& to Conclude so is to Deny God
Corrupt views of the atonement seem to be gaining traction today as men will not endure sound doctrine and spend their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing. The bible is anything but obscure that God is angry with sinners and his wrath is upon them, until they get reconciled. Why is God angry? Clearly because he is righteous and holy. And how does he become no longer angry or appeased? This is the quintessential atonement question.
God is angered by sin and disobedience Dt.4:25, 6:15, 7:4, 9:7, 31:29, 32:16, 21, Num.22:22, Judges 2:12, 1 Kin.14:9, 22, 15:30, 16:13, 26, Jer.7:20, 44:8, 2 Chr. 28:25, 33:6, 34:25, 36:16, Isa.1:4, Nah.1:2, Jam.4:4, Jn.3:36, Rom.1:18, Eph.5:5-6, Col.3:5-6, Isa.59:2, 1 Pet. 3:12, Prov. 6:16, 15:8-9, 26, 21:27, 28:9, Psa.11:5, 5:5
Salvation therefore must be righteous Rom.3:25-6, 1 Jn.1:9, Ex.23:7, Prv.17:15, Isa.45:8,21, 56:1, 59:16-7, 46:13, 51:5-8, 63:1, Jer.23:5-6, 33:15-6, Psa.71:2,15, 98:2
All of God’s judgments are just Heb.2:2, Isa.59:18, Jer.51:56, Rev.16:7, 19:2, Jer.9:24, Hab.1:13, Nah.1:3, Psa.18:20,24, Prv.17:13, 1 Ki.8:32, Rom.2:5-6, Job 8:4, Psa.89:14, Zep.3:5
God is exact or precise in his judgments- Ex. 21:23-5, Lev. 24:19-21, Lev. 19:34-6, Deut. 17:8, 19:21, 21:5, Deut. 25:14-16, Prov. 20:10,23, 11:23, 16:11, Micah 6:11.
He demands righteousness Ezk.18:5, 45:9-10, Lv.19:36, Dt.25:15, Prv.11:1, 16:11, 17:15 God will judge every sin because he is just Prv.24:12, Ecc.12:14, Mt.16:27, Rv.2:23, 20:13, 22:12, 2 Chr.6:23, Psa.9:4, Dt.21:5, Jer.11:20, 25:14, Jd.15, Rom.2:6-10, 3:5-6, 12:19, Ex.34:7, Num.14:18, Heb.2:2, 10:30, 12:23, Mt.12:36, 2 Cor.10:5, Gen.6:5, Ecc.3:17, Dt.21:5, Jer.32:19, 2 Chr. 6:30, 1 Ki.8:39, Nah.1:2, Rom.13:4, Dt.32:35,41,43, Psa.94:1, Isa.35:4, Jer.51:6, 5:9,29, 46:10, Ezk.25:17, Lk.18:7-8, 1 Thes.4:6, Acts 17:31 God keeps covenant because he is just Dt.7:9, 1 Kin.8:23, Neh.1:5, 9:7-8,32, Dan.9:4
Anyone reading God’s revelation of himself and drawing conclusions that he is capricious and arbitrary are themselves fallen under a mist and a darkness. God must punish all sin. This is contained in the definition of justice with God. It would be an injustice or a denial of justice to neglect punishment. Some foolishly believe God’s punishment for breaking his law was arbitrary and he could simply forgive; that is deny his immutable justice. That punishment could have been otherwise, that the wages of sin need not be death only his intent was to secure obedience and deter rebellion in his heavenly hosts and preempt a general mutiny. Nevertheless, the law was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward, because God is Just. (Heb.2:2, Rom.3:26) God cannot change and be an unjust judge who doesn’t avenge but creates divers weights and measures. (Lk.18:1-6, Prv.20:10) Eternal redemption (Heb.9:12), and eternal salvation (Heb.5:9) require an eternal person who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God.(Heb.9:14) God cannot deny himself, he cannot lie, and all his works are done in truth. (2 Tim.2:13, Heb.6:13,18, Tit.1:2, Psa.33:4) O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all. (Ps.104:24) The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. (Ps.111:2,7) All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (Ps.145:10,17) Those who slander the Lord of glory and say that he could, should he so desire, just overlook sin and not judge all of it and not hate every spot of it, and that had he so decided could have not commanded blood be shed for sin and death fall upon sin and hell consume all of it, these ought to have their blasphemous mouths stopped who subvert whole houses. The froward tongue shall be cut out. (Prv.10:31) They assert, pontificating with great ignorance, “God can arbitrarily forgive without satisfying justice- but then chaos in his government would have ensued because it would look like God didn't care too much about his law. So, he chose to punish Jesus so angels would realize he really honors his law.” If God can arbitrarily forgive, then the cross was not necessary for our sins. (Which it was- Matt.26:39,53-4, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42) And in fact had no direct relationship to our past sins but only intended to discourage future ones after we hear of the cross. Or yet any sins prior to Christ’s death his blood had nothing to offer, they were arbitrarily forgiven. This is more like Allah than Jehovah. These are things that should cause a great trembling to utter such blasphemous conclusions. Yet they persist intruding into those things which they have not seen.
