The Transformative Power of Christ's Atonement
Summary
The atonement of Christ on the cross is a profound event with far-reaching consequences, both immediate and eternal. It fundamentally altered God's relationship with sinful humanity, not by changing God's eternal nature, but by transforming how He interacts with us. The atonement also had a purifying effect on heaven itself, cleansing it from the taint of sin introduced by Satan's fall. This purification was necessary for the heavenly sanctuary to be rendered perfect, achieved through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Another significant outcome of the cross is the ratification of the New Covenant. This covenant, foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New, was sealed by the blood of Christ. It represents a new relationship between God and humanity, characterized by grace rather than law. The New Covenant brings with it numerous blessings, including the forgiveness of sins, a new way of approaching God, and the assurance of salvation. Our sins are forgiven once and for all, and we are granted a holy boldness to enter into God's presence, not through our own merit, but through the blood of Jesus.
Under this New Covenant, we are no longer under the law but under grace. This does not mean we are free to sin; rather, the law is now written on our hearts, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in accordance with God's will. The New Covenant also guarantees our perseverance in faith, as Christ's eternal priesthood ensures that He continually intercedes for us, saving us to the uttermost.
The cross is the most crucial event in history, from which all blessings flow. It assures us of our eternal future and glory, as nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. As believers, we are called to live in the assurance of these truths, rejoicing in the grace and mercy that have been extended to us through the atoning work of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The atonement on the cross transformed God's relationship with humanity, not by altering His eternal nature, but by changing how He interacts with us, offering a new covenant of grace. [00:39]
- The New Covenant, ratified by Christ's blood, brings forgiveness of sins and a new way to approach God, allowing us to enter His presence with holy boldness. [07:56]
- Under the New Covenant, we are no longer under the law but under grace, with God's law written on our hearts, empowering us to live according to His will. [23:40]
- Christ's eternal priesthood guarantees our perseverance in faith, as He continually intercedes for us, ensuring our salvation to the uttermost. [32:10]
- The cross is the source of all blessings, assuring us of our eternal future and glory, as nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. [36:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Atonement
- [00:25] - God's Relationship with Humanity
- [01:14] - Purification of Heaven
- [02:48] - Ratification of the New Covenant
- [03:02] - Scriptural Basis for the New Covenant
- [06:47] - Jesus' Foretelling of the New Covenant
- [08:14] - Old Testament Covenants
- [10:28] - Renewal of the Covenant with Moses
- [12:09] - The New Covenant's Promises
- [14:44] - Blessings of the New Covenant
- [16:06] - Forgiveness of Sins
- [19:23] - New Access to God
- [23:26] - Living Under Grace
- [29:24] - God Working in Us
- [32:10] - Assurance of Salvation
- [36:13] - Eternal Future and Glory
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 9:23-28
2. Hebrews 10:15-18
3. Romans 6:14
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 9:23-28 say about the necessity of purification in heaven and how it relates to the atonement of Christ? [01:31]
2. According to Hebrews 10:15-18, what is the significance of the New Covenant in terms of forgiveness of sins? [05:09]
3. How does Romans 6:14 describe the believer's relationship to the law under the New Covenant? [23:40]
4. What role does Christ's eternal priesthood play in the assurance of our salvation according to the sermon? [32:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the purification of heaven mentioned in Hebrews 9:23-28 expand our understanding of the cosmic impact of sin and the atonement? [01:31]
2. In what ways does the New Covenant, as described in Hebrews 10:15-18, change the way believers approach God compared to the Old Covenant? [05:09]
3. What does it mean to be "under grace" rather than "under the law" as stated in Romans 6:14, and how does this affect a believer's daily life? [23:40]
4. How does the concept of Christ's eternal priesthood provide comfort and assurance to believers in their faith journey? [32:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the idea that the atonement of Christ has cosmic implications, including the purification of heaven. How does this perspective influence your view of the significance of Christ's sacrifice? [01:31]
2. The New Covenant offers forgiveness of sins and a new way to approach God. How can you cultivate a sense of "holy boldness" in your personal prayer life? [19:57]
3. Being "under grace" means living with God's law written on our hearts. What practical steps can you take to align your daily actions with this internalized law? [23:40]
4. Christ's eternal priesthood assures us of our salvation. How can this assurance impact your response to challenges and doubts in your faith? [32:10]
5. The sermon emphasized that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. How can you remind yourself of this truth during times of personal struggle or doubt? [36:13]
6. Consider the blessings of the New Covenant, such as forgiveness and new access to God. How can you express gratitude for these blessings in your daily life? [14:44]
7. The sermon encourages believers to live in the assurance of their eternal future and glory. What specific actions can you take to live out this assurance in your community or church? [36:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation of Divine Interaction
The atonement of Christ on the cross is a pivotal event that transformed God's interaction with humanity. While God's eternal nature remains unchanged, the atonement altered the way He engages with us, offering a new covenant of grace. This transformation signifies a shift from a relationship based on law to one founded on grace, allowing humanity to experience God's love and mercy in a profound way. The atonement also purifies the heavenly realm, cleansing it from the sin introduced by Satan's fall, thus rendering the heavenly sanctuary perfect through the blood of Jesus Christ. This purification was necessary for the fulfillment of God's plan for redemption and reconciliation with humanity. [00:39]
Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the grace offered through the atonement in your daily interactions with others, reflecting God's transformed relationship with humanity?
