Good News and Bad News:About the Judgment |
"For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation [atonement (KJV)]." Romans 5:10, 11. If you are interested in reading everything about the atonement, per se, in the New Testament, you just did! This verse in Romans is the only verse in the New Testament that mentions the atonement directly. It sounds as though the atonement is complete -- "we have now received reconciliation [atonement]." Do you believe in a complete atonement? Or do you believe in an incomplete atonement? Or are you busy trying to remember what the word ATONEMENT means, anyway?
The ATONEMENT is a theological term, the kind of thing you might spend weeks or months studying at the seminary. Perhaps the first thing we should do is get a good, clear definition of what the word ATONEMENT means. Of course, it is a combination of the words, "at one-ment." In the "Dictionary of Christian Theology" by Richardson, atonement is defined as follows: "To undo the consequences of a wrong act with a view to the restoration of the relationship broken by the wrong act." What was the wrong act? It was the entrance of sin back there in the garden. Notice the key words, "with a view to the restoration of the relationship broken by the wrong act." What was the relationship that was broken by sin? It was a relationship where mankind was able to walk in the garden, in the cool of the day, and talk to God face-to-face. We don't have that kind of relationship with God today. So is the atonement complete, or not? Are we completely reconciled or not?
W.G.C. Murdock, dean of the Seminary at Andrews University, said, "We have always believed in a complete atonement that is not completed."
There is a sense in which the atonement must be complete, must have been complete at the cross. But there is also a sense in which the atonement is not yet completed. The evangelical Christian world wants to make sure that what Jesus did at the cross, when He took our place, is sufficient and enough. And it is true that His SACRIFICE was complete and full. But the atonement, the reconciliation, involves more than the sacrifice of Jesus in terms of undoing the consequences of the wrong act, in terms of restoring the relationship broken by the wrong act. For if the atonement had been completed at the the cross, then there should have been
no more sin
Ever Since!
We cannot add anything to what Jesus has already done for us. When Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, it was enough to purchase our salvation. All we can do is accept it. But although there is nothing that WE can add to what Christ did at the cross, this does not mean that there is nothing that He can add to it! The process of redemption, the restoration of the broken relationship, was not completed at the cross. The Holy Spirit's work is essential to the restoration process, for without the work of the Spirit in our lives, we would be unable to accept the sacrifice of Jesus in our behalf. The work of Jesus as our High Priest is essential to the restoration of the broken relationship. Without His priestly ministration, the restoration would be incomplete. And it is essential to the reconciliation that He come again, to cleanse the world of sin and to vindicate His name and His law before the entire universe. There is far more involved in the atonement, there is far more involved in the restoration of the broken relationship between God and Man, than the sacrifice of Jesus, essential as that sacrifice is to the plan of salvation.
To understand more clearly what is involved in the atonement, let's go back to the Old Testament to examine the roots of the atonement concept. The book of Leviticus talks about a DAY of atonement, Leviticus 23:26-28. Leviticus 16:8-10 tells about the two goats that Aaron cast lots over, at the beginning of the Day of Atonement. One of them was the Lord's goat, and the other was the scapegoat. Some have made the charge that Satan becomes the Saviour by getting the scapegoat mixed up in the atonement. But there's nothing more Biblical than the idea of the scapegoat being involved in the atonement. It's clearly stated in Leviticus 16:8-10.
Leviticus 16:15 and 16 clearly says that the priest makes the atonement. The goat does not make the atonement! There were two factors involved in the atonement -- an animal and a priest who offers the sacrifice. So the work of the priest is essential to the atonement. And finally, in Leviticus 16:21 and 22, comes the completion of the Day of Atonement with the scapegoat, representing the devil, sent into the wilderness never to be seen again. So, the atonement services in ancient Israel included the whole day. When the sacrifice was offered in the courtyard, as a burnt offering, at the beginning of the day, the Day of Atonement was not yet completed. The sacrifice was complete. But the Day of Atonement was not completed. It was not until the scapegoat was sent away into the wilderness that the Day of Atonement was completed.
The completeness of the atonement sacrifice is good news. Paul said, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21. Because of the completeness of the sacrifice of the atonement, Jesus can come to you personally, today, and look at you with His friendly eyes. He can come to you with the good news that He will take all of your sins and give you all of His righteousness. He offers this today. Are you interested?
Perhaps you say, "That's what Jesus did for me twenty years ago, when I first became a Christian. But there's been a lot of water under the bridge since then. I've failed and fallen and sinned, again and again. I used up by 490 times of forgiveness long ago." But there's good news for you too. Because of the complete sacrifice of the atonement, that verse is just as good for you today as when you first became a Christian. Jesus is still offering to you TODAY, no matter who you are or where you've been, His righteousness in exchange for your sin. You can accept this again today, and again stand before God, more than just plain forgiven -- super forgiven! For you can stand before God as though you had never ever even sinned. Jesus DID pay it all, and it has been good news for our world, and for our universe, ever since.
It is also good news that the complete atonement is not yet completed! It's good news for Lloyd Funkhouser, who is a member of my parish. He lost both of his legs as the result of an automobile accident. I've seen him teach Bible lessons from his wheelchair. I've seen him on the platform in his wheelchair, singing for special music:
"I need Thee, Precious Jesus, for I am
very poor;
A stranger and a pilgrim, I have no earthly store.
I need the love of Jesus to cheer me on my way,
To guide my doubting footsteps, to be my strength and stay."
If the atonement is completed the news is bad for Lloyd Funkhouser. Because he's been looking forward to a day when he can run and jump and leap like a deer. We're going to run the 100 yard dash with him one day and rejoice to see him win.
It's good news that the complete atonement is not yet completed. It's good news for Eldene Childs, who lies in a nursing home year after weary year. She is paralyzed from the neck down. It would be bad news for her if the ATONEMENT were completed, for she is looking forward to being able to feed herself, dress herself, and move freely wherever she wants to go. She may never want to lie down again for all of eternity!
I read a newspaper account of a man in California who beat his little six-year-old daughter. She wouldn't cry. So he kept beating her for half an hour. At the end of half an hour, she asked, "Daddy, can I please have a drink of water?" And then she died. It would have never happened if the atonement were completed.
You can walk down the streets of Bombay, India, over bodies of sleeping people who find on the street their only home. Father, mother, children and grandmother -- all there together, starving to death. It would never happen if the atonement were completed.
The sin and suffering and sorrow go on. It would be bad news if the atonement were completed and there was nothing more to be offered. Yet we are given the good news, the hope, the promise, that the time will come when the atonement WILL be completed, and the entire universe will be freed from the tragedy of sin.
The good news for today is that the atonement's completion is nearly upon us. We don't have much longer to wait. Revelation assures us that the hour of God's judgment is come. That really is what the whole business of the Day of atonement is about! We rejoice, because we realize that our earthly custody is about over. Jesus, our Substitute and Saviour, our High Priest and Intercessor, our Judge and our King, has almost finished His work. The atonement is soon to be completED.
Because of this tremendous truth, all of the details of the final events become good news as well, for each one is an additional step closer to the time when the atonement will at long last be completed and the restoration of the broken relationship will be compete. In conclusion I'd like to share a parable to illustrate the fact that the atonement, while not yet completed, is fast approaching completion. and that's GOOD NEWS!
Tom was a criminal -- a really bad one -- not just your ordinary, everyday, small-town crook. He was big-time. He was a cheat, liar, robber, gambler, adulterer, and murderer. He would sell his own mother if he thought it could get him what he wanted. He prided himself on having no scruples, on having done everything there was to do. BUT, he had been caught.
Now he sat in prison trying to figure out what his next move would be. He though desperately of escape. He thought of suicide. Neither was possible. He was too closely guarded. He practiced all sorts of speeches denying his illegal activities, but none of them sounded convincing, even to him. He was in big trouble, and Tom knew it. The longer he sat there, forced to think, the more despondent he became. The whole future looked black. It seemed that things couldn't possibly be worse. He was really at the end of his rope.
Then one day a prison official came to Tom's cell and said, "Tom, we have some good news for you and some bad news." Tom looked up sullenly. Yet deep inside he felt eager for any change in the misery of just sitting there day after day, helpless. He braced himself for the worst. "The good news is that a lawyer has been assigned to your case, and he is the best lawyer in the whole world." Tom was silent. He knew there was a catch somewhere. And sure enough, there was. The official continued, "The bad news is that the prosecuting attorney has also been assigned, and he's the best prosecuting attorney in the whole world." Tom remained silent. The prison official shook his head. "The lawyer must be crazy to think of defending you. But anyhow, he'll be in to see you tomorrow." And he turned and walked away.
The next day, a quiet sort of gentleman came to Tom's cell and knocked. Tom looked up startled and then laughed bitterly. "You've got the key, man," he said. "Why knock?"
"I only go where I'm invited," replied the visitor.
"Well, come on in," Tom said. "I wasn't going anywhere."
The visitor opened the door, entered, and sat down.
"So who are you, anyhow?" Tom asked.
"I'm a lawyer. I understand you're looking for a lawyer to take your case."
"Yes," said Tom. "It's about time they finally sent me someone. But tell me about your qualifications. The man here said you're supposed to be good. But if you're so good, I may not be able to pay your price. Level with me so I can know what to expect."
"Well," said the lawyer, "I have some good news for you and some bad news. The good news is that I have never lost a case. I can guarantee the outcome of the trial, if you'll place yourself in my hands."
"And the bad news is the price, right?" said Tom.
The lawyer nodded.
"OK, lay it on me. How much is it going to cost?"
"It's free."
"I beg your pardon?"
"It's free," the lawyer repeated.
"Hey, I'm not a rich man, but I don't need your charity," said Tom stiffly. "If I can just get out of this dump, I can raise the money."
The lawyer smiled kindly. "No, if you want my help, you must accept it as a gift. You cannot pay me for any part of it. It is totally and completely free. It's one of the conditions for my taking your case."
Tom was silent for a few minutes and then asked, "What are the other conditions for receiving your help?"
"Well," the lawyer replied, "I have some more good news and bad news for you. The good news is that all you have to do, if you want me to take your case, is just ask me. And I'll take it immediately. The bad news is that if I take your case, you'll have to plead guilty."
Tom gasped!
"Aren't you guilty?" asked the lawyer.
"Uh, yes. But if I plead guilty to all the charges made against me, I won't have a ghost of a chance. They'll throw the book at me. How can you possibly think you'll be able to help me if I plead guilty?"
"I have some bad news for you and some good news," said the lawyer. "The bad news is that if you plead guilty, of course you'll be convicted. And if you don't plead guilty, the prosecuting attorney has sufficient proof that you'll be convicted anyway. Either way, there's no doubt but that you will get the death sentence."
"Then why even have a trial?" said Tom.
"You've forgotten that I have some good news," said the lawyer. "I am willing to take your sentence and let you go free."
"No way," cried Tom. "You aren't the one who has lived the rotten life. I'm the one. I've done nothing good. I don't deserve anything but death. Hanging's too good for me. There's no way I could let you pay for my crimes."
The lawyer replied gently, "But, Tom, I already have paid. All that remains is for you to accept my substitution on your behalf. It is yours, if you accept it, and it's complete. It will cover completely for you crimes."
After a long moment, Tom asked quietly, "Is there anything else I should know before the trial?"
The lawyer nodded. "Yes, I have some good news for you and some bad news. The good news is that you WILL be pardoned. There's no question about that. You'll be able to stand before God and man as though you had never even sinned. But there may be some bad news for you."
"What's that?" asked Tom.
"It's this -- you won't be a criminal anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"You will be a new person. You'll have a new direction. There is more to my work than simply paying the penalty for your misdeeds. I have even more to complete in your life. While you are waiting for your trial to take place, you won't continue to lie and cheat and steal and kill. You will become pure and honest and trustworthy. We will work together closely, you and I. We'll become good friends. As we associate together day by day, you will come to hate the things you once loved, and love the things you once hated. You will become a new person altogether."
"I'm not so sure about that," said Tom. "The prospect of pardon looks pretty good to me, but what if I want to go my own way? Can't we just arrange it so I can be released from the penalty of my actions? Isn't that complete enough? Do I really have to stop being a crook?"
"The pardon is only good for those who are willing for me to give them a new life," said the lawyer.
Tom stared at the floor while the lawyer waited patiently for his decision. At last Tom raised his head. "I would like to ask you to take my case," he said. "I admit that I'm guilty. And I really don't want to keep on being a crook. I accept your help." The lawyer rose and held out his hand. Tom took it firmly, and the contract was sealed.
"Is there anything else I should know before you leave?"
"Yes, there's one final thing," replied the lawyer. "I have one last bit of good news and bad news for you."
Tom smiled. "Give me the bad news first and get it over with. Although all of a sudden it doesn't seem as though any of your bad news has been that bad!"
The lawyer smiled, too. "All right. The bad news is that we have set the date for your trial."
"Why, that's not bad news at all," exclaimed Tom. "With a lawyer like you, do you think I would want to stay here in this place forever and never even have my case go to court? The news of the coming judgment is terrific news! And your good news had better be pretty good to out do that."
The lawyer looked into Tom's eyes for a moment before he said gently, "The good news is this: when you come to trial, I will not only be your lawyer, I well be your judge as well."
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This page maintained by Allen Roy. Last Update on 12/13/99