God's Redemptive Story: Atonement Through Jesus Christ

 

Summary

In our journey through the Bible, we are reminded that the entire scripture is a unified story centered on Jesus Christ. This narrative begins in a garden and culminates in a city, illustrating God's redemptive plan for humanity. The importance of understanding and sharing this story was highlighted to me over 30 years ago by a missionary named Tony Howarth, who effectively communicated the gospel to an unreached tribe by teaching them the Bible story. This approach is crucial for us today as we navigate an increasingly secular culture. Our goal is to equip ourselves to explain the Bible's story to those who may not know God, using resources like openthebible.org, which offers passages, explanations, and discussion questions to facilitate this journey.

Reflecting on our recent studies, we have seen that God, our Creator and Owner, is love. Despite the catastrophe of sin that alienated humanity from God, He has been working a plan to remove the curse and reconcile us to Himself, a plan that comes at great cost. This plan unfolds through the lineage of Abraham, leading to the formation of a nation that God delivered from slavery and brought to Mount Sinai, where they learned of His holiness.

The Day of Atonement, as described in Leviticus 16, serves as a powerful visual aid of God's plan for atonement. It involves a high priest who lays aside his dignity, prepares through sacrifice, and makes atonement by shedding blood, symbolizing the satisfaction of God's justice and the release of mercy. This drama foreshadows the ultimate atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, who laid down His life as a perfect sacrifice, satisfying God's justice and releasing mercy for our sins.

The application of this atonement requires us to lay hold of Jesus by faith, confessing our sins and experiencing the transfer of our guilt onto Him. As we do so, we can be assured that our sins are removed, as far as the east is from the west, and we are reconciled to God. This profound truth invites us to find peace, strength, and hope in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Bible is a unified story centered on Jesus Christ, beginning in a garden and ending in a city, illustrating God's redemptive plan for humanity. Understanding and sharing this story is crucial in our secular culture, equipping us to explain the gospel to those who may not know God. [00:13]

- God's plan to remove the curse of sin and reconcile us to Himself is a central theme of the Bible. This plan, which unfolds through the lineage of Abraham, comes at great cost and demonstrates God's love and holiness. [06:18]

- The Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 serves as a powerful visual aid of God's plan for atonement, involving a high priest who makes atonement by shedding blood, symbolizing the satisfaction of God's justice and the release of mercy. [14:29]

- Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, accomplished the ultimate atonement by laying down His life as a perfect sacrifice, satisfying God's justice and releasing mercy for our sins. This atonement is applied to us as we lay hold of Jesus by faith and confess our sins. [31:04]

- Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, our sins are removed, as far as the east is from the west, and we are reconciled to God. This profound truth invites us to find peace, strength, and hope in the finished work of Christ. [35:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - The Bible as One Story
- [00:44] - Tony Howarth's Missionary Story
- [02:21] - Relevance in a Secular Culture
- [03:03] - OpenTheBible.org Resource
- [05:35] - Review of God's Plan
- [07:36] - God's Holiness and Our Sin
- [09:01] - The Need for Atonement
- [10:51] - Introduction to Leviticus 16
- [14:29] - The Day of Atonement Explained
- [19:03] - Atonement Made Through Sacrifice
- [23:20] - Sin Confessed and Transferred
- [27:35] - Guilt Removed
- [30:32] - Jesus Christ Fulfills Atonement
- [35:46] - Our Sins Removed and Forgiven

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Leviticus 16
- Exodus 33:5
- Psalm 103:12

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the Day of Atonement as described in Leviticus 16, and how does it serve as a visual aid for God's plan for atonement? [14:29]

2. How did the high priest prepare himself before making atonement for the people, and what does this preparation symbolize? [17:49]

3. What role did the two goats play in the Day of Atonement, and what did each represent in the process of atonement? [19:19]

4. How does the sermon describe the transfer of guilt from the people to the goat, and what is the significance of this act? [27:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the Day of Atonement foreshadow the ultimate atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ? [30:32]

2. How does the concept of atonement in Leviticus 16 help us understand the nature of God's justice and mercy? [21:21]

3. What does the act of the high priest laying aside his dignity and wearing simple garments teach us about the nature of Christ's incarnation? [16:25]

4. How does the removal of sins "as far as the east is from the west" in Psalm 103:12 provide assurance of forgiveness and reconciliation with God? [35:46]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the unified story of the Bible centered on Jesus Christ. How can you better equip yourself to share this story with someone who may not know God? [02:21]

2. Consider the cost of God's plan to remove the curse of sin. How does understanding this cost affect your view of God's love and holiness? [06:18]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of confessing our sins and experiencing the transfer of our guilt onto Jesus. How can you make confession a regular part of your spiritual practice? [34:27]

4. In what ways can you find peace, strength, and hope in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, especially in times of personal struggle or doubt? [38:18]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to experience the removal of guilt. How can you actively lay hold of Jesus by faith in this area? [35:00]

6. How can you use resources like openthebible.org to deepen your understanding of the Bible and engage others in spiritual conversations? [05:09]

7. Think of someone in your life who might be open to learning about the Bible. What steps can you take to invite them on a journey through the Bible with you? [04:53]

Devotional

Day 1: The Bible's Unified Story of Redemption
The Bible is not just a collection of random stories but a unified narrative that centers on Jesus Christ. This grand story begins in a garden and ends in a city, illustrating God's redemptive plan for humanity. Understanding this narrative is crucial, especially in today's secular culture, as it equips believers to share the gospel with those who may not know God. By seeing the Bible as one cohesive story, we can better communicate the message of hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ. [00:13]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin to see your own life as part of God's larger story of redemption, and how might this perspective change the way you interact with others today?


