pattern, perhaps, is reflected in the service at Troas in Acts 20.

• Paul's conversion

THE BIBLICAL TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

THE BIBLICAL TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

Introduction: cf. "according to the Scriptures" -- 1 Cor. 15:4. This verse refers to the Old Testament mainly - cf. Luke 24:27, 44-46.
"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"

Testimony of Old Testament

Predicted in Old Testament Prophecy.

Psa. 16:10 - who? See Acts 2:25-31, 13:35-37 "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Psa. 2:7 - what?  See Acts 13:33-37 "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."
Isa. 53:10 - who? See Matt. 8:17 "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."
Psa. 22:22 (contrast the previous verses) "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."

Foreshadowed by Old Testament types. Jonah (Matt. 12:40) "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Lev. 14:49-53 (no direct proof, but cf. Heb. 10:1). "And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean."
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."

Gen. 22 (Abraham and Isaac) cf. Heb. 11:19, Rom. 8:32, John 8:56.

Possibly inferred by the Old Testament doctrine of Messiah. cf. the general picture (Isa. 9:6-7). "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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 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 for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
also Psa. 72; esp. v. 15 - "He shall live" v. 17 - "Endure forever"

Possibly inferred from Old Testament eschatology. One thing becomes clear -- the righteous will be raised from dead.
Exodus 3:6   cf. Matt. 22:32 "Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."
"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
Job 19:25 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"
Isa. 26:19 "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
Daniel 12:1-2 "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

New Testament Testimony to Resurrection of Christ.

Anticipated by the Lord Himself.

Direct Claims

John 2:18-22 "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."
John 10:18 "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

Matt. 12:38-40 "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Matt. 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."
Matt. 17:9,23 "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." "And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry."
Matt. 20:19 "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again."
Matt. 26:32 "But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee."

Mark 8:31 "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
Mark 9:9-10, 31-32 "And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean." "For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him."
Mark 10:34 "And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again."
Mark 14:28 "But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."

Luke 9:22 "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."
Luke 16:30-31 "And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."Luke 18:33,34 "And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."

Certified by His Enemies

Matt. 27:63 "Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again."
Mark 15:29 "And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,"

Implied in His Eschatology

Matt. 25:31ff "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory...."
Matt. 26:64 "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
John 5:28-29 "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Attested by the New Testament Writers

How Many? Who? Order?

(1)  Mark - 16:1-8
(2)  Matthew - 28
(3)  Luke - 24 (also Acts 1)
(4)  John - 20,21 (also Revelation)
(5)  Paul - all epistles
(6)  Peter - 1 Peter 1:3
(7)  James - 5:7, with 2:1
(8)  Jude - verse 14, with verse 4

Who were these Writers? 3 apostles - Matthew, John, Peter
1 noted Pharisee - Paul
1 physician - Luke
1 associate of Paul - Mark, a member of original Pentecost group, who presents Peter's viewpoint in Gospel of Mark (see 1 Peter 5:13 - "Mark my son").
2 brothers of the Lord - James and Jude

Inseparably Embodied in New Testament Theology

Matters of Christian belief salvation - Rom. 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Justification - Rom. 4:25 "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Matters of Christian morality worldliness - 1 Cor. 15:32-34 "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. e not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

Matters of Christian service steadfastness - 1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Matters of Christian hope for deceased loved ones - 1 Thess. 4:13-14 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

Matters of Christian Experience & Power - Phil. 3:10 "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

 

Introduction

The importance of the resurrection is clearly indicated by the place given it in the early church.
Being an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ was an essential qualification of an Apostle. Acts 1:21,22 "Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."

The main subject of apostolic preaching was the resurrection of Christ. Acts 2:24ff "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it...."

Witness to the resurrection was a result of apostolic prayer and filling of the Spirit. Acts 4:31-33 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."

Belief in the resurrection is essential to Christian salvation. Rom. 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

It is one of the three or four fundamentals in the Christian Gospel. 1 Cor. 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

It is a foundation stone of Christianity. 1 Cor. 15:17-18 "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished."

This importance of the resurrection of Christ has been conceded by friend and foe. Dr. R. A. Torrey called it:"Cornerstone of Christian Doctrine"
"Gibraltar of Christian Evidence"
"Waterloo of Infidelity"

If a skeptic wished to destroy Christianity:
Let him prove that Christ never rose from the dead. When that is done, he has destroyed Christianity. His work is done!

Can the Resurrection of Christ be Proven an Historical Fact? We Believe it Can.

