The Atoning Sacrifice
Notes
Transcript
In John’s first letter he is dealing with a tension that every believer faces. As Christian’s we have been set free from sin, given the ability to obey God’s commands, and John is writing to encourage us not to sin. At the same time he acknowledges that we will sin, because we are not yet made perfect. In today’s verse he reminds us of God’s provision for dealing with this problem.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
John has already assured his readers that when they confess their sin God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse (1 John 1:9), and we looked at that verse a few months ago. In today’s verse he tells us the basis for that forgiveness – the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The relationship
The relationship
We were created to have a relationship with our Creator
God is holy and cannot have fellowship with those who are not holy
As sinners, our relationship with God has been broken
Now enemies of God
Under God’s wrath
The remedy
The remedy
Jesus’ sacrifice – He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He is the only one who can make this atonement because He alone lived a perfect life.
Takes our place
Pays the price for us
The reason
The reason
Because of God’s love
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
God took the initiative
God provided the means
The result
The result
The result of Jesus’ sacrifice is the opportunity for atonement because by it we are reconciled to God. This is possible because when a person accepts it:
Our guilt is removed
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
God’s justice us satisfied
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
One winter’s night in 1935, it is told, Fiorello LaGuardia, the irrepressible mayor of New York, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. That night a tattered old woman, charged with stealing a loaf of bread, was brought before him. She defended herself by saying, “My daughter’s husband has deserted her. She is sick, and her children are starving.”
The shopkeeper refused to drop the charges, saying, “It’s a bad neighborhood, your honor, and she’s got to be punished to teach other people a lesson.”
LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the old woman and said, “I’ve got to punish you; the law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.” However, even while pronouncing sentence, La Guardia reached into his pocket, took out a ten-dollar bill, and threw it into his hat with these famous words: “Here’s the ten-dollar fine, which I now remit, and furthermore, I’m going to fine everyone in the courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.”
God’s wrath is turned aside
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
Our relationship is restored
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
In most world religions, people do things to make themselves acceptable to God. In Christianity it is God who has acted to make us acceptable.
The reach
The reach
For the whole world – Because Jesus is fully human he can be our representative. Because He is fully God His sacrifice is sufficient to provide atonement for the sins of the whole world. This does not mean that everyone will be saved, however. There are many passages that speak of those who will be lost. It is still up to each individual to make that provision their own by putting their faith in Jesus as their Savior and following Him as Lord.