The basic principle of our salvation is that Christ’s death and our faith in God, and in Christ, saves us from sin. We remember our Savior’s death by the breaking of bread each time we meet to worship. We treat the memorial remembrance as the central object and most solemn part of our service.
A broad topic
The subject of the atonement as a topic for study and exposition is given a broad range in our midst. Frequently, we appropriately extend it to the effect it should have on our daily life and service. This further reflects the importance we place on this part of the Father’s revelation to us. In contrast to this general emphasis on the subject, however, there are three important points about the atoning sacrifice of Christ which seem to be neglected. We find it surprising that they are not given more attention and this article is intended to help increase awareness and understanding of them.
Three key points
The three matters of concern, stated as questions, are:
- Can we express the basic reason Christ had to die without using the language of symbols?
- How did his death fulfill God’s objective?
- What does our “faith in Christ’s death” accomplish and how does it achieve the forgiveness of our sins?
Three biblical answers
Our answers to the three points are as follows:
- Christ died to demonstrate God’s righteousness and to show human sinfulness.
- His willing death demonstrated and declared the rightness of God’ s ways and His love and wisdom. It demonstrated the rebelliousness, injustice and selfishness of man. It was a statement, an act more eloquent than words. It emphasized the meaning to be conveyed more than any other way could.
- By our faith in Christ’s death, we acknowledge the truth of these principles and their application to ourselves. It is then possible for God to forgive our sins and give us life.
Biblical symbolism valuable
These statements are not simple to understand and remember. Discussions with others confirmed my personal experience that it requires some effort to understand and keep the concepts clearly in mind. This is no doubt the reason scripture frequently uses symbolism in connection with this subject: “redeemed by the blood of Christ,” “bought with a price,” “a ransom for many,” “This is my body given for you.”
Symbols make various aspects of the atonement easier to grasp and to remember. They reduce the number of words or sentences needed to speak about it.
Literal language useful
There is no basis for criticism of these Biblical symbols and none is intended. There are many circumstances where the use of them is appropriate.
We feel, however, that we need to be able to state the principles of the atonement without using symbols. Our feeling is that, unless we can do so, we may not understand the subject as well as we should. I know that it was true for me; I was not satisfied with my understanding of the subject until I could state these points without using symbolic language. While realizing that many are satisfied with symbolic statements, this discussion may fill a need for others.
There is a problem with relying completely on symbolism for one’s understanding of the atonement and the expression of its principles; it is hard to be sure that the symbols are understood correctly and not misapplied. If one can state the principle behind Christ’s death without symbolism, this problem can be avoided. It is also likely that the improper use of language has been a factor in some of the divisions that have occurred in the brotherhood.
While symbolism is important, it is also important to be able to state the tenants of our faith without it, thus the wording of the first question. The answer is from Romans 3:21-26 and 8:3,4.
The second question
The second matter, how Christ’s death fulfilled God’s objective, follows naturally from the first.
The first sentence of the answer expands on the term “righteousness.” The following comments indicate how the entire process demonstrated man’s iniquity and inherent need.
His submission to death expressed a spiritual and moral message; he thereby acknowledged that God was righteous in requiring that all human flesh die. On the cross, Jesus demonstrated what human flesh is worth. This made it possible for God to forgive our sins and grant us life. The statement (demonstration) that God was righteous in this matter removes any possible blot or shadow on His righteousness in the minds of the faithful.
The third question
Our faith in Christ’s death is an acknowledgment of what he demonstrated; we, by our faith, acknowledge that we deserve to die for our sins and that God would be perfectly just to require our eternal death. Our faith is thus our part of the demonstration and statement made by Christ’s death. Our individual faith makes it possible for God to give us forgiveness and life as individuals.
Christ’s death was the necessary demonstration of the principle of God’s righteousness, but salvation can come only through the faith of the individual who thus acknowledges the personal application of the principle.
The term “demonstrate”
Some explanation of why the term “demonstrate” (Rom. 3:25 NIV and NASB) has been emphasized should be helpful. It has been used in preference to “declare” (KJV) or “show” (RV, RSV). “Demonstrate” gives the sense that Christ performed an action rather than just using words to show the Father’s righteousness.
During his ministry, he demonstrated to us what God is like by his acts and his words. Finally, he demonstrated the righteousness of his Father by the act of giving himself to die. He didn’t just prove God’s righteousness; he acted it, lived it and died in accordance with it.
Other facets
There are many other aspects to this subject, such as the need for Christ to have led a perfect life. The three points we have emphasized are those that seem to us to be the most infrequently expressed in our community today. They have been expounded in the past in The Blood of Christ by Robert Roberts (pp. 11-15), in God’s Way by John Carter (pp. 131-141) and in other works. “Christ’s Sacrifice and God’s Righteousness,” by Richard Mellowes in The Testimony, December, 1984, pp. 390-394 is also excellent.
The Christadelphian approach to faith and salvation emphasizes a foundation of right understanding. A clear grasp of the atoning sacrifice of our Lord should be part of that foundation.
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