But the question must be approached with an open mind and a spirit of true scientific inquiry. (However, see Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14)
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Some have said a bodily resurrection is impossible!
The true scientific spirit does not say of something new - "This cannot happen:" but asks, "What has happened?"

VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF CHRIST'S DEATH

VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF CHRIST'S DEATH

The "Satanic Ransom" Theory

Mankind was under the power of Satan, and the-death of Christ was a ransom paid to Satan. (Many church fathers held this View.)

 The Eradication Theory
Christ took sinful human nature, and gradually overcame it in life, and finally destroyed it by dying. (SDA, Neo-Orthodoxy)

 The Martyr Theory
Died for the truth which He held.

The Example Theory
Died to give us an example.

The Governmental Theory
Died to display the Government of God.
To show that wrong must be punished.

The Influence Theory
Died to show the love of God, and thus make us repent of our rebellion,

The Substitutionary-Satisfaction View
Christ as our substitute bore the penalty for our sin, and thus satisfied the demands of righteous law.

WRONG ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DEATH OF CHRIST

WRONG ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DEATH OF CHRIST

Several Appear in the Bible

The Attitude of Ignorance - Matt 16:21-23 "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

Says the Cross was Unnecessary

The Attitude of Worldly Wisdom - 1 Cor. 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

Regards the Cross as Foolishness

(Cross is not foolishness. It is foolishness to them that perish.)

The Attitude of Contempt - 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 Death of an Ordinary Man

Many such as Freemasonry, Christian Scientist, Jehovah-Witness, Islam, Mormon, The Farm, etc.

The Attitude of Heresy - 2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

Deny its Saving Value

The Attitude of Apostasy - Heb. 6:6 "If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

Regard it as Deserved -- They Would Crucify Him Again!

The Attitude of Presumption - Phil. 3:18-19 "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

Profess to Accept it as Atonement for their Sin, and then go on Sinning. This is possibly the most subtle and dangerous attitude of all, for their walk denies their talk.

THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Some say the Death of Christ is Wholly a Theological Dogma, and that it has no Necessary Connection with Spiritual Life. Nothing could be More Untrue!

The Great Practical Purpose of the Cross was to Bring us into Right Ways of Living

Christ Died in Order That we Might Live:

A life of Righteousness. Rom. 8:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:24 "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
"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."
 A life of Holiness. Col. 1:22 "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"
A life of Unselfishness. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 "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."
A life of Unworldliness. Gal. 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
A life of Victory. 1 John 5:4-6; Heb. 12:1-3 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 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."
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

A life of Service. Heb. 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?"
How Does the Death of Christ Make us Live Right?
What is the secret of moral and spiritual power? The Cross:

Separates us from the world - Gal. 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
To accept the Cross as Paul accepted it will separate you forever from the world. So complete that to me the world is dead, and to the world I am dead! cf. Heb. 13:12-14 "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."
Sets our conscience free from dead works - Heb. 9:14; cf. 10:22. "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?"
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
As long as men try to be saved by works, the conscience is never free. Every sin, every failure increases the burden of guilt. It is like a man trying to pay a legal debt that keeps increasing. At last he will become discouraged and defeated. The death of Christ clears away the burden, and keeps it cleared. No matter what our failures, every moment we can begin anew with a clean slate.
Unites us with His Own Omnipotent Life - Rom. 6:1-11 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
People say, if the death of Christ pays all our debt and takes us out from beneath the obligation of law, then morality is imperiled,
But the same atonement that pays our debt and takes us out of the realm of law, also unites us with the Eternal and Omnipotent life of the Holy Son of God.
This guarantees the ends of Christian living.
Sets before us a Supreme Example of Unselfish Obedience and Godly Suffering. Phil. 2:5-7; 1 Peter 2:20-23 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"
"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
Opens the door into the presence of an Infinite God. Heb. 10:19 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,"

Here we may come for pardon and help, moral and spiritual. And we are to enter "boldly."
Puts us under an infinite debt gratitude to Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 6:20; 2 Cor. 5:15 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
"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."

The most powerful motive in human life is gratitude.

How can you say, "Christ loved me and gave Himself for me," and then go out into the world and deliberately go on sinning?
The answer is, you can't, if you are born of God.
Conclusion: Those who truly accept Christ and Him Crucified do enter into a new way of life. And that new life begins at the Cross. The death of Christ is the foundation of all true Christian living.