The Living God is the source of all life. (Gen.1:21,24,28,2:7, Job 12:10, Mal.2:10, Ps.145:16, Heb.12:9, Ac.17:24-9, Lk.20:38) Therefore because of the unchanging immutability of God’s nature and character, the soul that sins shall surely die. Eph.4:18, Rom.6:23,16, 5:12,17,21, 7:5,13, 8:2, Ezk.18:4,20, 3:20, 33:11,13, Jam.1:15, 2 Chr.25:4, Dt.24:16, Gen.2:17, 1 Cor.15:22. The Old Covenant is filled with blood sacrifices (the life of the flesh-Lv.17:11,14) and burnt offerings (Numbers 29 for example) and the Passover sacrifice and the day of Atonement where blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. And again, the priesthood and entire sacrificial system was designed to shed blood. Why? Will you accuse God of superfluity or excess or vanity? Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. (Job 35:13) All thy works shall praise thee (Ps.145:10) and so I meditate on all thy works. (143:5) Those who do not avail themselves of the advantage of the Jew, chiefly that the oracles of God were committed unto them, even they ‘could not speak in the Jews' language’ for the law of God is not in his heart. (See Atonement and the doctrine of laying on of hands.) Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures- this would be the Old Testament.
Every priest offers sacrifices for sins to God. Christ was a priest who offered himself to God and not as a ransom to Satan clearly and without any ambiguity. Only a mind hardened in pride could look for answers in such a horrid dogma. Such are the wicked arrogating themselves teachers of the law while understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (1 Tim.1:7) Perverse disputers who are vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds, (Col.2:18) from such turn away. 1 Cor. 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Ex.22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Leviticus 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
Christ's actual Priesthood:
Heb.5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Heb.8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb.7:21...Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: v27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Psa.49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Heb.9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb.9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many...
Heb. 10:11-12 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Lev.17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Heb.9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Mt. 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
It was not the blood of animals that would affect any demand of God’s righteousness. Heb.10:8, Mic.6:6-7, Isa.40:15-7, Hos.6:6, Mt.12:7, Psa.50:8-12, 69:30-1, 1 Sam.15:22 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Prv.21:3) These were mere instructions and shadows of the true. (Heb.7-10) What God taught us through those sacrifices, among other things, was that blood had to be shed in order to appease and propitiate his justice, to hold back his wrath. To do justice and judgment was the sacrifice of Christ. The wages of sin is death because God is the source of life. If God will forgive, then his forgiveness must be just for he is. (1 Jn.1:9, Rom.3:25-6) Grace is subordinate to justice as female is to male. He that hath ears let him hear.
