Substitutionary Atonement

You’re not a sinner because you sin; you sin because you’re a sinner. We were born sinners and sin separates us from God. You can try in futility to atone for your sins or accept the price that has already been paid for our sin through Jesus Christ.

Have you ever wondered why people die? It all began with our ancestors Adam and Eve. They were warned not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that if they ate from that tree they would surely die. They disobeyed God and death came into the world. The penalty for our sin is death.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

But if you die without Christ you will experience spiritual death, eternal separation from God.

Yes, God is love but sin’s penalty must still be paid. So the Son of God decided to become our divine substitute. This would require Him to leave heaven, come to earth and take on flesh and blood. 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus Christ our sinless Savior bore the sins of the world on the cross.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 

When Jesus shed His blood on the cross, a merciful and loving God was able to pardon and cleanse everyone who would receive Him, because the divine substitute took upon Himself the penalty for our sin.

To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 

 

The atonement is unlimited in scope, available for all. The love of God reached out to the whole world when God gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Scripture undoubtedly shows the universality of the provision of the Atonement. Jesus clearly died for everyone. The opportunity to be born again is now given to you.

The atonement is sufficient for all men, but it is only efficient only for those who believe! The atonement becomes effective when you receive Christ by faith. Jesus Christ died for the entire world, but if you don’t accept God’s gift, you have no other recourse.