“Far-To Near-In Him”

1. “Far-To Near-In Him”

2. Introduction: One of the most common comments of those who saw Mel Gibson’s interpretation of “The Passion of the Christ” was: “Why did Jesus’ death have to be so bloody?” We are not use to a high level of blood spillage. Even surgeons can contain blood spillage. We buy our meat packaged in cellophane wrap. As squeamish as we might be about blood, the Scriptures are filled with verses on blood. “But now in Christ Jesus you who at one time were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.” Eph 2:13

3. I. The Necessity For The Atonement: Separation From God Is A Result Of Man’s Sin 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off “far” and “near” metaphors also employed by Isaiah (57:19) Isaiah 57:19“I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.” “far” is being without Christ (Eph 2:12) Ephesians 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. “far” indicates separation from God

4. Uses Of The Term “Blood”... Human Blood 1 Kings 22:35 The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot. Animal Blood Genesis 37:31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Essence Of Life Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in theblood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

5. Shade Of Red Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Murder Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” Death Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ Mankind (“flesh and blood”) Acts 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

6. I. The Necessity For The Atonement: God’s Separation From Man Is A Result Of Man’s SinCol 1:21-22 “And you, estranged as you once were and even hostile in your minds, amidst your evil deeds, He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence;” A. Man Separates Himself From God Through Sinful Acts ie/ Horatius Bonar – At The Cross “Twas I that shed the sacred blood; I nailed him to the tree; I crucified the Christ of God; I joined the mockery.” ie/ Rembrandt – He painted the crucifixion scene with himself as one of the crucifiers ie/ Mel Gibson – used his own hands to hold the nails that would crucify Christ in the close up scene of the hammering

7. B. God Separates Himself From Man Through Death And Judgment Death separates the soul from the body (Rom 6:23) Judgment separates man from God (Matt. 25: 32, 41) Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

8. II. The Accomplishment Of The Atonement: God’s Reconciliation Of Man Is A Result Of Christ’s Death But now in Christ Jesus you…have been brought near by the blood of Christ. A. God Loves Us Enough To Want Us To Be Close To Him 1. A Time For Change: A Timely Reconciliation “But now” = great distinction in topic and time, dramatic shift 2. A Price For Closeness: A Costly Reconciliation “near” = engys reconcile – bring together after being broken apart ie/ arguing couple – hugs and makes up ie/ forgiving a friend

9. Hebrews 10:19-22 19Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. B. God Loves Us Enough To Send His Only Begotten Son To Die So We Can Be Close To Him. 10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (atonement) Romans 5:10-11

10. Atonement means: 1. A covering 2. ransom paid by family (Ex 21:28; 30:12) 3. redeem or pay for family property changing ownership 4. “Atonement…refers to everything that Jesus did at the cross. It means to be ‘at one’ with God by Christ’s taking away of sin.” “Etymologically the word is a combination of syllables “at – one – ment, ...meaning “to be made one” or “to reconcile.”

11. III. What Does Atonement Have To Do With Me? But now in Christ Jesus you…have been brought near by the blood of Christ. A. Before Christ, God Brought Man Near Him Through Animal Sacrifices 1. Animal Sacrifice Was Instituted As A Means For Man To Approach God In Recompense For Sin (Gen 3:21; 4:4) 2. Animal Sacrifice Was Formalized For The Nation Israel As A Recompense For Sin 1) Passover Sacrifice 2) Levitical Sacrifices 3) Day Of Atonement – Lev 23:27; 25:9

12. B. Passover Sacrifice Exodus 12 – the Passover (pesah) was instituted: An unblemished year old lamb was sacrificed at twilight The blood was applied on the family’s doorpost The Passover would be a regular commemoration The sacrifice was a picture of the cleansing of sin and the avoidance of God’s wrath

13. C. Day Of Atonement (Yom Hakippurim) Leviticus 23:27 Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. A priest cleansed himself through sacrificing a bull (sin- offering) and a ram (burnt offering) – Lev 16:11-14 The priest would sprinkle the blood of the bull on the golden lid of the ark (mercy seat) The priest would sacrifice a male goat (sin-offering) and sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat for the sins of the nation of Israel (Lev 16:15-19) A second goat would have a priest lay hands on it to symbolically transfer the sins of the nation onto this “scapegoat” (azazel) and sent away into the wilderness

14. D. God Brings Man Near Him Through Christ’s Sacrifice 1. Christ Is Our Passover Sacrifice For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5:7 2. Christ Is Our Atoning Sacrifice For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb 9:13-14

15. c. Christ Is Our Redeeming Sacrifice William Hendrickson defines “redemption” as indicating “deliverance, by means of the payment of a ransom, from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin” 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Acts 20:28 the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

16. D. Christ Is Our Substitutionary Sacrifice Isaiah 53:5-6 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. “vicarious” = substitutionary From Adam to now, there had to be a substitute sacrifice for man's sin. Jesus was the ultimate final substitute sacrife for sin. He died for once for all sin for all time! Hebrews 7:27b “He did [sacrifice] once for all when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 9:12b “But with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

17. E. Comforting Responses: 1. There is no need to try to atone or make up for your own sin before God. Jesus paid it all! 2. If you struggle with guilt from your sin, you never have to wonder if you still have a relationship with God. 3. Christ’s total removal of our sin is the basis of our eternal security. Jesus paid it all! Conclusion: 1. Far Off – to be without Christ is to be “far off” from God. Sin drove us apart from God Death results from sin Judgment is appointed after death when apart from Christ 2. Brought Near – Christ’s blood is what brings us near to God’s holy presence God loves us so much to bring us near to Him We have eternal salvation through the blood of Christ

18. Far-To Near-In Him” Remember....