THE ATONEMENT AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Exodus 29:32-42
Text: Exodus 29:33
Exodus 29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
Introduction: Our text is the first occurrence of the word “atonement” in the Bible. The word means, “at-one-ment,” or a reconciliation of man to God. It is found one time in the New Testament:
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
On this particular point, the Scofield Reference Bible, the best reference Bible in the world, is absolutely useless in its footnotes (read the Ex. 29:33 footnote).
I remind you that the King James Bible is the word of God, and that Scofield’s notes are Scofield’s notes (and the notes of some of the editors). The word “atonement” is correct in both places: Ex. 29:33 and in Rom. 5:11. However, the atonement of the Old Testament is only a figure of the true atonement of the New Testament. This atonement of the Old Testament is a type, or prophetic picture, of that performed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So, once again, we are looking at the book of Exodus and finding therein THE BLESSED FACE OF JESUS. Hallelujah!
Remember that Jesus said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jesus was referring especially to Exodus, one of the books of Moses, for He said in a follow-up statement:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Today we’re going to look at the first occurrence of this great word and consider the wonderful work of the grace of God in reconciling man unto Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ.
This morning’s message is titled:
THE ATONEMENT AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Consider with me a few thoughts this morning about the atonement, pictured in the Old Testament and fulfilled and performed in the New Testament.
I. THE SIN
Exodus 29:36 And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
A. Sin is a part of our nature – Rom. 5:12
B. Sin is a practice of every man – Rom. 3:10,23
C. Sin is a polluter of man and of mankind
II. THE SEPARATION
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
A. Sin separated man from Paradise in Adam’s day
B. Sin separates man from possessing God in our day
C. Sin separates man from pleasure in eternity
III. THE SACRIFICE
Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
A. A submissive sacrifice
B. A silent sacrifice
C. A substitutionary sacrifice
D. A satisfactory sacrifice
IV. THE SUPERIORITY
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
The atonement of Jesus Christ was superior to the Old Testament atonement by the blood of animals:
A. In its removal
1. Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
2. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
B. In its redemption
1. Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
2. Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
C. In its reconciliation
1. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
D. In its righteousness imputed
1. 2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, |