Hope in the Cross of Christ

Soteriology: The area of Christian theology focused on the saving work of Christ including the issues of atonement, grace, human nature, sin, and resurrection. The term derives from the Greek sōtēria meaning “salvation.”

My sin has broken me spiritually.

My sin has enslaved me.

My sin has been judged by God.

My sin has made me an enemy of God.

The wrath of God abides on those in their sin.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.John 3:36

Death is not a natural event, but a penal event. It is God’s punishment for sin.

Jesus’ death was substitutionary and vicarious.

He bore my pain.

He became my sin.

He bore my penalty.

He died in my place.

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.Isaiah 53:5

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.Isaiah 53:12

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.Romans 4:25

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

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;1 Corinthians 15:3

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:Galatians 3:13

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:1 Peter 3:18

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 2:2

The Four Major Victories of the Cross Adapted from The Cross of Christ by John Stott

Propitiation (Temple)

Propitiation is the turning away of God’s wrath. The reason why a propitiation is necessary is that sin arouses the wrath of God.

Propitiation appeases God’s wrath. Expiation removes our sin and guilt.

The Day of Atonement First, the high priest removed his official garments, made for beauty and glory, and clothed himself in white linen as a symbol of repentance as he went about the duties of the day. Next, he offered a bull calf as a sin offering for the priests and himself. That done, he entered the Holy of Holies with a censer of live coals from the altar of incense, filling the area with incense.

He sprinkled the bullock’s blood on the mercy seat (PROPITIATION) and on the floor before the ark of the covenant.

Then he cast lots over two live goats brought by the people. He killed one of the goats as a sin offering for the nation, taking the blood inside the veil and sprinkling it as before, thus atoning even for the Holy Place.

He confessed the sins of the nation over the live goat as he placed his hands on its head. Finally he sent the live goat, called the scapegoat (KJV, i.e., the escape goat), into the wilderness. Symbolically it carried away the sins of the people (EXPIATION).

Then the high priest clothed himself in his usual apparel and offered a burnt offering for himself and one for the people with the fat of the sin offering. Outside the camp the flesh of the bull calf and goat was burned.

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

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 2:2

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

Redemption (Marketplace)

Propitiation focuses on the wrath of God which was placated by the cross. Redemption focuses on the plight of sinners from which they were ransomed by the cross.

Our plight: Slaves to sin

Our price: The blood of Christ

Once we were the slaves of sin. We have been bought from the slave market of sin, ransomed, redeemed and now we are the slaves of Christ, and his service is the true freedom.

The Word ‘ransom’ is appropriately used in speaking of redemption. The Greek words lytroō (usually translated ‘redeem’) and apolytrōsis (‘redemption’) are derived from lytron (‘a ransom’ or ‘price of release’), which was almost a technical term in the ancient world for the purchase or act of freeing a slave.

Redemption refers to ‘a process involving release by payment of a ransom price’, often very costly. Some Bible translations have replaced the word with ‘deliverance’ which dilutes its meaning into a vague and even cheap deliverance. We have been ‘ransomed’ by Christ, not merely ‘delivered’ by him.

In every case of ‘redemption’ there was a decisive and costly intervention. Somebody paid the price necessary to free property from mortgage, animals from slaughter, and persons from slavery, even death.

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

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.1 Timothy 2:5-6

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.Galatians 4:4-5

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:1 Peter 1:18-19

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;Revelation 5:9

Justification (Courtroom)

A legal term related to the idea of guilt vs. innocence. Justification refers to the divine act whereby God makes humans, who are sinful, guilty and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous. More appropriately described as “justification by grace through faith.” Justification is the opposite of condemnation.

Justification deals with God’s holiness and justice. God is a just God, so he cannot simply allow sin to go unpunished.

God’s forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice remits our debts and cancels our liability to punishment; justification bestows on us a righteous standing before God.

We are justified by grace.

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

We are justified by faith.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Romans 5:1-2

We are justified by Jesus’ blood.

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

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.Titus 3:5-7

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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;Romans 3:23-25

Reconciliation (Home with Family)

Reconciliation is the restoration of a broken relationship, a renewal of a friendship. Reconciliation is the opposite of alienation. Reconciliation takes us from being enemies of God to the sons and daughters of God.

Our justification (legal standing) makes it possible to be reconciled (personal relationship).

Reconciliation brings access to God through communion, fellowship and prayer.

Reconciliation to God = Atonement “At-one-ment”

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:1 Peter 3:18

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 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.Romans 5:9-11

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; And having an high priest over the house of 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.Hebrews 10:19-22

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.2 Corinthians 5:18-21

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;Romans 3:25

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

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

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.Ephesians 2:13

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.Colossians 1:20

Sin is imputed to all men.

The word ‘imputed’ is used to designate any action, word or thing as reckoned to a person. Thus, in doctrinal language the sin of Adam is imputed to all his descendants, it is reckoned as theirs, and they are dealt with therefore as guilty.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.Romans 5:12-14

Our sins are imputed to Christ

i.e., he assumed our “law-place,” undertook to answer the demands of justice for our sins. In all these cases the nature of imputation is the same (Rom. 5:12–19; comp. Philemon 1:18, 19).

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.Romans 5:17-19

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.2 Corinthians 5:21

The righteousness of Christ is imputed to them that believe in him.

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.2 Corinthians 5:21