SUNDAY
Atonement and the Godhead
1. Observe the definitions of atonement.
ANSWER:
English-
reparation for an offense or injury
reconciliation, unity
Hebrew-
3722. kaphar, kaw-far´; a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:- appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).
3725. kippur, kip-poor´; from 3722; expiation (only in plural):- atonement.
Greek-
2643. katallage, kat-al-lag-ay´; from 2644; exchange (figuratively, adjustment), i.e. restoration to (the divine) favor: - atonement, reconciliation(-ing).
2644. katallasso, kat-al-las´-so; from 2596 and 236; to change mutually, i.e. (figuratively) to compound a difference: - reconcile.
OBSERVATION: Atonement can be broken down to “at-one-ment” which means
the act of bringing to one in unity
2. Is there a connection between the nature of God and the basis of the atonement?
Deut.6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD
NOTICE: The word “one” means united as one in the Hebrew language.
ANSWER: Yes, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are united as one.
3. Observe the Prayer of Jesus in John 17 and see atonement element in His prayer.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
ANSWER: They also may be one in us
Atonement and Eternal God
1. Observe a way the phrase, “in the beginning” has been used in the Bible.
7225. re`shiyth, ray-sheeth´; from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit):—beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
Gen.1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Prov. 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. Prov. 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Heb. 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands
Rev. 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God
OBSERVATIONS:
The phrase “in the beginning” is connected to the creation of God many times in the Bible.
The word “beginning” is an expression of the starting time which began at the creation of the world in the Bible. However it is broader than that.
Since we need the earth, the moon, and the sun to calculate our time, our way of calculating time did not exist before the creation of the earth, the moon, and the sun. Therefore any time before the creation of the earth the Bible calls it “the beginning” or “everlasting” past. “…From everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was” Prov. 8:23
2. What do the words “in the beginning God created…” (Gen. 1:1) imply about the nature of God?
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
ANSWER: God had to existed before the beginning of the creation of the heaven and the earth. Therefore God is from the everlasting past.
- Psa. 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”. Since God is “from everlasting”, there is no beginning for God. Since God continues to exist until “everlasting”, there is no end for God. Therefore God is eternal.
3. What is the meaning of the word “God” in chapter 1 of Genesis in the Hebrew language?
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
ANSWER: God=430. elohiym, el-o-heem´; plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:—angels, x exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), x (very) great, judges, x mighty.
OBSERVATIONS:
Contextually speaking “God” in Gen. 1 is more than one God. Observe the following verse:
Gen. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness
God the Spirit was there at the creation: Gen. 1:2 … And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
God the Father was there at the creation: Prov. 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: Prov. 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: Prov. 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Prov. 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him (Note: “he” is referring to the Father and “I” is referring to Jesus as “Wisdom” read
verse 1)God the Son was there at the creation: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. What is the meaning of the word “LORD” in chapter 2 of Genesis in the Hebrew language?
Gen. 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens
ANSWER: LORD=3068. Yhwh; from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; name of God:—the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
5. What is the meaning of “LORD God”?
ANSWER: “LORD God” = Yhwh Elohiym = Self-Existent or Eternal God(s). Therefore, since God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all involved in the creation of the world, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all called Yhwh Elohiym which mean they all are self-existent eternal God.
CONCLUSION: The atonement provides the possibility to be united with God for eternity. Therefore we can see the clear connection between the nature of God and the atonement.
MONDAY
Atonement and a Loving God
1. Who loves us so much?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ANSWER: God the Father
2. Through whom did God the Father express His love to us?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ANSWER: God the Son
3. Who helps us to experience the love of God in our hearts?
Rom. 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
ANSWER: God the Holy Ghost
4. How did God show His love toward us?
Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
ANSWER: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5. What else did God do for us besides dying for us?
1John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
ANSWER: He was the propitiation for our sins.
6. What does the word “propitiation” mean in the Greek language?
ANSWER: 2434 hil-as-mos´; atonement, i.e. (concretely) an expiator: — propitiation.
OBSERVE: 2434 is connected to 2435 hilasterion, hil-as-tay´-ree-on; neuter of a derivative of 2433; an expiatory (place or thing), i.e. (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple): — mercy seat, propitiation.
Therefore propitiation is connected to atonement and atonement is connected to the mercy seat in the most holy place.
OBSERVATION POINT: God the Father loves us so much that God the Son died for us and the God the Holy Spirit helps us to experience that love in our hearts. Therefore all Three are involved in loving us for to provide the atonement for our sins in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Could the love of God towards us be completed if Jesus died for us but did not minister for us in the most holy place in heaven?
Are you experiencing the love of God according to the above verses?
TUESDAY
Atonement and God as Creator
1. Observe the Greek word katallage in the following verses.
2Cor. 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (katallage which mean atonement);
2Cor. 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (katallage).
OBSERVATION: The work of reconciliation is the work of atonement (Read Rom.
5:10-11)
2. Observe 2 Cor. 5:17.
2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
OBSERVATION: There is a connection between the work of reconciliation and “a
new creature.” Since only the Creator can make us a new creature therefore there is a connection between atonement and the Creator.
PROPHETIC APPLICATION QUESTION: Do you see the connection between atonement and the Creator in the last day message?
WEDNESDAY
Atonement and Holy God
1. Who is God according to the following verse?
Psa. 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
ANSWER: Holy
2. Observe the Prayer of Jesus in John 17 and see the connection between the atonement (to be one) and the holiness (being sanctified) concept in His prayer.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
OBSERVATION: Those who are sanctified can be one with the holy God.
3. Who can be one with Jesus?
Heb. 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
ANSWER: Those who are sanctified or holy.
APPLICATION QUESTION: Do you have the desire to be one with God? If yes, then
why? If no, then why?
THURSDAY
Atonement and Omniscient God
1. If those who are sanctified called are “brethren,” then who is Jesus to them?
Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
ANSWER: “The Firstborn” or the Elder Brother.
2. Observe Omniscient God concept in Rom. 8:29.
Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
OBSERVATION: “Foreknow” gives the idea of Omniscient God.
3. What is the meaning of “foreknow” in Greek?
ANSWER: 4267. prog-in-oce´-ko; from 4253 and 1097; to know beforehand, i.e. foresee: — foreknow (ordain), know (before).
4. When was the decision made for Christ to shed His blood as a lamb?
1Pet. 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1Pet. 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
ANSWER: Jesus was “foreordained before the foundation of the world.”
CONCLUSION: God’s original plan was for us to be with the Eternal God for
eternity. However sin caused a separation between God and man. Thus the loving God made the plan to be one (atonement) with us again through the death of Jesus. In the plan of salvation, the Creator will recreate our hearts so that we can be reconciled (atonement) to God. In the process of reconciliation, God will help us to be holy so that we can be one (atonement) with the Holy God. This grand plan of
atonement was already in the mind of God from eternity past because He is the Omniscient God. Why is He doing all of this? Because that’s Who He is. That is His nature.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
How much do you appreciate the atonement?
How can we have the “one with God” experience today?
How can we have the reconciliation experience through the re-creation of
our hearts?
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