The Atonement

How often I am not still because I am trying to be worthy of what Jesus did for me. So busy trying to do the right thing and respond the right way so He doesn’t regret choosing me.

Instead of understanding the Atonement.

Last Sunday, Dr. Mark Liederbach, a professor at SEBTS, spoke on the Penal Substitutionary Atonement of God. *I know this is an overwhelming phrase, but stick with me, He did a great job of explaining it!* The following are my notes upon hearing the Gospel once again.

1. There was a penalty to be paid by me, a sinner. Because it only takes one sin to shatter the relationship, the FULL wrath of God was focused on me, on us, a sinner being devastated by the effects of sin. Let me not forget that before Christ I was not only ravaged by the bondage of sin, but also the target of the wrath of Almighty God (Rom. 3:23, 6:23a, Jam. 2:10, Rom. 1:18, 2 Th. 1:7b-9).

2. And Jesus—voluntarily choosing the only way to save me (us) and satisfy the justified wrath of a Holy God—stepped into my place as a substitute (cf. Gen 22). In being my (our) substitute, He:

Served as the propitiation for my sins, which means the wrath of God was meant for me was redirected to Jesus, and the whole, complete wrath of God exploded on Jesus on the cross. The wrath of God was EXHAUSTED on Jesus. There is none left for those who believe (Rom. 3:25, 8:1; Heb. 2:17, 1 Jn. 4:10)

Redeemed me, ransomed me, bought me back.(Rom. 3:24, Gal. 3:13, Matt. 20:28; cf. Hos. 3:1-6)

Justified me, God declared me not guilty. (Rom. 3:24-26, 5:1-9, 8:30; 1 Cor. 6:11)

Imputed to (bestowed on) me the righteousness of God! When God looks at me, He sees the righteousness of His Son, and so, He is FULLY PLEASED in me. I so often pray that He’ll be pleased by my actions, how I spend my days, and trying to be worthy now. Yet, His word says that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He is already fully pleased because He sees His Son in me. (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:1; cf. Rom. 5:12-19)

3. He reconciled me to Himself, adopted me into His Family in order that I can be called a daughter of God, with the ability to call Him Daddy. (2 Cor. 5:18-19, Jn. 1:12; Rom 8:15).

What does this mean?

As one who has chosen to believe in Jesus, I am:

No Longer under Wrath
Declared Not Guilty
Given the Righteousness of Jesus

Reconciled to Him
Fully Pleasing to Him
A Daughter of God
Able to call God Almighty Daddy
Loved
Free from the tyranny of others’ opinions

He shouts over me, “There is no condemnation for those in Me. I love you. I love you. Get over yourself. I love you. You are fully pleasing because of what My Son did on the cross.” (Zeph. 3:17; Rom. 8:1, 2 Cor. 5:21)

What is my response?

When I am tempted to be selfish, to demand my rights, etc. remember that this act deserves the full explosion of God’s wrath—the complete punishment,—yet Jesus’ stepped into my place to free me from it and WORSHIP.

Learn to live in response to these things—to REST in what He has said about and done for me, instead of attempting to gain approval when His is already mine.

And for those who are not yet children of God, may you choose to believe him. “…If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with the heart one believes and is justified (declared not guilty), and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10)