In order to bring the various elements of this section into sharp focus and to have a final look at our Lord as our atonement, I wish to notice particularly the picture of Him presented in the Epistle to the Hebrews--especially chapters 1 and 2.

1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, 2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; 3 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they (Heb. 1:1-4).

From this quotation we see that God the Father sent the Son, who upholds all things by the word of His power, and who is the very effulgence and character of His substance, into the world to purchase redemption for us and to give us His final love message. After He laid down His life, He ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high, there to make intercession for us.

In Hebrews 1:5-2:4, the sacred writer contrasted the position which Christ now occupies with that which is held by angels. This he does by quotations from the Old Testament. Thus in chapters 1:1-2:4, he lays emphasis upon the deity of the Lord Jesus; but in 2:5-18 he stresses the human side of His nature. In contrast with Him the angels are simply servants sent forth at the command of God to render assistance to those who shall inherit salvation. But Christ, the God-man, according to Hebrews 2:5-10, will fulfill the destiny of the human race by subjecting the inhabited earth to man. In verse 6 is a prophecy from Psalm 8 foretelling the time when this earth will revert to man as its lawful master; all cattle and creeping things will be subject to him. This promise, declares the writer, has never been fulfilled to men in general. It has, however, been fulfilled in the case of one man, the man Christ Jesus. Thus the promise of the eighth psalm has been only partially fulfilled. But it has not been made good to man universally. How will this be accomplished?

The answer is given in verse 10: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings." According to this quotation it was proper for God (on account of whom are all things and through whom are all things) in bringing many sons into glory--the kingdom when the glory of God shall encircle the earth as the waters cover the sea--to make the author of their salvation, Jesus Christ the God-man perfect through suffering. Being made perfect He is now leading the sons of God into this glorious future kingdom.

The captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. Does this statement imply that He was imperfect or lacked anything? Positively not! Human nature, as Adam's was before the Fall, was capable of growth, development, and passing into the glorified state as we have already seen, apart from the painful suffering of death. When however sin entered the world, man's nature was changed; and he now passes out of this life through the portals of death. But Jesus Christ took upon Himself perfect humanity. He was sinless, undefiled, separated from sinners. He made Himself a sin offering for us. He therefore with our sins upon Himself went to the cross, met death in our stead, and thus entered by resurrection into His glorified state. During life His body was in what might be termed a condition of humiliation; after His resurrection it was in its glorified form. Having trodden the way before us, He is beckoning us to follow Him. He will lead us into the same glorious state, for at the time of the rapture He will raise the dead in Christ and will change the bodies of the living saints. At that time all who are saved will have bodies like the body of His glory (Phil. 3:21). In this way He will lead us into glory.

When our Lord was upon earth, He had an actual, physical, material body. He is the one who sanctifies us, and we are the ones who are being sanctified. One of the purposes of His taking the form of man was that He might accomplish our sanctification. From this standpoint we are all of one. He will not, therefore, be ashamed to call us brethren, but will in the great assembly of the Kingdom Age acknowledge us as such.

The Apostle John shows conclusively that the Word became incarnate for a very definite, specific purpose. "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

The reason for His leaving heaven, becoming flesh, and dwelling among men is set forth in Hebrews 2:14,15.

14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

In this passage we are informed that our Lord's purpose in taking flesh was that "through death he might bring to naught [or render inoperative] him [Satan] that had the power of death … and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." In order to appreciate this statement, we must recall certain facts concerning Satan--his position, strength, power, and authority. He was, as we learned, the first of God's creatures whom He brought into existence. He was the generalissimo of the angelic forces. He was the very embodiment of perfection and completion. In him, as a created being, wisdom found its highest expression. He was perfect in beauty until sin was found in him. God could not make a higher being and did not make another who was his equal. He stood on a pinnacle of glory, power, and authority, such as no other creature has ever occupied. His power was so very great that even after his fall Michael the archangel did not dare enter into an open conflict with him in disputing about the body of Moses, but turned his case over to the Lord (Jude 9).

