The Daily Word of Righteousness

From Justification to Glorification, #4

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2—NIV)

The perfect, total atonement has been made. God's wrath has been appeased concerning the sin and rebellion of mankind. If the worshiper continues walking in Christ his conscience can be completely free from all guilt and condemnation. Through the one offering of Calvary the believer remains guiltless forever.

This total, complete appeasing of the wrath of God, and the resulting perfect justification of whoever chooses to receive the Divine atonement, is the foundation of the redemption that is in Christ. Nothing can be added to this complete atonement or removed from it. The sin-offering is perfect forever, awaiting each individual who chooses to believe and receive.

God in this manner declares His elect to be righteous in His sight.

It is a marvel that Saul of Tarsus, so steeped in the Law of Moses, was able to look up from the scroll of the Torah and accept the righteousness that comes only from faith and trust in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [appeasement] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)

The day when God would accept the blood of animals as an atonement for sin ended when Christ was crucified. No person, young or old, male or female, rich or poor, of whatever nationality, can approach God and be accepted of God other than through the blood offering made by Christ on the cross.

The most righteous individual must come and receive the Divine pardon. The most wretched sinner, the perpetrator of deeds so foul they are not to be mentioned, can come and be forgiven freely because of the Divine Virtue in the blood of Christ.

There is a fountain opened to the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (and to believing Gentiles) for sin and for uncleanness. Blessed is the person who receives the atonement. Woe to that individual who spurns the love of God in Christ! He shall answer for his sins, and the penalty is eternal separation from God.

The first part of the Day of Atonement included the offering of the blood of a goat on behalf of the sins of the congregation.

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: (Leviticus 16:15)

Whom God called God justified. God justified His elect with the blood of the righteous Jesus. No finger of accusation can be raised against those whom God has justified.

God said, "The soul that sins shall die." This is an eternal warning. All the peoples of the earth are spiritually dead because all have sinned. Those who receive the Lord Jesus have access to eternal life because the Lord Jesus died in their stead.

This is the Divine justification and it is the foundation of the Divine redemption.

To be continued.