The Power of the Cross – Week 1 (2-25-24)

The Power of the Cross
February 25, 2024
Atoning Sacrifice

What is so significant about this one event?

The starting point…..
We created a world we don’t want to be a part of.

1 John 1:5-2:2
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

What does John say Jesus death accomplished?

• 1:7 —> the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.
• 1:9 —> he will forgive us and purify us from all sin
• 2:2 —> Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sin.

Atonement = At-One-Ment
To make right, to reconcile
Greek – hilasmos
Hebrew – Kipper (verb)

Meaning to cover someone’s failure

• To erase the debt
• To purify the relationship

Best word —> Cover

Leviticus starts with 5 sacrifices:
2 – Thanks offerings: Thank you
3 – Sin offerings:I’m sorry

Leviticus 16:15-19
“He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. ¹⁶ In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. ¹⁷ No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.
¹⁸ “Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. ¹⁹ He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

How did the blood atone for sin? Cover?

Hebrews 10:4
It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Leviticus 16:11
“Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his…

God made a promise not to kill his image bearers but commits to loving and saving them.

1 John 4:7-12
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.