Topical Bible: The Atonement: Effected by Christ Alone

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The concept of atonement is central to Christian theology, representing the reconciliation between God and humanity achieved through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This entry explores the doctrine that atonement is effected by Christ alone, as articulated in the New Testament and supported by Old Testament typology.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding atonement through various sacrifices and rituals, particularly those outlined in the Mosaic Law. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, described in Leviticus 16, is a significant precursor to the ultimate atonement made by Christ. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people, symbolizing the need for a mediator between God and humanity.

Isaiah 53:5 prophetically speaks of a suffering servant who would bear the iniquities of many: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." This passage is often interpreted as a direct reference to the atoning work of Christ.

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system, emphasizing that His atoning work is both sufficient and exclusive. In John 1:29, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," highlighting His role as the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

The Apostle Paul elaborates on this in Romans 3:23-25: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand." Here, Paul underscores that justification and redemption are achieved solely through Christ's sacrificial death.

In Hebrews 9:12, the author contrasts the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament with the singular, definitive sacrifice of Christ: "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption." This passage affirms the sufficiency and finality of Christ's atoning work.

Christ's Unique Role

The exclusivity of Christ's atonement is further emphasized in Acts 4:12, where Peter declares, "Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." This statement affirms that Christ alone is the mediator between God and humanity, a theme reiterated in 1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

The Apostle John also affirms the singular efficacy of Christ's atonement in 1 John 2:2: "He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." This universal scope of Christ's atoning work underscores its sufficiency for all who believe.

Theological Implications

The doctrine that atonement is effected by Christ alone has profound theological implications. It underscores the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation, as articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights that salvation is a divine gift, not a human achievement, and is accessed through faith in the atoning work of Christ.

Furthermore, the exclusivity of Christ's atonement affirms the uniqueness of Christianity among world religions, as it posits that reconciliation with God is possible only through Jesus Christ. This belief is foundational to the Christian understanding of salvation and evangelism, motivating the proclamation of the gospel to all nations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 1:29,36
The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
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Acts 4:10,12
Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.
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1 Thessalonians 1:10
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
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1 Timothy 2:5,6
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
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Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
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Library

The Two Covenants: the Transition
... of the everlasting Covenant," with its atonement for sin ... of sin's power, that God
effected that resurrection ... sin, and made partakers of Christ's resurrection life ...
/.../murray/the two covenants/chapter viii the two covenants .htm

Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant
... the human and Divine was perfectly effected; in Him ... and as exclusively His work,
as atonement and intercession ... It is with the heart alone that Christ can be ...
/.../murray/the two covenants/chapter x jesus the mediator.htm

Second Sunday after Easter
... if God would accept their pain as atonement for their ... that liberation from sin and
death was effected not by our works and merits, but by Christ's wounds and ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after easter.htm

Continuation of the Foregoing Argument Proofs from the Writings of ...
... the power of sin,"the Son effected both these ... 3650] Literally, "supposing Him to
be Christ according to ... statement of the doctrine of atonement, whereby alone ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xviii continuation of the foregoing.htm

The Day of Atonement
... cleansing is set forth by this annual atonement for sins ... that the true expiation
could only be effected by one ... Christ has gone into 'the secret place of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... his sacrifices and sprinklings of blood effected merely as ... not eternally suffice,
as does the atonement of Christ. ... alone through the blood of Christ, and that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday in lent.htm

Doctrine and Discipline of the Church
... which the change in the elements was effected, while on ... confessing their sin and
making some form of atonement. ... who has a true ministry over Christ's body; and ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xi doctrine and discipline.htm

The Death of Christ
... And after all, though men call this a limited atonement, it is as ... And, last of all,
by Christ's death the Father's good pleasure was effected and prospered ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the death of christ.htm

Christ's Message to Herod
... And this 'perfecting' is effected in His 'perishing.'. ... I do not want to insist upon
any theories of Atonement. I do want to insist that Christ's own estimate of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/christs message to herod.htm

The Resurrection of Christ; his Last Interview with his Disciples ...
... They were appointed to be "witnesses" of Christ to the ... Priest of our profession,
having made atonement for his ... in his ascension, that it was effected by the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture i the resurrection of.htm