1 John 2:1-11

 Preached Sunday Evening, July 5, 2009

 

Introduction:

 

          How is sin paid for or atoned? This is the most important theological issue in the Bible. Some believe that works or penance can be atoned for sin. Some believe that Jesus is a perpetual sacrifice and sin is atoned through the Holy Eucharist. Tonight we will search the scriptures regarding this matter of atonement for sin.

 

 

STATEMENT OF FAITH OF THE EVANGELICAL

BAPTIST CHURCH

 

SECTION VIII -THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN

 

WE BELIEVE (a) that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (b) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; (c) that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; (d) that, having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person, the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.

 

a)       Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24

b)       John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7;

Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21

c)       John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Isaiah

53:11; Hebrews 12:2

d)       I Corinthians 15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12-15; I John 2:2

 

 

 

 

 

I.                   Atonement for sin comes by grace alone

 

A.     This grace offered to the whole world

 

1 John 2:1-2

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

 

Acts 15:11

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

 

Romans 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

B.     This grace is accessed by faith

 

Ephesians 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

Romans 5:2

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 

II.                Atonement for sin comes through Jesus Christ

 

A.     Commissioned by the Father

 

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

B.     Lived a perfect life, dedicated to saving the lost

 

 

Matthew 18:11

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

 

Philippians 2:7

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

Hebrews 2:14

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

C.     Obedient unto death

 

Isaiah 53:4-7

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.   6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 

III.             Christ took our place, making atonement for our sins.

 

A.     Volunteered- not martyred

John 10:18

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

 

Philippians 2:8

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

 

Hebrews 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 

B.     Took our blame

 

2 Corinthians 5:2

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

 

1 Peter 2:24

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

 

1 Peter 3:18

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

 

C.     Paid what we owed

 

Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Romans 3:25

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  

 

1 John 4:10

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

Galatians 1:4

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

 

Isaiah 53:11

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 

IV.              Christ is our all sufficient Savior

 

A.     For eternal life

 

1 Corinthians 15:20

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

 

B.     For intercession

 

Isaiah 53:12

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Hebrews 7:25

25 Wherefore 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. 

 

C.     For purification through his blood

 

Hebrews 9:12-15

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. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 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? 

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

 

 

 

 

V.                 Christ is Our Shepherd of Love

 

A.     Obedience demonstrates our love for Jesus.

 

1 John 2:3-6

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

B.     Love for others demonstrates our established relationship with Jesus.

 

1 John 2:7-11

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.