Questions to be answered:
1. Was is necessary for
Christ to die?
2. What really happened in the atonement?
3. What was Christ’s resurrection body like?
4. What is it’s significance for us?
5. What happened to Christ when he ascended into heaven?
A. The Atonement.
Definition: The atonement is the work Christ did in his life and
death to earn our salvation.
The atonement isn’t only about Christ’s death, but
his life as well. If Christ didn’t live
his perfect life, then all we would have is the forgiveness of our sins; we
wouldn’t have the perfect righteousness of Christ credited
to our “accounts.”
1. The cause of the atonement.
The atonement was borne out of both God’s love and his justice; both are equally important.
John 3:16 – 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.
Romans 3:25-26 – 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-- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to
be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
2. The necessity of the
atonement.
First of all, it is important to note that God is
not required to save anyone. God’s offer of salvation is a gracious gift.
God did not spare the fallen angels when they
sinned:
2 Peter 2:4 – For if God did not spare
angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy
dungeons to be held for judgment.
God, in his love, decided to save some members of the fallen human race (i.e., to show his mercy, rather than his justice). Once God decided to do this, the atonement became necessary.
Luke 24:25-27 – He said to them, "How
foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his
glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to
them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Hebrews 2:17 – For this
reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might
become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might
make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 9:25-26 – Nor did he enter heaven to
offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy
Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to
suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once
for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
3. The nature of the atonement.
The primary focus of the atonement is toward God, not toward us (humanity). Jesus’ life was an act of obedience to God’s law, and his death was an act of sacrifice which satisfied God’s punishment of sin.
·
Christ’s obedience for is (“active obedience”).
Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God in
order to earn righteousness for us.
2 Corinthians
Romans 5:19 – For just as through the disobedience
of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the
one man the many will be made righteous.
·
Christ’s sufferings for us (“passive obedience”).
i.
Suffering for his whole life (e.g., living in a sinful world, seeing the
suffering of others, experiencing rejection and condemnation, etc.)
ii.
The pain of the cross.
a) Physical pain and death.
b) The pain of bearing sin.
c) Abandonment.
d) Bearing the wrath of God.
·
New Testament terms describing aspects of the atonement.
Christ’s death met the four basic needs we have as
sinners:
i.
Sacrifice: We deserve to die as
the penalty for sin.
ii.
Propitiation: We deserve to bear
God’s wrath against sin.
iii.
Reconciliation: We are separated
from God by our sins.
iv.
Redemption: We are in bondage to
sin and the kingdom of Satan.
·
Other views of the atonement.
i.
The ransom to Satan theory.
The Bible clearly teaches that the penalty of sin
was paid to God.
ii.
The moral influence theory.
This theory teaches that the event of the cross was a
cosmic “object lesson” in which God showed his love for mankind by identifying
with our sufferings to the point of death.
iii.
The example theory.
Similar to the moral influence theory, this theory
holds that Christ’s death was an example of the Christian’s obedience to God to
the point of death.
iv.
The governmental theory.
This theory holds that since God is omnipotent, he
could simply do away with the penalty of sin without any payment. The death of Christ only served to show that
some kind of penalty would be required when God’s laws are broken.
B. Resurrection and Ascension.
1. Resurrection.
·
New Testament evidence.
The entire New Testament is based on the belief that the resurrection of Christ is an established fact. If Christ was not resurrected, then the New Testament is worthless.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 – But if it
is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say
that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our
preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to
be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised
Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not
raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for
this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
·
The nature of Christ’s resurrection.
The resurrection of Christ was not a mere coming
back from the dead (e.g., the widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7, or Lazarus in John
11).
The resurrection of Christ is a “first fruits” type
of resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 – But Christ
has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection
of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in
Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn:
Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
·
Both the Father and the Son participated in the resurrection.
Father:
Acts 2:24 – But God raised him from
the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for
death to keep its hold on him.
Son:
John 10:17-18 – The reason my
Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one
takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay
it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my
Father.
·
Doctrinal significance of the resurrection.
i.
Christ’s resurrection insures our regeneration.
Romans 6:4 – We were therefore
buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new
life.
ii.
Christ’s resurrection insures our justification.
Romans 4:25 – He was delivered over
to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
iii.
Christ’s resurrection insures that we
will receive perfect resurrection bodies as well.
1 Corinthians 15:12-15, 20-23 – But
if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of
you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection
of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been
raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are
then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God
that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the
dead are not raised….But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death
came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his
own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he
comes, those who belong to him.
·
Ethical significance of the Resurrection.
i.
Continue steadfastly in the Lord’s work.
1 Corinthians
ii.
Focus on our future heavenly reward.
Colossians 3:1-4 – Since, then, you
have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is
seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly
things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ
in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory.
iii.
Stop yielding to sin.
Romans 6:11-14 – In the same way,
count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not
let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not
offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather
offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and
offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin
shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
2. Ascension to Heaven.
· Christ ascended to a place.
Acts 1:1-11 – In my former book,
Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day
he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to
the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men
and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a
period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while
he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem,
but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit.” So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this
time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for
you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud
hid him from their sight. They were
looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed
in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here
looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven,
will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
·
Christ received glory and honor that had not been his before as the
God-man.
John 17:5 – And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with
the glory I had with you before the world began.
Acts 2:33 – Exalted to the right hand of God, he
has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what
you now see and hear.
Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
·
Christ was seated at God’s right hand.
Psalm 110:1 – The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at
my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is
the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification
for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Ephesians 1:19-21 – That power is like the
working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him
from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far
above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be
given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
·
Christ’s ascension has doctrinal significance for our lives.
i.
Christ’s ascension into heaven foreshadows our ascension into heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 – After that,
we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
ii.
Christ’s ascension gives us assurance that our final home will be in
heaven
John 14:1-3 – Do not let your
hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
iii.
Christ’s ascension enables us to share both now (in part) and later
(more fully) in Christ’s authority over the universe.
Ephesians 2:6 – And God raised us
up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms.