- providing the capability to confidently face trials head-on;
- the assurance that the same God who has been trustworthy in the past, will faithfully be available in any future events (Philippians 1:6).
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Friday, April 4, 2025
Remember God's Faithfulness in Your Life
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
We Must Acknowledge Our Need for God
Monday, March 31, 2025
The Essentials with Sarah | The Atonement for Sin (Conclusion)
Hello, and welcome back! Atonement is deemed a foundational belief within both Judaism and Christianity, which maintain that humans must "atone for" (reconcile) their sins against God.
Previously, we examined atonement in the OT and its deep connection with the God-established, sacrificial system of the Israelites. Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) was the most important day for atonement in the Jewish Calendar.
In this session our focus will turn to atonement in Christianity, or otherwise known as the belief that human beings can be reconciled to, or reunited with, God through the sacrificial suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
As you may remember, to atone for sins means to make amends or reparations for wrongdoing, seeking to reconcile with God after transgressing His laws or expectations.
This commonly includes repentance, remorse, and actions that reveal a change of heart and behavior. In the NT, the Greek word for "atonement" is καταλλαγή (katallage), which means "reconciliation" or "restoration of relationship."
Jesus Christ is presented in the NT as the ultimate accomplishment of the OT sacrificial system. His death on the cross dramatically illustrates the perfect and final atonement for sin.
The NT often uses the Greek word "hilasterion" (ἱλαστήριον) to describe Christ's atoning work, signifying a propitiation (the turning away of God's wrath), or expiation (the cleansing of sin and removal of its guilt).
Romans 3:25 emphasizes that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ fulfills the requirements of God's justice, thus allowing God to forgive sins while maintaining His righteousness.
The superiority of of Christ's atonement compared to the OT sacrifices is detailed in Hebrews 9:12. This underscores that the atonement of Christ is final and absolute, unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant (Mosaic covenant).
Atonement is fundamental to Christian theology in that it calls attention to the problem of sin, and the method by which we can be reconciled to God. It also reveals the holiness and justice of God, who can't ignore sin, and His love and mercy, which makes redemption possible through Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Additionally, the concept of "substitutionary atonement" is illustrated here in the doctrine of atonement. This is where Christ takes the place of sinners and endures the penalty they deserve (Isaiah 53:5).
Let's quickly examine some practical implications of this for Christian believers. The atonement of Christ is essential to salvation and the promise of forgiveness. It demands a declaration of faith, repentance, and gratitude.
The atonement also provides a model for faithful, Christian living. Believers are inspired to live unselfishly, and to restore and repair damaged relationships with others (2 Corinthians 5:18).
On a final note, as we saw in our discussion, atonement is a powerfully, sophisticated, and consequential doctrine (principle) that makes manifest the magnitude of God's love and the gravity of sin.
Through the sacrifice of Christ we are offered hope, redemption, exoneration (forgiveness), declared righteous, and are even adopted into God's family. One can confidently assert that it is impossible to sufficiently summarize the spiritual benefits and gifts received through our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture: Exodus 29:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 4:5; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 10:12
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I approach you with a humble heart, acknowledging my sins and shortcomings. I confess that I've strayed from your path, and for that, I'm truly sorry. I ask for your forgiveness, your cleansing, and your grace to renew my spirit and restore me to your love. Amen.
May you always feel God's love,
Sarah
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Weekend Message | Chrystal Evans Hurst: God is Not Disappointed in You | FULL EPISODE | Better Together on TBN
As always, it's our pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.
- Changing Roles As You Follow God's Direction
- Disappointment Leads to Spiritual Maturity
- What Happens When We Feel Like God Let Us Down
- Giving God Full Control
- Prayer for Trust and Contentment as God Leads Us
Friday, March 28, 2025
Don't Let Mistakes Define You!
Sophie
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Recognizing Yourself as a Child of God
- I begin by stressing the importance of prayer and immersing yourself in studying God's word. This can make a big difference in learning about His character, and the plans He has for you.
- This may come as a surprise, but we must learn to understand that our worth or value does not come from our accomplishments or relationships. True worth is obtained from God!
- Take regular inventory of your faith journey and monitor whether your actions are in line with your identity in Him.
- Try to find other believers who can motive and support you.
- Demonstrate your faith in all areas of your life. Be a light in the world!
- During times of trial, trust in God's love and plan.
- Finally, remember that God's love is available 24/7, and His grace is more than enough for every situation.
Breanna
Monday, March 24, 2025
The Essentials with Sarah | The Atonement for Sin (Introduction)
How can you fix a broken relationship with someone who was once close? Honestly, close relationships that have been broken, like glass, can be difficult to repair. And even if they are, there's a good chance they'll never be the same again.
In essence, this is the situation we (humanity) found ourselves in after the "original sin" was committed by Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. Up to that point, we had enjoyed an intimate, harmonious relationship with God.
Their disobedient act caused our inherited state of sinfulness and separation from God. Simply put, all humans are born with a sinful nature. And it is this propensity towards sinfulness that separates us from God.
Thus, it is paramount that we grasp the concept of our separation from God due to sin. Furthermore, it makes sense that we would want to repair and restore our connection with God.
For obvious reasons, this is something beyond our own meager capabilities. Nothing short of a "propitiatory sacrifice" could appease God. We needed help to do this. Only a savior would meet or satisfy this need.
Here is where God stepped in. According to Christian theology, God sacrificed his son, Jesus, to "atone," or make amends, for our sins and provide a way forward to redemption and eternal life, exhibiting His compassion and mercy.
To wrap our heads around this, let's pause and briefly the act of making amends (atonement) for sins in the OT. The blood of an animal, through animal sacrifice, was symbolically offered to God to cover sins.
In an annual ritual, The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest would present sacrifices for the sins of the entire nation of Israel. These were intended to rectify the people, or put them right, with God.
(The concept of "atonement" in Hebrew is primarily expressed by the verb "kappar" (כפר), which means "to cover" or "to atone for," and the noun "kippur" (כיפור), meaning "atonement" or "covering.")
Animal sacrifices were also used as a way to cleanse the temple of sins, thereby restoring a relationship with God. The high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifices in important areas of the temple (e.g., the Holy of Holies), to "atone" for Israel's sins.
As I am sure you are aware, this is by no means a comprehensive examination of “atonement.” Further study of the subject is strongly advised to further your knowledge of the subject.
In order to present the material in an informative yet understandable manner, I thought it best to divide this topic into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. We've briefly discussed “atonement” in the OT here.
At our next session, we will examine “atonement” in the New Testament. I hope that you've found this introduction to "The Atonement for Sin" beneficial to your study of the Scriptures, and am looking forward to our next discussion!
Scripture: Leviticus 6:8-13, 14-23, 24-30; 7:1-6, 11-34
Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for forgiveness of all my sins. Wash me clean with your precious blood and restore your grace to me. Amen.
May you always feel God's love,
Sarah