Day 2: God's Costly Plan of Reconciliation
God's plan to remove the curse of sin and reconcile humanity to Himself is a central theme of the Bible. This plan unfolds through the lineage of Abraham and comes at a great cost, demonstrating both God's love and holiness. Despite humanity's alienation from God due to sin, He has been working throughout history to bring us back into a relationship with Him. This plan is not only a testament to God's love but also a call for us to understand the depth of His commitment to our salvation. [06:18]

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 7:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate God's love and holiness in your interactions with others today, reflecting His plan of reconciliation?


Day 3: The Day of Atonement as a Visual Aid
The Day of Atonement, as described in Leviticus 16, serves as a powerful visual aid of God's plan for atonement. It involves a high priest who makes atonement by shedding blood, symbolizing the satisfaction of God's justice and the release of mercy. This ritual foreshadows the ultimate atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ, who laid down His life as a perfect sacrifice. Understanding this Old Testament practice helps us grasp the significance of Christ's sacrifice and the depth of God's mercy towards us. [14:29]

"And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness." (Leviticus 16:21, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the symbolism of the Day of Atonement deepen your appreciation for Jesus' sacrifice, and how can you express this gratitude in your daily life?


Day 4: Jesus Christ, Our Great High Priest
Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, accomplished the ultimate atonement by laying down His life as a perfect sacrifice. This act satisfied God's justice and released mercy for our sins. The application of this atonement requires us to lay hold of Jesus by faith, confessing our sins and experiencing the transfer of our guilt onto Him. As we do so, we can be assured that our sins are removed, and we are reconciled to God. This profound truth invites us to find peace, strength, and hope in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. [31:04]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience the peace and hope that comes from Jesus' atonement, and how can you actively seek this today?


Day 5: The Removal and Forgiveness of Sins
Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, our sins are removed, as far as the east is from the west, and we are reconciled to God. This profound truth invites us to find peace, strength, and hope in the finished work of Christ. As believers, we are called to live in the freedom and forgiveness that Jesus provides, allowing His grace to transform our lives and relationships. Embracing this truth can lead to a life marked by gratitude and a desire to share the message of forgiveness with others. [35:46]

"As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus, and how can you share this message with them today?

Quotes

The entire Bible is one story. It begins in a garden, it ends in a city, and all the way through it is about Jesus Christ. The importance of telling the Bible story first came home to me now more than 30 years ago when I met in England a missionary by the name of Tony Howarth. [00:00:15]

God introduces himself in the Bible as our Creator and as our Owner. He fills the life of the first man and the first woman with good things, and every good gift in your life comes from the hand of God. But then we saw that there was a great catastrophe. [00:05:44]

From the very beginning of the Bible through to the end, God is working a plan, a plan in which He will remove the curse and reconcile us to Himself, a plan that will come at unimaginable cost to Almighty God. We saw that God stepped into the life of Abraham. [00:06:28]

The Day of Atonement was like a great drama, played out in five acts, and I want you to try and picture this as best you can. Imagine it as if you were there. Act one: the priest appears. Now, if you saw the high priest on any normal day, you would immediately have known. [00:15:30]

The high priest discarded his magnificent robes and appeared in public dressed simply in simple white cloth, the kind of clothing that the lowest servant would wear. That's verse 4 that was read for us. He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body. [00:16:20]

The high priest then comes out of the tabernacle, and the people see him again. This was an extraordinarily dramatic day. At this point, two goats are brought forward. One of them will live, and one of them will die. Verse 8: Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats. [00:19:05]

God is teaching us in pictures here. I mean, you can draw this, and some of you might find it helpful to attempt to draw just to get it sealed into your mind. God is using pictures to teach us. Here's this mercy seat, and it's a flat surface between these two figures. [00:20:52]

Judgment demands the death, a death as the penalty for sin, and it is satisfied. Mercy offers forgiveness to the sinner, and it is released, and mercy is released in the place of judgment when the blood of a sacrifice is sprinkled. Now, why does it have to be blood? [00:21:28]

When the high priest confessed the sins of the people with his hands laid on the head of the live goat, an act of transfer took place. God made it to be so. God moved the guilt of the sins that were being confessed onto the goat so that these sins were no longer on the people. [00:27:13]

What God is communicating is this: that the guilt of your sins through His atonement is lifted off you. It is now being laid on the goat, and the goat is now being taken away, and a man who's appointed for the task is responsible for leading this goat. [00:28:15]

Jesus Christ is our great High Priest. He's the Son of God. His glory is incomparable, far greater than the glory of splendid clothes. He shared the glory of the Father before the world began, but He discards the glory that is His, and He is born and laid in a manger. [00:31:04]

When faith lays its hand on Christ and confession is made, guilt is transferred, and you can know that your guilt and your sin was dealt with at the cross. And then lastly, what happens when your guilt really is taken? It's removed. It's transferred through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:35:46]

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Transcript
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