THE FINALITY OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST

THE FINALITY OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST

 Note: Nearly all of the Biblical Material is in Hebrews 9 and 10

The Cross was Final for Christ Himself

• His Death was something Be accomplished once for all. There will be no repetition of the Cross. 1 Peter 3:18 - He "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."
• Heb. 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."
• Heb. 9:25-27- "Nor yet often. .but now once, . .having been offered once."
• Heb. 10:11-12 - "Every priest standeth, .one sacrifice for sins forever sat down." (There were no chairs in the Temple for Aaronic priests, for their work was never finished!)

 

The Cross is Final for Those who are Saved

• The Death of Christ will stand forever as a finished and complete redemption
• Nothing can ever be added to the work of the Cross.

Heb. 9:11-12 - "Through own blood. . .having obtained eternal redemption."

God has not done all He will do for us, but all God has ever done, is doing, or will do, flows from the Cross. We have a threefold salvation - past - present - future.

 

Heb. 10:10,14 - "Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

"By one offering perfected forever."

Nothing more is needed forever after His completed work!

 

The Cross is Final for a Lost World

• The Death of Christ is the final act of Redeeming Love for a lost world.
• Beyond the Cross there is nothing for sinners save Wrath and Judgment. Heb, 10:12-13 - "henceforth expecting" What? To die again?

To do something better to save sinners? See vs. 13. Heb. 10:26-27 - "If we go on sinning willfully"

What is this sin? (See verses 10-20 and vs. 29) It is spurning the blood of Christ as not having sufficiency to achieve its intended result.

"There remaineth no more sacrifice for sin." Conclusion: These truths strike at three deadly errors:

(1) Romanism - the Mass pretends to repeat His suffering.

(2) Legalism - Add our efforts to work of the Cross.

(3) Universalism - Hope that God will do something for sinners beyond the Cross.

THE RESULTS OF THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST

THE RESULTS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST

 

What was Accomplished by His Death?

 

Here We Enter a Field as Wide as the Universe

 

• There is nothing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that was not somehow affected by the Cross of Christ.
• Nothing can be the same because Christ died.

Results - in Relation to Believers

Redeemed us from Curse of Law - Gal. 3:13; cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19 "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:"

"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:"

 

Loosed us from our Sins - Rev. 1:5 "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,"

 

Purchased us for God - Rev. 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"

 

Made us Near to God - Eph. 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

 

Secured for us Eternal Life — John 3:14-15; 1 Thess. 5:10 "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."

"Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

 

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

 

Sanctified us - Heb. 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

 

Made us Perfect in God's Sight - Heb. 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

 

Opened a Way for us into the Presence of God - Heb. 10:19-20 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"

 

Made it Impossible to Condemn Us - Rom. 8:33-34 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

 

Cleanses us Constantly from all Sin - 1 John 1:7 "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."

 

Made Us Fit to Dwell with God in Heaven - Rev. 7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

 

Summary: For Believers, the Death of Jesus Christ Secured Salvation with all its Blessings Forever

Results - in Relation to Whole Human Race

 

• Reconciled the World to God

 John 1:29 "beareth away sin of world"

 2 Cor. 5:14 - "died for all"

 2 Cor. 5:19 - "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself"

 1 Tim. 2:6 - "ransom for all"

 Heb. 2:9 - "tasted death for every man"

 1 John 2:2 - "not for (our sins) only, but also for the whole world"

 

Question: How do we understand these texts?

• Death of Christ swept away the great barrier of sin which separated a lost world from a Holy God. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. 
• Because of the Cross, the door is open, and to all. 
• Our business is to tell the world that the door is open, even though the sinner, left to his own will, refuses to enter that door. John 6:37, 44, 65 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." "And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."

Exerts a Drawing Power on all Men. John 12:32-34 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?"

 

SUMMARY: For all men, the death of Christ made salvation and its blessings available.

 

Results - in Relation to Satan and his Hosts

 

By the Cross, Satan was "cast out." John 12:31 (cf. 32-33 and Gen. 3:15) "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die."

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

 

Satan was rendered powerless over believers in experience of death. Heb. 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

 

Satan and his hosts were "despoiled" of their power to use the law against us. Col. 2:14-15 cf. Rev. 12:10-11 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

 

Results - in Relation to Universe

All things were reconciled to God. Col. 1:19-20 "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; 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."

 

The Heavenly Things were Cleansed. Heb. 9:22-23 "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."

 

• Note: Sin had polluted the entire universe. 
• Satan had defiled heavenly places.
• Man had defiled the earth.
• Even the animal world was affected.
• Blood of Christ cleansed the universe in some sense. 

cf. Mosaic ritual.

