Christ’s Atoning Sacrifice: The Infinite Value Of Our Salvation

We receive pardon through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, 

to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Romans 3:23-25.

Therefore, we may look by faith at Christ and live. 

Furthermore, we will live because we believe God's Word and trust in the means provided for our salvation.

Jesus came to redeem us by living a life of obedience to the Law of God and paying the penalty of sin.

Moreover, the Son of God has power and virtue in Himself to heal the repenting sinner. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him.

For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.

Thus trusting in His merits, we will work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.

Therefore, those who believe in Christ shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand. John 10:28.

Claiming the atoning sacrifice of Christ

The law reveals to humans their sins. Nevertheless, it provides no remedy. While it promises life to the obedient, it declares that death is the portion of the transgressor.

The Gospel of Christ alone can free us from the condemnation and the defilement of sin.

Therefore, we must repent toward God for transgressing His Law and claim by faith Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Thus we obtain remission of sins that are past and become partakers of the divine nature through the Spirit, whereby we cry Abba, Father.

Otherwise stated, we receive pardon after sincere repentance, which is registered in the books of Heaven.

Furthermore, as we have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and our characters are found to be in harmony with the Law of God - our sins will be blotted out and accounted worthy of eternal life.

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. Revelation 3:5.

Therefore, by His atoning sacrifice He has bound to Himself and His Father those who believe in Him. His is the only name under heaven whereby we may be saved.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3.

Applying the virtue of the atoning sacrifice

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; 

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14,15.

All who have ever lived upon the earth have felt the deadly sting of that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan. Revelation 12:9.

The fatal effects of sin can be removed only by the provision that God has made.

The Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the uplifted serpent. That look implied faith.

They lived because they trusted in the means provided for their recovery.

In like manner the sinners may look to Christ and live. He has the power and virtue to save and restore them.

Moreover, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7. The sacrificial lamb represents the Lamb of God, in Whom is our only hope of salvation.

It was not enough only the paschal lamb to be slain. Its blood must be sprinkled upon the doorposts.

The same way, the merits of Christ's blood must be applied to the soul. We must believe not only that He died for the world, but that He died for us individually.

The flesh was to be eaten. Comparably, we must by faith be constantly receiving Christ’s spiritual strength and nourishment through His word.

Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. 

Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life. John 6:53, 54.

The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63.

Look at Jesus upon the cross

As you look at Him, believe and live. 

For by faith in the atoning sacrifice you may be justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24.

Believe that you are forgiven and justified, not in transgression and disobedience, but in submission to the will of God.

Study and pray that as Christ has shown you the way, He may by His grace keep you in the way. 

For we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 1 Peter 1:5.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 

Not of work, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9.

In order to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, it is essential that you meditate much upon the great themes of redemption. 

Ask yourself why Christ:

• has taken humanity upon himself

• suffered upon the cross

• bore the sins of humans

• was made sin and righteousness for us

• ascended to Heaven in the nature of humankind

• still intercedes for us today?

Come to Him just as you are

While the sinner cannot save oneself, he or she still has something to do to secure salvation.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37.

We must come to Him. When we repent of our sins, we must believe that He accepts and pardons us.

Faith is the gift of God, but the power to exercise it is ours.

Faith is the hand by which the soul takes hold upon the Divine offers of grace and mercy.

The righteousness of Christ only can entitle us to the blessings of the covenant of grace.

We could do nothing to make ourselves worthy of them. Therefore, we should look away from self, believing that Jesus is an all-sufficient Savior.

For we must not think that our own merits will save us. Christ is our only hope of salvation.

For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.

On the other hand, the apostle Paul points to the daily sacrifices - ones without blemish as an illustration of what the followers of Christ are to become.

Symbolically, they represent Christ’s perfect purity who was to offer Himself as a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:19.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, 

holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1.

Justified by faith

The love of God to humankind breaks every barrier down. Sinners comes to the cross, which has been placed midway between Divinity and humanity.

Moreover, they repent of their sins of transgression, because Christ has been drawing them to Himself.

They don't expect the law to cleanse them from sin. For there is no pardoning quality in the law to save the transgressors of the law. 

Thus they look to the atoning Sacrifice as their only hope, through repentance toward God.

Furthermore, they look by faith toward Christ as the One who can save and cleanse them from every transgression.

He became sin for humans, that they might become the righteousness of God through Him who was one with the Father. 

Sinners can be justified by God when He:

• pardons their sins

• remits the curs of sin

• treats them as though they were really just and had not sinned

• receiving them into divine favor and treating them as if they were righteous.

They are justified alone through the imputed righteousness of Christ.

The Father accepts the Son and through the atoning sacrifice of His Son accepts the sinner.

Spirituality of the law

No one who believes in Jesus Christ is under bondage to the Law of God. For His law is a law of life and not of death, to those who obey its precepts.

All who comprehend the spirituality of the law and realize its power as a detector of sin, are in just as helpless condition as is Satan himself.

It is so unless they accept the atonement provided for them in the remedial sacrifice of Jesus. 

Through faith in Christ, obedience to every principle of the law is made possible.

Thus Paul learned that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:12. 

For our benefit, he asked:

Was then that which is good made death unto me? 

God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; 

that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:13, 14.

We are without divine wisdom unless by faith we accept the infinite plan of salvation. Thus every one who:

• believes in Jesus

• relies on the keeping power of a risen Savior

• resists temptations

• in the midst of evil strives to copy the pattern given in the Christ's life

will through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ might be partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4.

Conclusion

Jesus is our atoning sacrifice. We can make no atonement for ourselves. By faith we can accept the atonement that has been made. 

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.1 Peter 3:18.

Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

His infinite sacrifice places redemption within our reach. No human of earth, nor angel of Heaven could have paid the penalty for sin.

Jesus was the only one who could save rebellious humans. In Him Divinity and humanity are combined.

Because of this the Calvary's cross offering is effective.

At the cross mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psalm 85:10.

References:

1. COL 133; PP 431; ST, Dec 1890; 8MR 355; PH169; RH, Aug 1890; GC88 467; BTS, Dec 1908 - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV)