Introduction

If a man could live a perfect life, he would never be separated from the presence of God. But sin, as we learned in the previous study, has placed the great gulf of spiritual death between each human being and his Creator.

In this lesson, we shall examine the cure for sin that God has made possible through Jesus Christ.

THE NECESSITY OF ATONEMENT

It has never been possible for man to atone (make amends) for his own sins. We cannot by performing a multitude of good deeds erase our transgressions of God’s laws.

Because separation from God results from sin, God will not listen to our pleas until atonement has been made for our mistakes, Isaiah 59:2.

In spite of man’s sin, however, God still loved him and determined to make possible a means of forgiveness. Since man could not atone for his own sins that required that God provide an atonement for him. This means of salvation was to proceed from God’s grace rather than from man’s merit, Ephesians 2:8-9.

Let us illustrate this by comparing it to a man brought into court for failure to pay his debts. (A number of years ago this was often done.) Just as the judge is about to pass sentence, a friend comes forth and pays the debts. The prisoner is released, not because he has paid his debts, but because another has paid them for him. Similarly, God has provided a means of paying our debts (sins) because we are unable to discharge them ourselves.

It is God’s will that atonement be made for sins by the shedding of blood, Hebrews 9:22. Why does God require a blood sacrifice to atone for sins? We are not told. That He does require it, however, should be reason enough for us to accept the fact.

ATONEMENT UNDER THE OLD LAW

When God gave the children of Israel the Law of Moses to govern them until the coming of Christ, He provided for animal sacrifices in which blood would be shed for the sins of the people. In these sacrifices (and there were many of them) only the best animals were used. The injured and blemished were rejected.

In spite of this these sacrifices were imperfect and never actually took away the people’s sins. We might say that they paid the interest on the debt until the crucifixion of Christ when the sins would be forever removed.

This seems to be the idea in Hebrews 10:1 / Hebrews 10:3-4.

CHRIST – THE PERFECT SIN OFFERING

Since animal sacrifices could not remove sins there was but one perfect sacrifice that could be offered – Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God, therefore, sent Him to earth to die on the cross, shedding His blood to atone for the sins of man.

This teaching is beautifully expressed in that verse often called the golden text of the Bible, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16.

For some thirty years during which He was tried in every way possible Jesus lived on earth. He ‘was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,’ Hebrews 4:15. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth,’ 1 Peter 2:22. Being without sin He was a perfect sacrifice for the transgressions of man.

When He was arrested by the Jews, tried by Pilate, and crucified by the Roman soldiers to shed His blood upon the cross, He gave His life as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all mankind – those who had lived before and those who were yet to be born.

That Christ died for us is taught in many places, Romans 5:7-9 / 1 John 1:7 / Ephesians 1:7. The wonderful message of redemption around which the entire Bible centres is found in these verses.

Since Jesus died for our sins, does this mean that all men will be saved by His sacrifice? Indeed, it does not. The prisoner before the bar of justice for failure to pay his debts may reject the offer made on his behalf.

Christ died to make it possible for men to be forgiven through Him, but no one is compelled to come to Him for salvation, Hebrews 5:9. To the man who does not obey Christ, He is not the author of salvation.

HOW WE MAY ACCEPT THE OFFERING

Since we must obey Jesus there is something we must do to accept Him. If we learn how we get into Christ where there is no condemnation we will also learn how we may accept His sacrifice offered on our behalf on the cross, Romans 8:1 / Romans 6:3 / Galatians 3:27.

Baptism, then, is our means of getting into Christ where there is no condemnation and where there is forgiveness. Since we are ‘baptised into his death’ we are in this way able to reach His blood which was shed when He died and without which we cannot be saved.

We should note, however, that baptism is not acceptable to God unless it is preceded and accompanied by faith, John 3:16, and repentance, Acts 2:38, on our part.

Once one is ‘in Christ’ he may as a Christian ask God through prayer to forgive those sins, he commits from time to time. Children of God are to strive to keep from sinning, 1 John 2:1-2. God will hear His children so long as they attempt to live in accordance with His will.

