BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Reconciliation possible through Christ's death on the cross

The atonement is God’s way of reconciling all people to himself through the death of Jesus Christ, who died in payment of our sins. Today’s evangelical movement has downplayed the significance of the atonement, questioning its relevance in humanity’s salvation.

This “politically correct” world we live in claims that there are many ways to God. They are trying to drain the blood from biblical atonement. This is the second in a four part series that disputes this claim and focuses on the priority of Christ’s atonement for our sins.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that all God had spoken was culminated in Jesus--the living Word of God.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4 KJV)

When someone speaks of “a Christ” in reference to Jesus, he is out of harmony with the New Testament. There is no New Testament contradiction concerning the uniqueness of Jesus. Jesus is “the Christ!” Full and final! There is no co-redeemer. The Bible everywhere assumes man’s moral freedom with reference to atonement. It is there. Plain. Repeated. Emphatic.

“Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) But the Bible never says “why.”

Divine method is always characterized by a process as well as a progression. So, when God spoke to man concerning redemption, He ultimately said everything there was to say in His Son. As believers we are not on a quest to discover redemptive truth. We are on a quest to investigate the ramifications of the totality of truth that came from God. Jesus said, “I am the Truth!”

We must have convictions about the doctrine of the cross before we can hope for moral elevation. Christ and Him crucified is the only doctrine that can instigate moral reformation of our country. By looking unto Jesus.

The word for “looking,” used in Hebrews 12:1-2 has nothing to do with staring in absolute amazement. Not a glance, not an investigation—but allowing the surprise of all Christ has done for us to captivate our mind.

“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.”

The word “atonement” not only reveals the method of reconciliation, it also describes the results of reconciliation. It is not to a creed or a system of doctrine to which Jesus draws men, but to a person, Jesus Himself. To my knowledge, no other religion but Christianity offers an atoning Savior. In Jesus the priest making atonement was the atonement!

Theologian G. Campbell Morgan said, “Unbelief is not failure in intellect. It is disobedience in the clear commands of God.” Faith is more than intellectual apprehension. It includes conformation to the truth. The truth of Jesus invades the whole personality.

Morgan added, “He (Jesus) fought to win. He suffered to save. He died to live.” This is the radical point of difference between Christianity and every other religion in the world.

SULLIVAN'S OTHER ARTICLES

You may contact Dr. John Sullivan at
1-800-226-8584, ext. 3015, or by e-mail.