Day 2: Bold Access to God
The New Covenant, ratified by the blood of Christ, brings with it the forgiveness of sins and a new way to approach God. This covenant allows believers to enter God's presence with holy boldness, not through their own merit, but through the sacrifice of Jesus. The assurance of salvation and the forgiveness of sins are central to this new relationship, providing believers with the confidence to draw near to God. This bold access to God is a profound privilege, inviting believers to live in the freedom and assurance of His grace and mercy. [07:56]
Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of confidence and boldness in your relationship with God, knowing that you have been granted access through Christ's sacrifice?
Day 3: Living Under Grace
Under the New Covenant, believers are no longer under the law but under grace. This does not imply a license to sin; rather, it means that God's law is now written on their hearts, empowering them to live according to His will. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding and enabling believers to live a life that reflects God's character and purposes. This empowerment is a testament to the transformative power of grace, which not only forgives but also equips believers to live in alignment with God's desires. [23:40]
Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your actions and decisions with the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, living out God's law written on your heart?
Day 4: Assurance of Salvation
Christ's eternal priesthood guarantees the perseverance of believers in faith, as He continually intercedes for them, ensuring their salvation to the uttermost. This assurance is a source of comfort and strength, reminding believers that their salvation is secure in Christ. His intercession is a constant reminder of His love and commitment to His people, providing them with the confidence to persevere in their faith journey. This assurance is not based on human effort but on the finished work of Christ, who saves completely and eternally. [32:10]
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Reflection: How does the knowledge of Christ's continual intercession for you impact your daily walk with Him, and how can you rest in the assurance of your salvation?
Day 5: Source of All Blessings
The cross is the source of all blessings, assuring believers of their eternal future and glory. Nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ, providing a foundation of hope and security. This assurance of an eternal future is a powerful motivator for believers to live in the light of God's love and grace, rejoicing in the blessings that flow from the cross. The cross is not only a symbol of sacrifice but also a testament to the abundant life and blessings that God offers to those who believe. [36:13]
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV): "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively live out the assurance of God's love and the blessings of the cross in your daily life, sharing this hope with others?
Quotes
The atonement on the cross transformed God's relationship to sinful mankind. It made no difference to the ultimate and eternal being of God, for God never changes. He is the father of Lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning. It affected a change in God's relationship to sinful men, and it was a change that he himself had brought to pass. [00:36:00]
Sin, in some inscrutable way, even affected heaven when Satan fell. He fell from heaven, from the very presence of God, and in a way that we cannot fully understand, we are here taught and elsewhere in Scripture that, in a sense, even Heaven itself needs to be cleansed from this effect of sin, and the blood of Jesus Christ avails in that respect. [01:18:16]
The New Covenant was ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the cross. There are a number of statements, especially in this epistle to the Hebrews, that state that quite clearly. By so much was Jesus made assurity of a better Covenant. That's the New Covenant. He is the mediator of a better Covenant, which was established upon better promises. [03:01:56]
All God's covenants with mankind were ratified by Blood. The first account of this, and in many ways one of the fullest, is found in Genesis 15, where we are told about God making a covenant with Abraham. The Covenant that was made was ratified again by the shedding of the blood of these animals and by this remarkable sign that God there gave to Abraham. [08:18:00]
The cross is the most crucial event in history. It is from the cross that every benefit ultimately comes. All the blessings that we enjoy as Christian people rarely come to us because of what happened on the cross. The cross is the most crucial event in history. It is from the cross that every benefit ultimately comes. [14:29:20]
Our sins are forgiven once and for all. The glory of our position is this: that what our Lord did and what was done in our Lord upon the cross was once and for all and forever. By one offering, he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified. In that one act, God has dealt with sin and has forgiven it once and forever. [17:04:40]
We have got a new way of approaching God. We've got a new access to God. Our consciences are now cleansed. Let us draw near with a True Heart in full Assurance of Faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. It enables us to come into the presence of God with a holy boldness. [19:39:48]
Under the New Covenant, we are no longer under law but under grace. We are not under the law in this sense: when God gave that law through Moses, he said to the people, if you keep this law, if you do this law, you will save yourselves. But as Christians, we are not under the law but under grace. [23:33:36]
In the New Covenant, God now does something with this law which he didn't do before. Before, he had written it on tables of stone; it was outside us. But now, this is what he's going to do: I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts. The law under the New Covenant is within us and not outside us. [28:00:00]
The New Covenant guarantees our continuance in this life. He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. He's always there; he'll never fail. That's the kind of high priest I need, for we fall into sin and need further cleansing. [31:56:39]
Our Eternal future and Glory are guaranteed and certain. Nothing and no one shall be able to separate us from him. No man can pluck them out of my hand. We belong to this Shepherd, and no thief and no enemy can ever take us from him. Our relationship to him means that our Eternal future and Glory are guaranteed and certain. [36:13:00]
Do you realize that you are in this new covenant, that it's been ratified by the blood of the Son of God? It sealed, signs settled. Do you know your title Deeds? Are you certain that your sins are forgiven? Do you go to God with this holy boldness, knowing your acceptance, knowing that he's your God and that you are his child? [38:09:72]
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