SENDING YOUR ANSWERS

Please proceed and fill in the evaluation sheet below with your answers.  Thank you and God bless your studies.

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Please Select From The Dropdown Menu Below The Name Of The Course And Lesson Number You Are Submitting Your Answers For1. How We Got Our Bible2. Rightly Dividing The Word3. Creation And The Fall Of Man4. The Patriarchs5. Wilderness Wanderings6. Conquest Of Canaan7. United Kingdom8. Divided Kingdom9. Poets And Prophets10. Jesus’ Birth And Baptism11. Jesus’ Ministry12. Jesus’ Teaching13. The Crucifixion14. The Resurrection15. Sin And Its Consequences16. Jesus Is God’s Cure17. Two Covenants18. Church Established19. Paul’s Missionary Journeys20. New Testament Conversions21. Saving Faith22. Christian Baptism23. The Letters24. Religious Authority25. Church Unity26. The Church, Its Worship And Finances27. Church Organisation And Work28. The Holy Spirit29. The Second Coming Of Christ30. Eternal Punishment And Reward

1. In which scripture are we told that the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all sin?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

2. In which scripture is it stated that Jesus makes people holy with His own blood?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

3. In which scripture is Jesus called the ‘atoning sacrifice for our sins’?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

4. In which scripture are we told that He washed us from our sins in His blood?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

5. In which scripture is it stated that those far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

6. In which scripture are we informed that we have redemption through His blood?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

7. In which other scripture are we informed that we have redemption through His blood?

• Revelation 1:5
• Colossians 1:14
• 1 John 1:7
• Hebrews 13:12
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 1:7
• 1 John 2:2

The word remission means ‘forgiveness’. The following passage using this word tell how sinners may obtain remission of sins. Write in the box below the missing word(s) from the following passage. 1. ‘And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without ___________ of ____________ is no REMISSION.’ Hebrews 9:22

The word remission means ‘forgiveness’. The following passage using this word tell how sinners may obtain remission of sins. Write in the box below the missing word(s) from the following passage. 2. (Jesus speaking in instituting the Lord’s supper.) ‘For this is my blood of the new ___________, which is shed for many for the REMISSION of _________. Matthew 26:28

The word remission means ‘forgiveness’. The following passage using this word tell how sinners may obtain remission of sins. Write in the box below the missing word(s) from the following passage. 3. (Jesus giving he Great Commission) ‘And that ___________ and REMISSION of sins should be preached in his ______________ among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’ Luke 24:47

The word remission means ‘forgiveness’. The following passage using this word tell how sinners may obtain remission of sins. Write in the box below the missing word(s) from the following passage. 4. ‘To him give all _____________ the witness, that through his name whosoever ______________ in him shall receive REMISSION of sins.’ Acts 10:43

The word remission means ‘forgiveness’. The following passage using this word tell how sinners may obtain remission of sins. Write in the box below the missing word(s) from the following passage. 5. ‘Then Peter said unto them, _____________ and be __________ every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the REMISSION of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’ Acts 2:38

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 1. ‘But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.’

• Matthew 6:33
• Isaiah 59:2
• Hebrews 12:1

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 2. ‘Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.’ (One of the sacrifices made under the Law of Moses.)

• Psalm 23:6
• Leviticus 16:11
• Proverbs 19:13

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 3. ‘It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.’

• Hebrews 10:4
• Galatians 1:8
• 1 Corinthians 13:13

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 4. ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.’

• 2 Timothy 2:15
• Colossians 1:18
• Ephesians 2:8-9

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 5. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

• John 3:16
• Matthew 7:1
• Ephesians 4:4

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 6. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth’.

• 1 Timothy 4:3
• Colossians 3:16
• 1 Peter 2:22

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 7. ‘Once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.’

• Galatians 3:27
• Hebrews 5:9
• Romans 3:1

Choose the correct scripture location for the following passage. 8. ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.’

• Hebrews 4:15
• Matthew 8:14
• John 20:31

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