Mister Richardson’s
Bible Doctrine Class

Chapter 15 - The Atonement

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He has passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that He himself is righteous and that He justifies him who has faith in Jesus.
- Romans 3:25,26

The atonement is the work Christ did in His life and death to earn our salvation.

A. The Cause of the Atonement
  1. Our sin.
  2. God's Love - John 3:16.
  3. God's Justice - Romans 3:25.
B. The Necessity of the Atonement for Our Salvation
  1. God did not have to save anyone (ex. - angels - 2 Peter 2:4).
  2. Having determined to save some, the atonement was necessary (Hebrews 9:25,26; Luke 24:25,26).
C. The Nature of the Atonement
  1. Christ's Obedience (Active Obedience) - Philippians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 5:19.
  2. Christ's Suffering and Death (Passive Obedience).
    • Suffering His whole life - Hebrews 5:8; Isaiah 53:3.
    • The Cross - Matthew 26:38.
      • Physical pain, death.
      • Pain of bearing sin - Isaiah 53:6,12; John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24.
      • Abandonment - Mark 14:34; Matt 26:56, 27:46.
      • Bearing the Wrath of God - Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2.
        There is an eternal, unchangeable requirement in the holiness and justice of God that sin be paid for.
    • New Testament terms:
      • Sacrifice - Hebrews 9:26.
      • Propitation - 1 John 4:10.
      • Reconciliation - 2 Corinthians 5:18,19.
      • Redemption - Mark 10:45; 1 John 5:19.
    • Other Views:
    • Did Christ descend into hell?
      • Phrase was not in original Apostles' Creed.
      • Today you will be with me in Paradise. - Luke 23:43.
      • It is finished. - John 19:30.
      • Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. - Luke 23:46.
      • There is no real reason for Christ to go to hell if He bore God's wrath on the cross.
D. The Extent of the Atonement
  1. Scripture that supports the Calvinistic view:
    • Exclusiveness of Old Testament Israel - Psalm 147:19,20; Amos 3:2.
      • Abraham - Genesis 17:1-22.
      • The Passover - Exodus 11:7; 12:3, 13.
      • Aaron's breastplate - Exodus 28:21, 29.
      • The Day of Atonement - Leviticus 16:34.
      • God's chosen people - Deuteronomy 7:6-11.
    • The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep - John 10:11,15.
    • Church obtained by the blood of Christ - Acts 20:28.
    • Who shall separate us? - Romans 8:28-39.
    • Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated - Romans 9:13.
    • All that the Father give me will come - John 6:37-39.
    • I pray not for the world - John 17:20.
  2. Scripture that supports the Arminian view:
    • The world - John 1:29; 3:16; 6:51; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 2:2.
    • Ransom for all - 1 Timothy 2:6.
    • Might taste death for everyone - Hebrews 2:9.
  3. Points of Agreement:
    • Not all will be saved.
    • Everyone should be able to hear the gospel.
    • Christ's death has infinite value.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. To which two aspects of God's character can we trace the ultimate cause of the atonement?
2. Was the atonement necessary? Why?
3. Explain the two aspects of Christ's obedience in the atonement.
4. Why was it necessary for Jesus to bear the wrath of God?
5. Give the scriptural evidence against the view that Christ descended into hell after He died.

TERMS
Active obedience, atonement, consequent absolute necessity, example theory, governmental theory, impute, moral influence theory, passive obedience, penal substitution, propitiation, ransom to Satan theory, reconciliation, redemption, sacrifice, vicarious atonement.

WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM
#23 What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.

#24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by His word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

#25 How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.

#26 How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.

#27 Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ's humiliation consisted in His being born, and that in low condition, and made under law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time.

ARTICLES
Machen on Christ’s Obedience
Questions on the Atonement of Christ
Why I Have Changed My Mind About Penal Substitution

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Christ’s Doctrine of the Atonement - George Smeaton
The Apostles’ Doctrine of the Atonement - George Smeaton

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