 

Results - in Relation to Christ (as Mediator)

Fulfilled His part in the Eternal Covenant with God, the Father. Heb. 13:20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

 

Made it Possible for Him to Beget a New Spiritual Race 

Isa. 53:10 A.S.V "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."

Heb. 2:10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

 

Laid the Foundation of His Priestly Work for Us. Heb. 9:11-12 "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; 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."

 

Secured His exaltation above all things. Phil. 2:8-9 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"

 

Brought to Him the Crown of "glory and honor." Heb. 2:9 "Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 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."

 

Results - in Relation to God

Revealed the Love of God to Sinners. Rom. 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

 

Revealed the Righteousness of God in Forgiving Sin. Rom. 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;"

 

Revealed the Wrath of God Against Sin. Matt. 27:46 "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

 

Revealed the wisdom of God in providing a way to save sinners. Rom. 3:26 "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

THE MEANING OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST

THE MEANING OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST

How shall we interpret the death of Christ?

He died. That is an historic fact. But what did His death mean?

The Bible unfolds the meaning of Christ's death in various terms and ideas. The following analysis is based on an article by Roger Nicole entitled, "The Nature of Redemption," in Christian Faith and Modern Theology (ed. Carl F. H. Henry, N.Y.: Channel Press, 1964), pp. 193ff.

Reconciliation (katalasso)

Rom. 5:10, 11 "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. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
 You and I were in the mind of Jesus Christ the night he was betrayed. Isn't it a shame that He is so little in our minds?

Rom. 11:15 "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?"

2 Cor. 5:18-21 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

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 "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."

"Reconciliation implies the laying aside of opposition and enmity. The question follows, then, "Whose enmity is removed? Is it God's enmity against man, or is it man's enmity against God?" In view of the biblical data, the answer in our judgment should be not one or the other, but both and primarily the former, that is, God's enmity against man. We especially wish to dispute the frequent allegation that God needs no reconciliation, and that the only enmity to be removed therefore is that of man against God." (p. 195)

Propitiation (hilasterion)

Rom. 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;"

Heb. 2:17 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

1 John 2:2, 4:10 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
These are the only occurrences (in addition to Romans 3:25) of this particular word. It is used in the sense of a substitutionary sacrifice to exactly satisfy both God’s justice and love.

"This word, both in Greek and in English, connotes appeasement, averting of wrath by means of an appropriate transaction or sacrifice. Meanwhile, it is important to remember that in the Bible the thought of propitiation is related to a most lofty conception of God, and therefore free of any and all the superstitious, crude, or revolting features that commonly burdened pagan concepts. Propitiation is the gracious provision made by God Himself, whereby the effects of His righteous anger against sin may be averted and the sinner may receive the blessings of His paternal love without infringement on His holiness and moral government." (pp. 197f.)

The Language of Sacrifice and Ritual

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

1 Cor. 5:7 "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:"

Eph. 5:2 "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 savor."

1 Peter 1:18,19 "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:"

"The sacrificial terminology is a most pervasive feature of the totality of Holy Writ. It is one of the great connecting features between the two Testaments, perhaps most emphatically articulated in the Epistle to the Hebrews, . .To the texts listed above may be added a multitude of others where Christ is referred to as a priest, or as the Lamb, or where the emphasis is placed on His blood, or yet where the deliverance from sin is presented as a purification or cleansing," (p. 198)

The Language of the Court of Law

Isa. 53:11,12 "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."

Rom. 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Eph. 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

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."

"See further many texts which speak of law and judgment and of God as the judge; of condemnation and punishment; and inversely of justification and forgiveness or remission. The frequency of this type of terminology indi­cates that here again we are facing one of the basic representations of Scripture, one which goes to the very essence of the relationship between God and man. It is in these terms that the nature of sin as the trans­gression of the divine law can best be set forth. It is in these terms also that the remedy of sin as a satisfaction of the proper demands of justice can be suitably portrayed. This is the fundamental prerequisite for a due recognition of the nature of grace. Those thinkers in the history of Christian dogma who have had a strong theology of grace, whether Paul, Augustine, Anselm, Luther or Calvin, are the ones who have sensed deeply the gravity of sin and the plight of sinful man before the judgment seat of God. It is here that the chief weakness of so-called subjective views of the atonement resides: to ignore the judicial factor leads one to reduce the whole work of redemption to an only moderately successful program of reha­bilitation of man, in which Christianity is only one of a number of valuable approaches entitled to an equal measure of consideration." (p. 200)

The Language of the Market-place

Matt. 6:12 "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

Matt. 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."

Acts 20:28 "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."

Rom. 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

1 Cor. 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

1 Peter 1:18 "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;"

"Some authors have urged that the word redemption is used in the general sense of 'deliverance', without any reference to the payment of a price. This interpretation is simply incompatible with the express statements of a number of texts (see above) where the price is specifically mentioned, not to speak of other passages where the same terms are used with respect to purchases made in everyday life. Leon Morris is quite right in saying: 'When the New Testament speaks of redemption. . .it means that Christ has paid the price of our redemption" (The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, p. 58).

"It may be wise to advert briefly to the expression 'commercial theory' used sometimes to stigmatize those who take seriously the biblical terminology of redemption. This mode of speech is calculated to suggest that such people are lowering the saving work of Christ to the level of a mere business transaction. Nothing could be further from the truth: along such lines one might as well accuse our Lord or the Apostle Paul of promoting an 'agri­cultural theory' because they compared their own relationship of Christ to His own with that of a tree to its branches (John 15:1-6; Rom. 6:5)! The Scripture itself does use the language of purchase, but this does not imply that a correspondence in value or methods is established between business and Jesus Christ." (pp. 201ff.)

The Language of the Battlefield

1 Cor. 15:54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

Col. 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

Col. 2:15 "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

Heb. 2:10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Heb. 2:14,15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

"One should also take into consideration numerous passages where Satan is represented as the adversary (this is the meaning of the name Satan), where the struggle occurs between the forces of good and evil, where Christ appears as humanity's champion, and where Christians themselves are enlisted in the battle royal against demonic powers. It is probably in this universe of discourse that Genesis 3:15, 'He shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel,' finds its meaning as the protevangelion." (pp. 203f.)

A Substitutionary Sacrifice

This exact term is not found in the Bible, but the idea is found everywhere.

Substitution is Taught by Direct Statements

Isa. 53:6 "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."

2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Gal. 3:13 "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:"
The reference was to a man who for sin had been put to death, and whose body had been impaled on a tree or a stake, and thus exposed as a warning to other evil-doers. The command was that such exposure was not to outlast the day. By night the body must be buried, and so the whole fact of his sin, now expiated as to human society, put completely away. This parenthetical statement-for such it is-gives the reason for the burial. The man was not accursed of God because he was hanged on a tree. He was hanged on the tree because he was accursed of God. The hanging was the outward sign of the curse upon him, the curse of death for sin. When that curse was accomplished and witnessed, the sign was to cease; then let the man be buried, and that burial be the sign that the curse was sufficient. The understanding of this helps us when the mind travels on in solemn thought to the One Who hung upon the Tree on Calvary. He was there because He was "made sin," and so accursed of God. Such blunt statement gives the soul a shock; but it is the very shock we need, if we are ever to come to anything like a true apprehension of the way of our saving. In His case this law was fulfilled. He did not remain on the Tree through the night. The curse on sin was carried out, and witnessed, the sin was expiated before God, because the One Who suffered its penalty was sinless. His burial was the sign that sin was put away. His resurrection was the beginning of a new life for Himself, as Redeemer; and for us, as redeemed.

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."

1 Peter 3:18 "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:"

Substitution is Taught by the Greek Preposition "anti"

Matt. 20:28 - "anti" - "in the stead of". "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Proof of meaning see Luke 11:11 and Matt. 2:22.
Problems in Matt. 17:27 and Heb. 12:2.
See Leon Morris, Apostolic Preaching, p. 31.

Substitution is Taught Indirectly in Certain Passages

Isa. 53:9-10 - "It pleased Jehovah to bruise Him"

Why? Does God like to injure innocent men?
Only one explanation.
Matt. 27:46 - "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Does God forsake good men when they die?
Only one answer possible.

Substitution is Taught by the O.T. Sacrifices Which Were Typical of  Christ's Death.

The animal died in the stead of the sinner. Lev. 4:22-26; Heb. 10:1.
"When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him."
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."
Every year, for nearly one and a half millenniums, 1,273 animals died on the altar in Jerusalem on behalf of the nation, plus countless thousands of additional animals for individual Israelites (Num. 28-29; Lev. 1-5) in order to illustrate the need for an innocent substitute  for human sin! In the light of this, consider Acts 6:7 - ". . .and a great company of priests were obedient to the faith."
If we had nothing else than this it would be sufficient to prove this doctrine.