The sins of the world past, present and future were laid upon Jesus, (Rom.3:23-8, Heb.9:14-15, Rv.13:8 1 Pt.1:19-20, Jn.1:29) that is imputed to him on the cross. (Isa.53:5-6,8,10-12, 2 Cor.5:19,21,1Pt.2:24, 3:18, Heb.9:28,1 Jn.3:5, Col.1:19-22) Christ only died for sins once. (Rom. 6:9-10,1 Pet.3:18, Heb.10:10,12, Heb.7:27, 9:25-6) He was delivered up for our sins. (Rom.8:32, 4:25, Ac.2:23,1 Cor.15:3, Gal.1:4, 1Jn.2:2,4:10) This alone can fulfill all divine justice and allow for everlasting mercy to be poured out. (Matt.26:39,53-4, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42)
Imputation is seen in the transfer of sin debt. (Mt.6:12, 5:25-6, Lk.11:4, 12:59, Mt 18:23-35) onto the only possible just substitute Jesus Christ. Christ alone is perfect and without blemish. (1 Pt.1:19, Ex.12:5, 1 Cor.5:7 Lev.1:3, etc.) When the Day of Atonement is examined, we see this illustrated through the laying on of hands. Note clearly Lev.16:21-2 “Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat... the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities...” How does this occur? Imputation through the laying on of hands. Again Lev.1:4 “he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” This happens all through Leviticus, we see it in Ex.29:10,15,19, as in Num.8:12.
When the imputation is complete by the laying on of hands, atonement could be made with the shedding of blood, the life of the flesh. (Something is wrong with the life of our flesh- 1 Cor.15:50, Jn. 3:6-7, Mt.26:41, Rom.7:5,18,25, 8:8,13, Gal.5:24, Eph.2:3, 1Pt.2:11) He shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it- Lev.3:2,8,13. He shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord- Lev.4:4,15,24 And slay the sin offering- v29,33 Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. Lev.8:18-9 Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it...v22-3 Do you see the pattern shown you from the mount?
Hell is evidence that God's full retributive divine justice must be satisfied. Hell is not arbitrary justice. Hell is eternal because God is an eternal person. All our sins are against him. (Psa. 51:4, Gen.4:10, Lv.6:2, Jam.2:9, Mt.25:45, 1 Jn.3:4) Only an eternal person could satisfy his justice, thus Jesus alone could make propitiation as God manifest in the flesh. An eternal person propitiated an eternal person; deep calleth unto deep. (Ps.42:7, Heb.5:7) The redemption is not separated from the person of Christ. He alone can be the mediator and advocate because of who he is. (1 Tim.2:5, Jn.17:3, 1 Jn.2:1-2) There could not be a third-party suffering for sin for the law and righteousness itself forbids it, yea it would be unjust. (Prv.17:15, Ezk.18:4,20, 2 Chr.25:4, Ex.32:32-3, Dt.24:16) Only the incarnate God could mediate and propitiate God. Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Heb.1:8-9
Therefore, the cup of wrath and fury was drunk by Jesus Christ on the cross when he was baptized unto death. What other cup was Jesus exceedingly sorrowful about drinking if not drinking of the wrath of the Almighty?
Psa.75:8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. Job 21:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? Psa.89:46
Isa.51:17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. v22 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
Jer.25:15 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. v17 Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me: v28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
Matt.20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. v23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with... (Also Mark 10:38-9, Luke 12:50) Compare Rom.6:3-6- when we were crucified with him and baptized unto death. Gal.2:20 Part of the sign of Jonah (Mt.12:40) was the swallowing up of judgment of the great floods- a baptism. (1 Pt.3:20-1) These are prophetically seen in the Psalms- 22:1,88:6-7,14-8,69:1-4,7-9,14-15,20-22.
Matt.26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. v42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Also Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42)
Rev.14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
16:19...and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
What else would the burnt sacrifice point to if not Jesus? (Heb 13:11-12) “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” (Lev.6:13) Because the law worketh wrath. (Rom.4:15) God’s wrath upon his just substitute instead of his enemies. (Nah.1:2, Rom.5:8-10, Eph.2:1-4) “But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” (Psa.37:20) “I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.”(Jer.51:40) “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them:” Lam.1:12-3 (see Isa.34:2,6-10, Lev.6:13, Jer.46:10) For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (Dt.4:24, Ezk.38:19,6:5, Heb.12:29) This is a figure in the consuming of the sacrifice in Lev.9:24 “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat”. (2 Thes.1:7-9) The vengeance of eternal fire will fall from heaven upon the wicked. But Jesus Christ will be the one executing the wrath (Mt.3:11-12, Jn.5:22,27, Ac.17:31, Rv.5:5-6) because he absorbed this wrath on the cross. (Rom.14:9, Phil.2:6-11) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
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