Today, for our Bible study, I
would like you to turn to 1 Peter 2. Let's begin reading at verse
20, down to the end of the chapter. Well, what glory is it if when
you be buffeted for your faults you shall take it patiently,
but if when you do well and suffer for it you take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were you called,
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example
that we should follow his steps. And then it says this in verse
22, speaking of our Lord, his humanity, his deity, who did
no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who, when he was
reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to God that judges righteously,
who his own self bear our sin and his own body on the tree.
Here is my text this morning, verse 24 and verse 25. Let's read this again. "...who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that
we being dead to sin should live under righteousness, by whose
stripes you are healed. For we were a sheep going astray,
but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of our soul." I want to consider this morning
and talk to you from these verses, and let's study and think about
the atonement or the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in these words that we have
just read, we have a clear, concise description of the Lord Jesus
Christ and his blessed, redeeming work, his blessed atonement,
which means sin covering or atoning, reconciliation work that he did
for his people. We read in scripture about his
sacrifice, here in his love, not that we loved God, but that
he loved us and sent his son to be of propitiation. That word
means atonement. He's the sin covering, the atonement
for our sin. Now our Lord Jesus Christ, he
came not merely as an example, although he is, he's an example
of love, forgiveness, humility, submission, faithful servant,
But he came not merely as an example. He came as God's serpent,
as God's high priest, to accomplish our salvation. He says this throughout
the gospel. He said, My meeting is to do
the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. He prayed
in John 17, Father, I've glorified thee on the earth. I've finished
the work you gave me to do. Now, from these verses that we
have just read, I want to consider this morning in our study at
least six things taught In this scripture about the atoning work,
or the atonement, the reconciling work, the redemption, the sacrifice
that the Lord Jesus Christ gave on behalf of his church, his
people. Now here's the first point. What
do we know about his atonement, taught from the scriptures? Well,
his atonement was a substitutionary sacrifice. Now let's read a portion
of this scripture again. This is 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse
24. "...who his own self bare our
sins in his own body, on the tree. Our sovereign God has devised
the wise and holy means whereby he can be a just God and Savior,
whereby he can be just and the justifier of those who believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ. And here's how he did that. Jesus
Christ, who is God Almighty, the Son of God, took our humanity
to himself that he might be an able, suitable sacrifice for
the sin of his people. Now Paul, when he wrote to the
Romans, said this, for what the law could not do, couldn't make
it holy, couldn't justify it. In that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own son in a likeness of sinful flesh,
and for sin, that is by sacrifice, by an atoning victim, by a sacrifice,
condemned sin in the flesh. And that's why he came, as the
substitute, as the God-man mediator, son of God. Now he had no sin,
we read that in our text, verse 22, who did no sin. He had no
sin of his own. However, as our substitute, as
our representative, representative man of God's elect, of God's
sheep, we read throughout Scripture that God imputed to the Lord
Jesus Christ the sin of his covenant people. He is guilty of sin only
by imputation. Now, he had no sin. He knew no
sin. We said that. But here we see
him dying, not for his own sin, but the sin of others. Isaiah
put it this way, he was wounded. Remember what we have read in
Isaiah 53? He had borne our grief and carried
our sorrow, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God,
and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgression. He had none of his own. He was
bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace
was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. I'm saying this
plainly as I can. The scriptures teach that the
Lord Jesus Christ and his atonement was substitutionary. His sacrifice
was substitutionary. He's dying not for his own sin,
but he's dying for the sin of his people. Now we read this
throughout the gospel, but in the book of Galatians, if you'd
like to turn to chapter 1, verse 4. We read this, who gave himself
for our sins, that he might deliver us from the present evil world
according to the will of God, their substitution. He died for
our sins. In Galatians chapter 3, verse
13, we read this. has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us. For it is written, first with
everyone that hangeth on the tree." So the first thing we
know about the atonement is this. It was substitutionary. God made
him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him. That's why Paul said when he
wrote to the Corinthians, I am determined to know nothing among
you but Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul's hope was the
substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, the atonement of Christ.
And here's the second point about the atonement. His atonement
was substitutionary. Secondly, his atonement was particular. particular and definite. Now
we read in this scripture, in this text again, who his own
self bear our sin. Now listen to me carefully. Not
all the sin of all men, that's not so, that's not taught in
this scripture. Not some of the sins of all men, all of humanity,
but all of the sin of God's people. All the sin of God's elect were
laid on the Redeemer. Again, in Isaiah 53, we read
this. All we like sheep have gone astray.