Having fallen from his lofty estate of holiness, righteousness, and purity, this sinister, diabolical spirit deceived man and led him into rebellion against his Maker. From that time onward Satan has held the earth and man in a death grip--spiritual death as well as physical. No angelic being, nor any number of them, could wrench the human family out of his grip and release man. Had God sent any created being to redeem humanity, Satan would have, by his wisdom and trickery, gained the victory over that one as he did over Adam since he had more power than other created being. Only Deity, therefore, could accomplish this Herculean task. The second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, volunteered to take upon Himself a body, to come to earth, and to match swords with the devil, which things He did nineteen hundred years ago. He took the form of man, became obedient unto death--yea, the death of the cross. He conquered Satan, death, and hell, and made possible man's escape from eternal death and the bondage of fear.

But why did one of the eternal Trinity have to die in order to break the power of Satan and thus liberate man? Because God had pronounced the death sentence on man in Eden. Satan's defeat and man's release from the curse could only be accomplished through death --"that through death He might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Sin had brought about man's spiritual death. The majesty of the divine will had been trampled under foot by Adam's disobedience. Since man ceased to be holy and had suffered defeat on the moral and human plane, the victory had to be won in the same realm. The first Adam in his contact with Satan was defeated through his disobedience to God. It was necessary that the second Adam, the God-man, through His obedience should meet and defeat this mighty enemy and gain the victory over him who had stood, unchallenged, holding the world in his mighty grip.

Christ Jesus, the God-man, having set His face like a flint to redeem man, marched directly into the jaws of death and by so doing laid down His life for our redemption. He accomplished the utter defeat of Satan and thus liberated man.

The sentence of eternal death, which, like the sword of Damocles, had hung over the entire race from the time of Adam's transgression, would have sent every mortal being into a never-ending perdition. But the eternal Son, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, came and voluntarily allowed the stroke of judgment, which was due to fall upon each of us, to fall in all its fury upon Him, "becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). In doing this, He was "the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world"--inborn sin (John 1:29). Taking also in His body all our sins, He went to the cross to bear them in our stead. In that tragic hour He cried out, "My god, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" when in this manner He took our place, God the Father, who could not brook sin, forsook Him as He did Adam in the garden--even though Jesus was the Son of God, one of the Eternal Trinity. It was then that Deity paid the eternal death penalty for man. It was then that God the Father forsook Him and He entered the chambers of death alone. It was then that He, our Lord and Redeemer, battled alone with Satan and conquered him, snatching from him the keys of death and hades.

'Tis finished! the Messiah dies,--
   Cut off for sin, but not his own;
Accomplished is the sacrifice,
   The great redeeming work is done.

'Tis finished! all the debt is paid;
   justice divine is satisfied;
The grand and full atonement made;
   Christ for a guilty world hath died.

The veil is rent; in him alone
   The living way to heaven is seen;
The middle wall is broken down,
   And all mankind may enter in.

The types and figures are fulfilled;
   Exacted in the legal pain;
The precious promises are sealed;
   The spotless Lamb of God is slain.

Death, hell, and sin are now subdued;
   All grace is now to sinners given;
And, lo, I plead the atoning blood,
   And in thy right I claim my heaven.
--Charles Wesley.

(Hymnal of the M. E. Church, 1878)

While Messiah's body lay in the tomb, He went and made and announcement of His conquest to the spirits in prison that were disobedient in the days of Noah (I Pet. 3:20,21). Returning from the nether world as a mighty victor, He came forth from the tomb, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel (II Tim. 1:8-11). Thus the defeat of Satan was complete. The majesty of God's holiness had been maintained; His righteousness vindicated; and a way for the salvation of man had been opened up. The proclamation of His victory He made to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection.

On different occasions He appeared to them, speaking on the subject of the kingdom of God, and charging them to await the coming of the Holy spirit who would bring to their remembrance all things whatsoever He has said to them and also things to come. When they were thus empowered by the Spirit, they were to proclaim His triumph over Satan and the powers of the unseen world and the accomplishment of man's redemption.

The Holy Spirit, who came on the first Pentecost after the resurrection, empowered the Apostles to proclaim this glad message of redeeming love, strength, and power. Three thousand Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Messiah that day and were brought together into a spiritual community--the church. The movement continued, "and the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved." (Acts 2:47). The messengers of the cross, following the instructions of the risen and glorified Lord, proclaimed the message, first in Jerusalem, next in Judea, then in Samaria, and finally to the uttermost parts of the earth. This message of redeeming love has come to you and me--to all, both Jew and Gentile--offering salvation full and free.

