~ The word “Atonement” comes from the word “Kippur” which means to cover or conceal ~
~ Atonement calls for a Sacrifice: A Life is given for our life ~
Atonement denotes a covering that conceals one’s sin and makes it possible for one to approach God. The Apostle Paul in 2nd Corinthians 5:18 wrote, "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"
It is an amazing wonderful thing to me to know that ALL things are of God “YHWH” therefore, ALL things have the probability of being perfect ~
One thing to remember is that God did not lose mankind but mankind became lost when they left the presence of God in order to fulfill their own sinful desire.
The thing that is really amazing to me is that God was willing to give His very Best, His Only Begotten Son Jesus to live in this sinful world, suffer and die a
cruel death just to reconcile or to bring back to His side mankind from their wayward ways. And on top of that, He bestowed on them the ability to reconcile
others back to Him. Amazing!
We read in St. John 20:23, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
Jesus is the Son of God made flesh and because of whom He is and that which He did, mankind, once they accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, being flesh are being made the sons of God. Therefore, the Saints have the privilege, right and responsibility to pray one for another.
In Acts 20:28 we read,"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
The Saints are admonished to “pay attention” first of all to themselves in order to make sure that their lives are in tune with the Written Word of God “YHWH”
and His Precious Son Jesus and then, they will be more likely to be effective in tending to the wellbeing of others.
The Saints cannot use the excuse of Cain and say that they are not their brother’s keeper because every Saint has the privilege and responsibility of caring for one another. In fact the care of the Body of Christ, the Church has been entrusted by a Commandment to every Member of the Body. For the simple reason that when one Member suffers the whole Body suffers.
We read in Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
Without blood in the veins of the physical body of mankind, the body is physically dead. Because of the sin of mankind, life was lost therefore, the only way to revive the Soul, blood must be applied and the only blood that qualifies (has the ability) to restore life is the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus. For this reason also mankind was commanded to not eat the blood of any living creature because the life is in the blood.
In Romans 5:8-11, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. *Much more then, being
now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. *For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. *And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement."
It is difficult for mankind to imagine forgiving a transgressor against them prior to receiving restitution, none the less, paying restitution for the transgressor’s transgression and then forgiving them to boot. But that is exactly what God “YHWH” did for mankind when He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus for
the sins of all mankind.
Here’s a thought that someone came up with years ago, “Jesus took our/my licking.” In other words, He took our punishment. Therefore, we have much to Praise Him for.
I actually tried this once in an effort to get our son to be obedient. On an occasion when he when he was a teenager and he did something that he was not suppose
to do; I went into his bedroom, took off my belt, lay over his bed and told him to whip me.
His response to my action was; “What do you mean?” To which I said, “I have failed as a parent to get you to do the things that you are supposed to do therefore, I deserve a spanking.” At this point he started crying.
I insisted that he spank me which he finally slightly hit me a couple of times. That was the last time that I every needed to punish him for doing something wrong.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if mankind would take to heart that which Jesus did for them and stop sinning? ~
The Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:4-6 wrote, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. *But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. *All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
It is without a doubt that Jesus paid the price for sin that mankind didn’t have the ability or willingness to pay. Not only did He pay for our sins but He went the
extra mile and paid for our health and healing too.
The Saints are instructed from God’s Holy Written Word, the Bible to cast their cares upon the Lord. Psalms 55:22 - If you have ever been Bass fishing you know
when you cast your hook out into the water it leaves in a big hurry. But there is one thing to remember, when you cast your cares upon the Lord you need to make sure that cut the line attached to them so that they do not return to you again.
In Ephesians 2:13-15, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. *For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; *Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
The only thing that can cover or make up for the transgressions of mankind is the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus. It is because He suffered and died and rose
again, we have the ability to have perfect peace. He became our Sacrificial Lamb so that mankind would no longer have to make a sacrifice for their sins. He
also became our Circumcision so that we would no longer have to be physically Circumcised. Praise His Holy Name!
We read in Hebrews 2:17, "Wherefore in all things it behoved 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 reconciliation for the sins of the people."
I am so thankful that Jesus was and is willing to intercede for mankind and make it possible that we can have the privilege of coming into the presence of the
Living God ~
In Revelation 12:11 we read, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
death."
The only way that mankind can have the possibility to win is in, through and by the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus. Therefore, if you want to win, you must accept
Jesus as your personal Saviour.
We read in Hebrews 13:20-21, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant, *Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to
whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Atonement is a now thing; like Faith, it is and it is and without it, mankind would be forever lost. But Praise be to our Heavenly Father “YHWH” that by the
Shed Blood of His Only Begotten Son Jesus, we are Saved. Praise His Holy and Righteous Name for evermore!
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org 