We've turned everyone to our own way. And the Lord laid on
him the iniquity of the sheep. The iniquity of us all. And he's
talking about the sheep. So I'm saying this, not all the
sins of all men, not some of the sins of all men, but all
the sins of God's elect were laid on the Redeemer. Now this
is what the Scriptures plainly teach. And John 10, our Lord
said this. He said, I am the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. The messenger
from heaven told Joseph of Mary to call his name Jesus. He shall
save his people from their sin. Now this is not Calvinism. This
is what the scriptures teach. His atonement was substitutionary. His atonement was particular. He died. to put away the sin
of God's people, and they shall be saved. Here's the third point
about the atonement. His atonement was effectual.
We read in our text, by whose stripes we are healed. Christ bearing our sin to the
tree, and on the cross he made an end of all our sin. His blood cleanses us from all
sin. Now this is what we read throughout
the book of Hebrews and other places, that his sacrifice that
he gave on behalf of his people was effectual. That is, it got
the job done. We read in Hebrews chapter 1,
verse 3, who being in the brightness of his glory, the express image
of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself heard our sin, sat down at the
right hand of the majesty on high." That is, his sacrifice
was effectual. His blood cleansed from all sin. Read on in Hebrews chapter 2,
verse 17. I'm saying the Scriptures teach
that his sacrifice was not a failure. It was effectual. Hebrews 2 verse
17, Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make, not attempt, to
make atonement for the sins of these people. There's particular
redemption again, and that's an effectual sacrifice for sin. Turn over now to Hebrews. Hebrews
chapter 9. Look at verse 12 carefully, neither
by the blood of goats and calves, talking about our great high
priest, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. You see how
the word of God teaches the effectual work of Christ? In the same chapter,
Hebrews 9, verse 26, but now once in the end of the world,
hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Did he accomplish it? The scripture
said, and our Lord said at Calvary, he said, it is finished. Now
in Hebrews 10, verse 14, he said, for the one offering He has perfected
forever them that are sanctified. And Hebrews 10, 17 says, in their
sin and their iniquity, God says, I will remember no more. The
reason God does not remember the sin of God's people, because
the atonement of Christ, his redeeming blood, is and was eternally
effectual before God and before God's justice. Here's the fourth
point about the atonement we read of in this text. His atonement
was satisfying. Satisfied. And here's the point. He said that we being dead to
sin. Sin and its curse no longer has
a claim on the believer. There is no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus. What it says in Romans chapter
8, verse 1, there is therefore now no judgment to those who
are in Christ Jesus. We read in the same chapter,
Romans 8, 32, he that spared not his own son, but delivered
him up for us all. How shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect, if God that justifies?" You see, this
atonement was satisfying. "'Who is he that condemneth it?
Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.'"
It was effectual and satisfying to God. The death of Christ is
the death of all our sin and all its condemnation. That is fine to God's justice.
That is fine to the sinner's needs. We read again. Isaiah 53. It pleased the Lord
to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed.
He shall prolong his day, and the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his
soul, and be satisfied." Now, there are two key words in those
verses. This is Isaiah 53, verses 10, 11 and 12. The Lord shall prosper. The pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand. Secondly, he shall be satisfied. He shall see the prevail of his
soul and be satisfied. And here's the fifth point. His
atonement was justified. We read in the text that we should
live unto righteousness. Now, this is not talking about
the believer's morality. We're not justified by our morality. The ultimate design of Christ's
sacrifice is the glory of God. But that also includes bringing
the sinner out of a state of condemnation in Adam, we read
in scripture, and Adam all died, into a righteous state and standing
before God of justification in Christ by his blood and by his
righteousness. being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Now
here's the sixth point in closing. His atonement for sin was the
cause, the cause of our conversion. We read in the text, for we were
a sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd
and bishop of our souls. Without his sacrifice, we would
have remained dead in sin, lost in Adam, doomed without God,
without hope, and without Christ. However, and because of his great
atoning work, because of his effectual, substitutionary, particular
sacrifice for sin, Because of his great, because of his great
atonement, the Savior will bring every lost sheep home to glory. Now this is exactly what the
Lord says in John chapter 6. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me. And him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out, for I came down from heaven, not to do my
own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the
Father's will which hath sent me, that all which the Father
hath given me I lose nothing, but raise it up again at the
last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting
life. And I'll raise him up again at
the last day. Now, if you would like to order
this message and consider again these thoughts on these homelands,
these homelands of Christ, I have it for you and would like to
send it to you absolutely free, no charge, absolutely free. You
can call me at 631-9053, 631-9053, or you can write to me at Zebulun
Baptist Church, 6088 Zebulun Highway,