These Scripture words for Jesus’ work show us
God’s Solution to our problem: Jesus obeyed, died, rose.
I. Jesus obeyed for us
Through the obedience of one (Christ), many will be made righteous. Rom 5:19
II. Jesus died for us, so he:
A. was our Substitute (took our place)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, that we might receive the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21
B. Took the curse for us (Deuteronomy proclaimed curses upon disobedience)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Gal 3:13-14
C. Abolished the accusations of God’s law (law not a way of salvation)
He cancelled the written code that was against us by nailing it to the cross. Col 2:14
D. Sacrificed for our sin (the priests sacrificed animals to pay for sins)
Like a priest, Jesus sacrificed for the sins of all by the sacrifice of Himself. Heb 9:26
E. Made a Sacrifice of Atonement (sin was dealt with by putting blood on the atonement box or mercy seat)
God loves us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (see below)
F. was our Ransom.
Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all 1 Tim 2:5-6
G. Purchased us
You (Christ, the lamb) have purchased with your blood people from every tribe. Rev 5:9
H. Ratified the new covenant with blood (blood was used to ratify a covenant)
This is my blood of the covenant, given for you for the forgiveness of sins. Mt 26:28
I. Defeated Satan
By His death He destroyed the devil, who holds the power of death, and frees those who had fear of death. Heb 2:14-15
III. Jesus Rose for us, so he:
A. Showed He is God
Declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead. Rom. 1:4
B. Showed He completed our salvation
Christ was delivered up for of our transgressions, and raised again for our justification. Rom 4:25
(This shows the Father was satisfied)
C. Proves we will also rise
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Cor 15:20 Jim Found 11/01
More about “atonement.”
The English word “atonement” was formed from the words “at” and “one,” so it can be used to refer to the way any religion attempts to become in harmony with its higher power. For many religions, this “becoming at one” depends on the action of behavior of a member of that religion. For Christianity, this becoming “at one” depends on the actions of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew and Greek words that are translated into English by the word “atonement” have a rich and specific meaning. The term refers to the cover of the box that was placed in the inner room of the Old Testament temple. The term is also used for the action that took place upon this box: when blood was poured upon it once a year, the sins of the people were forgiven for that year. The term thus means “where sins are forgiven by the use of blood.” In the New Testament, this term is used to explain the work of Jesus Christ, with the added refinement that Jesus only had to shed his blood one time to forgive all the sins of the human race. Hebrews 9:26 says that Christ has come “to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Thye section below shows this usage of the Hebrew and Greek words:
In Exodus 25, God commanded Moses to make a box to contain the Ten Commandments. It is called the Covenant Box or Ark of the Covenant. Then in verse 17 he uses the Hebrew root KPR to describe the cover of the box: (I’m using non-standard spellings so the consonants stand out.) Ex 25:17. Make a KaPoReth (noun) of pure gold … (v. 21) put it on the box.
In Leviticus 16, the same root is used for the cover and for the action accomplished on it. Here Aaron, once a year, brings the blood of a goat into the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies): ,
Lev 16:15. He shall sprinkle it on the KaPoReth and in front of it. (v 16) In this way he will
KiPeR (verb) for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites,
whatever their sins have been, (v 17) No one is to be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron
goes in to the Most Holy Place to KaPeR (verb) until he comes out, having made KaPeR (noun)
for himself, his household, and the whole community of Israel.
The Hebrew translation of the New Testament uses this same root KPR to describe the same cover in Hebrews chapter 9:
Heb 9:5. Above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the KaPoReth.
The same root is used to describe the significance of Jesus’ death:
1 John 2:2. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the KapaRah for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 3:23. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (v 24) and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ, (v 25) whom God gave as the KaPaRah for our sins through his blood.
The same comparison can be made in the Greek language. The word used for the cover is hilasterion, and the corresponding New Testament verses read as follows:
Romans 3:25. whom God gave as the hilasterion through his blood.
1 John 2:2. he is the hilasmos for our sins … (related word)
It is interesting to see what various Bible translations use as the English word for the words in italics above, as they try to bring its the richness of meaning.
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