Atonement

Order of Service

• Teaching — Seven Realities of the Atonement
• Hymn — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (#252)
• Benediction (Closing Prayer)

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Sermon Title: Seven Realities of the Atonement

Scripture: Leviticus 16

I. Expiation — The Removal of Guilt

A. Sin as transgression brings guilt that must be removed
B. The Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 illustrates expiation

1. Yom Kippur was the centerpiece of Leviticus and the entire sacrificial system
2. Aaron placed his hands on the scapegoat (Azazel), transferring Israel's guilt; the goat was released into the wilderness to die, symbolizing permanent removal of guilt
   C. No "double jeopardy" — God will never again bring the forgiven sinner to trial for removed guilt
   D. Psalm 103:12 — As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us
   E. Christ is our scapegoat; imputation of sin to Christ undergirds expiation (2 Corinthians 5:21)

II. Propitiation — The Absorption of God's Wrath

A. Definition: the absorption or appeasement of God's wrath toward sin
B. Isaiah 53 — pierced, crushed, chastised are words of wrath being placed upon Christ
C. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 — Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come
D. 1 John 4:10 — God sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins

1. God's love and propitiation are inseparably linked
2. Progressive movements that remove propitiation from hymnody and theology distort the gospel

III. Reconciliation — At-one-ment with God

A. The English word atonement derives from at-one-ment, meaning oneness between God and the one atoned for
B. Unlike a court acquittal that merely dismisses the guilty party, Christ's atonement draws believers into relationship with God as Father
C. Romans 5:10–11 — reconciled to God by the death of his Son; we now rejoice in God through Christ
D. The cross is not merely meant to relieve guilt but to draw believers into deeper prayer and relationship with the Father

IV. Satisfaction — The Payment of a Debt

A. In the first century, satisfaction meant the payment of a debt in full
B. Christ's final words, It is finished (Greek: tetelestai), were a transactional term — a receipt marking a debt paid in full
C. Humanity robbed God of his glory and obedience, giving allegiance to Satan; Christ repaid what Adam and all mankind owed
D. John 12:27–28 — Glorify your name — Christ glorifies the Father at the cross, paying what was owed
E. Colossians 2:13–14 — the record of debt nailed to the cross and cancelled

V. Substitution — Christ Dying For Us

A. The Greek phrase hyper hēmōn (for us) is among the most theologically significant words in Scripture
B. 2 Corinthians 5:21 — God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God
C. 1 Peter 2:24 — he bore our sins in his body on the tree
D. Christ at the Lord's Supper: This is my body broken for you; this is my blood that is for you — both employ hyper hēmōn
E. All sins — past, present, and future — were laid on Christ; this is the ground of assurance of salvation
F. Departing from substitutionary atonement reduces Christ to a mere moral example and loses the gospel entirely (Galatians 1:8)

VI. Redemption — Bought Out of Bondage

A. To redeem meant to buy back, most often from slavery
B. The Exodus is the seminal redemption event; the final act was the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts
C. Romans 6:20 — we are slaves of sin; a ransom price must be paid to set us free
D. Matthew 20:28 — the Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many
E. Ephesians 1:7 — in him we have redemption through his blood
F. 1 Peter 1:18–19 — ransomed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, like a lamb without blemish

VII. Victory — Christus Victor

A. Christus Victor (Christ the Conquering King) was a common phrase among the early church fathers
B. The resurrection is the ultimate defeat of sin and death, but Scripture also presents the crucifixion itself as a moment of conquest
C. Colossians 2:13–15 — God disarmed the rulers and authorities, putting them to open shame by triumphing over them in Christ
D. Satan's greatest weapon is accusation; at the cross, that weapon is destroyed — guilt is expiated, wrath is propitiated, and believers are reconciled to the Father

1. The mockers at the foot of the cross reflect Satan's awareness that the cross spells his destruction
2. The Accuser has no accusation left to bring against those covered by Christ's blood