Orange Moon Wednesday, June 30, 2021 "One Sacrifice"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"One Sacrifice"

       

   Frances and I have been taking a course on the American Revolution (first time we've ever been in class together!).  This has led to to reading several other books that concern this period of our nation's history, including a volume that referenced one of the religious groups that first came over from Great Britain.  The author stated of this sect, "They worked six days a week, and then went to church on Sunday to make atonement for their sins."

    "We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11).

    "This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).

    I strongly suspect the historian who described the life and religious practice of the group he mentioned did not accurately state their beliefs.  Whatever the case, no valid expression of Biblical doctrine proposes that believers must make atonement or sacrifice for our own sins in any way, shape, or form.  We have already "received the atonement" as a free gift purchased by the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus on the cross.  Moreover, His "one sacrifice for sins forever" was so satisfactory in the eyes of God that "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" necessary even for believers who wander away from the path of faith and faithfulness (Hebrews 10:26).  The Lord Jesus voiced the triumphant cry of "It is finished!" as He died on Calvary's cross, thus making completely unnecessary any attempt on our part of atoning for our own sins (John 19:30).  "By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).

    Only the Heavenly throne of grace provides God's forgiveness, cleansing, and newness of life in Christ.   No atonement awaits any human heart in any other way.  "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).  Nothing we or anyone else could possibly do would provide a sacrifice acceptable to God whereby "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12).  The Person and work of Christ and Christ alone accomplishes that holy redemption.  This is the Gospel, the Gospel of freely given atonement through the Lord Jesus, and the Lord Jesus alone.  There is no other, and I strongly suspect the aforementioned Christians knew this, and did not "go to church on Sunday to make atonement for their sins."

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all."

(I Timothy 2:5-6)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." 

(Luke 19:10)

    

   

  

   

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