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Commentary on "Grace"
NATHAN CARLSON
Day 4: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Overview
The author starts today's lesson with a mention of the objective and subjective views of atonement and claims that there is a lot of discussion about it among theologians. He describes the objective view as a “concrete historical event that provides the basis for our salvation”. The subjective view is described as our response to what Christ did on the cross as the crucial point and “we are changed when we contemplate a love so great!” The author says that both views are correct and complement each other.
Problems
The author gives credibility to the subjective view of the atonement. This is not biblical. The most important part of Jesus atonement is not our response to His “demonstration of love”. Christ's actual sacrifice is much more than simply the catalyst for our own change. This erroneous view is sometimes referred to as the “bloodless atonement”.
Paul's letter to the Romans spells out clearly that we are justified through faith in Jesus blood.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” (Rom 3:23-25)
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!” (Rom 5:9)
“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Rom 5:18)
Because we deserve punishment and God's wrath, are separated from Him and are slaves to sin, we need Christ's atonement.
Consequences of sin |
Results of the atonement |
Death: |
Sacrifice: Christ died as a sacrifice for us, paying the penalty that we deserve. “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9:26) |
God's wrath: |
Propitiation: Jesus death appeased the wrath of God. “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:25) |
Separation from God: |
Reconciliation: We are reconciled to God through Christ. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18) |
Slaves to sin: |
Redemption: Christ bought us back from sin with his blood. “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” (Eph 1:7) |
Summary
- The subjective view of the atonement elevates man's role and diminishes Christ's role in our salvation.
- The consequence of sin is death, experiencing God's wrath, separation from God, and slavery to sin.
- Because of Christ's sacrifice and propitiation, believers have received reconciliation and redemption.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 8, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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