Introduction: The most important question.
I. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATONEMENT & INTERCESSION
• Atonement: the perfect satisfaction given to the law and justice of God, by the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, on behalf of elect sinners.
• Intercession: intervening for someone else. Biblically, it is the act of praying to God on behalf of another.
• Their connection
i. In the OT: Exodus 30:1-10
ii. In the NT: see opposite page.
II. THE TERMINOLOGY OF ATONEMENT
All of the terms that relate atonement are connected with the idea of sacrifice and all assume enmity with God due to our sin and guilt (Lev. 16:16).
• Atonement: The OT & NT words for atonement convey covering of our sin by the sacrifice of Christ and the reconciliation that results.
• Redemption: Ransom - deliverance of a prisoner by paying a ransom. (Mt. 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
• Propitiation: the one who brings about atonement (1 Jn. 2:1-2).
• Satisfaction: compensation for a wrong. Christ's 2-fold satisfaction.
• Substitution: Christ stood in our place as our substitute (2 Cor. 5:21). The 2-fold substitution and imputation.
• Expiation: removal of guilt by means of a substitute (Rom. 8:1).