The Necessity of the Atonement

Wayne Grudem, poses a great question in his systematic theology book, was there any other way for God to save human beings than by sending His Son to die in our place?

I think to answer that question, we have to first realize that God did not have to save anyone, He could have chosen in His perfect justice to send each and every one of us to the rightful judgement awaiting us, just as He did with the angels that rebelled along with Lucifer. But here is the great news and the news that will cause us to rejoice, once God decided in His great mercy to save sinners, the atonement was absolutely necessary, and we will look at several Scriptures that will point us to this great truth. The atonement was not absolutely necessary, but once God chose to save people, the atonement and death of Christ were the only way.

The Scriptures are going to show us that this is the only way: Like we saw yesterday, Romans 2:26- "IT was to show that His righteousness at the present time, so that HE might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Hebrews 9:22-23 - "Indeed, under the Law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood their is no forgiveness of sin. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with rites, but the heavenly things with better sacrifices than these."

Hebrews 9:25-26 - "Not was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy place every year with blood not his own, for then HE would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, HE has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

Hebrews 10:4-6 - "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, He said, 'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have your prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"

Christ was the only way, there is no other way, it was absolutely what had to be done. And there is no other way to heaven, but through His blood, and faith in Him.

Tomorrow we will look at Christ's obedience for us in His life and in His death.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE