Casual readers of God's Word, and especially scoffers, sometimes complain that the Gospel of substitutionary atonement is not clearly taught by our Lord Jesus during His ministry, but is rather an elaboration added by Paul.
However, at the Lord's institution of His great Supper, the evening He was betrayed, He described the cup with these words: "This is my blood of the new covenant, shed for many for the remission of sins."
This reference to the New Covenant is of supreme importance, for it calls to mind the terms of that New Covenant laid down in Jeremiah 31:31. Therein, God promised a New Covenant, not like the old covenant which His people broke, and could not comply with.
Rather, the New Covenant which the Lord promises for His people lays no requirements upon them, but instead is unilateral on God's part. He promises to write His laws in our hearts, and that we will know Him. He also promises to forgive our sins and remember our iniquities no more.
This was a promise of a salvation that changes God's people. This is a salvation, not of works, but of free Grace on God's part.
But the question must have arisen: on what basis can a righteous God forgive the sins of His people?
That question is completely answered by the Lord Jesus. He made it clear, just before He died, that He is the sacrifice for sinners, and it is by His shed blood that our sins are remitted!
Thus, it is Christ's death that executes and empowers the New Covenant. He specifically links His blood sacrifice with the remission of sins promised in the New Covenant.
The writer of Hebrews confirms that His once-for-all sacrifice makes His people perfect forever, Hallelujah! |
#20 - Top Played Sermon (48-Hours) on 8/17/2009
