240 – Atonement Viewed as the Work of a Priest

SEMESTER 3

240 – Atonement Viewed as the Work of a Priest

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY III LESSON # 40
ATONEMENT VIEWED AS THE WORK OF A PRIEST

Read Heb. 10:1-14; Jn. 6:37-44; Lev. 16:15-28.

INTRODUCTION:

1. These verses make very clear three things indispensable to this subject:

i. Atonement was exclusively the work of the priest.
ii. That Christ is our Great High Priest.
iii. That in the atonement He was acting as High Priest.

2. We can thus rightly conclude that to study the design and effect of atonement we should study the work of the priest.
3. What the priest did in figure, (making an atonement) Christ did in reality. (Heb. 10:1-5)

I. THE TWOFOLD WORK OF THE PRIEST

1. The priest’s duties had many details, but basically two and only two divisions.

i. He offered sacrifices (oblations).
ii. He made intercession (confessions and prayers).

2. It is clearly seen that Christ’s work as a priest followed and does follow this pattern: (Heb. 10:10-14; Mat. 20:28 compared to Jn. 17:5-9; I Jn. 2:1; Heb. 7:24,25)

II. THESE TWO DIVISIONS ARE INTERDEPENDENT

1. The mere making of a sacrifice has no effect except as it is accompa­nied by intercession.
2. The intercessory prayer is not acceptable to God, except upon the merit of the sacrifice.
4. Christ has entered into the holy place by His own blood. (Heb. 8:1-4; Heb. 9:11,12)
5. It is on the basis of His death and the ensuing endless life that Christ now offers intercessory prayers for us. (Heb. 7:16-27)
6. The oblation and the prayers are made for the same people and have the designed effect.

III. THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION OF THIS

1. That there is no atonement without the shedding of blood.
2. That there is no atonement without the work of intercession.
3. Thus, to learn for whom Christ died, we must only ask, “For whom does He intercede?”
4. His death was designed to reconcile precisely and exclusively those for whom He is interceding. (Rom. 5:8-10)
5. If we view the atoning death of Christ as general, indiscriminate and impersonal, we must view His intercession the same way. John 17:9 will not permit this.
6. If we view His death as accomplishing an indefinite result, we must view His intercession the same way. Hebrews 7:25 and John 6:37-39 just absolutely forbid this.

IV. WARNING AGAINST MISUNDERSTANDING

1. I am not limiting the meritorious value of Christ’s blood and priestly office. It is infinite in value.
2. I am not limiting the potential effect of His atonement for any man. He saves to the uttermost exactly that number ALL who come unto God by Him. (Heb. 7:25)
3. I am saying that those whom He chose in Christ before the world began, Eph. 1:4, (whatever you base that choice upon) are the ones who were reconciled to God by the death of Christ.
4. That is to say, that what His death on Calvary does in recon­ciling the world to God, is exactly what God designed it to do, and what Christ came to die for.
5. He shall see the travail of His soul (those saved by His blood) and shall be satisfied.