Atonement having been made by Messiah the Son and accepted by God the Father, whose holiness has been satisfied, the Almighty has sent forth the messengers of the cross as ambassadors pleading for all to come and accept the reconciliation that has already been effected in their behalf: "We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21 Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him" (II Cor. 5:20,21).

Religion is a personal matter. One cannot serve God for another. Each one must deal with God individually. God sent His Son into the world in order that whosoever will may believe and have eternal life, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).

21 But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 34 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; 26 for the showing, I say of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:21-26).

Upon the basis of Christ's having met the demands of the broken law and having died in our stead, becoming a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), it is now for the disciples of the Lord to go and proclaim redemption through the blood of Christ. Jesus has all authority in heaven and in earth; therefore we are to follow His instructions in the great commission, making no exception of any but giving the truth to all: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Godly Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:19,20).

Salvation is a free gift of God which He offers to all who will accept Christ as their sacrifice. One is saved by the free grace of God through faith (Eph. 2:8). The one who is thus saved must labor for the Master's cause if he is to receive a reward. We shall be rewarded according to our works (Matt. 16:28). Let us therefore labor for the Master while it is day, for the night is coming when no man can work.

God has always dealt with Israel nationally. At the same time He deals with each person individually. The national aspect, however, must always be kept in mind. God has preserved and kept intact that nation which is not to be numbered among other peoples. Other groups as political entities will pass out of existence, but Israel will never cease to exist as a nation (Jer. 30:11). We may expect God to deal with her racially in regard to the atonement.

As we saw in our study of Leviticus, chapter 16, on the Day of Atonement Israel presented to the high priest two he-goats to be offered as a sin offering to make atonement for the sins of the nation. Lots were cast upon them: one for Jehovah and the other for Azazel.

In Hebrews 9:1-10, the writer discussed the sanctuary, its furniture, and the typical significance of the service, concluding his remarks by saying that these were "a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, 10 being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation" (Heb. 9:9,10). It is clear that the offerings and ceremonies of the law were only typical and were imposed for the time being--until a time of reformation. That time came when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared nineteen hundred years ago as our great High Priest to offer Himself without spot and blemish to God by His Eternal Spirit.

11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Heb. 9:11-14).

Christ's offering Himself as the spotless, sinless Lamb of God was in fulfillment of the slaying of the goat upon which the lot fell for Jehovah in the ritual of the atonement. The blood of those bulls and goats of the old economy could not take away sin, nor purge and cleanse the conscience and give satisfaction and assurance. The blood of Christ, however, does meet all the demands of holiness, cleanses, and purges the conscience, giving one perfect assurance.

In Hebrews, chapter 9, the inspired writer does not call attention to the fulfillment of that part of the ritual which pertained to the sending away of the goat to Azazel bearing the canceled sins of Israel. Evidently he did not deem it necessary for his purpose. We gather from other passages of the Scriptures the symbolic significance of that portion of the ceremony. As we have already seen, Azazel, in all probability, represented the devil. Satan has held an eternal grudge against Israel, has fought against her, and is continuing to do so at the present time. In the Tribulation, as we learn from Revelation, chapter 12, he will wreak his vengeance upon her by attempting to blot her from the face of the globe. When our Lord shed His blood for the remission of Israel's sins, as typified by the goat whose blood was shed, He went in the spirit and made an announcement concerning His finished work and the results flowing therefrom to the wicked spirits in prison (I Pet. 3:18-22). He did this, it seems to me, in fulfillment of the goat's bearing the canceled sins of Israel to Azazel in the wilderness. This interpretation meets all the requirements of the case. I must say, however, that should someone not see this point so clearly, I shall not be dogmatic concerning it. I am simply offering it for one's kind consideration.

After the sending of the goat into the wilderness, the high priest went into the holy place, still wearing his linen clothes, those that he wore when he made the sacrifices. He remained in the sanctuary, bathing his flesh and attiring himself in his garments of beauty and holiness. Later he appeared in all his glory to the waiting congregation who jubilantly hailed his reappearance.

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