Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Atonement post 1.13

Jesus justifies, the Holy Spirit regenerates, Jesus atones, Jesus forgives, Jesus resurrects, Jesus judges. The timing and application of those things are various, but still selective in purpose and recipients. Jesus died not for sinners, but for the Father. Jesus did not satisfy the will of sinners, but the will of the Father. Now either Jesus satisfied the will of the Father or He didjn't. If he didn't, then what must we add to make the difference

Jesus died in place of the sheep, even though the sheep are not all born yet. Atonement is not needed for the righteous, but for the unrighteous. So the sheep are unrighteous and dead in trepasses and sins, and thus need atonement, and do recieve atonement from Christ which is presented to the Father. The Father accepts the atoning work of Christ for the Sheep because of Christ's identity, merits, and blood, and decision, not because of man's decision.

The blood on the door post was effective without the response of the infant. And there was no message about a lamb or blood ever given to the Egyptians or slaves across the globe. Moses doesn't deserve a burning bush, yet Pharaoh is not given one. Saul doesn't deserve a blinding light, yet Pilate is not given one. Doubting Thomas does not deserve the nail scarred wrist, yet Herod is not given them. The gloomy on the Emmaus Road did not deserve a meal with the resurrected God-Man, yet Felix is not given one. Isaac did not deserve to be the son of Abraham, yet Goliath was not Abraham's child.