Jonathan’s sermon for this week put the focus on the atonement of Christ. Atonement simply refers to how it is that Jesus brings peace between man and God. While the Bible has much to say about different aspects of the atonement of Christ, we cannot emaphasize other aspects at the expense of 1 Peter 3:18- that Christ is a substitute for unrighteous men.
The following was the challenge from Jonathan’s sermon:
How am I responding to the sin that I see present in my life? Am I embracing the natural defiance against God that generates disorder and death? Or am I viewing sin as something that was put to death on the cross and no longer possesses the power to enslave me.?
Discussion Questions
- What are the three historical ways of speaking about atonement? (Christus Victor, Moral Influence, Substitution)
- What are some of the Scriptures that would bolster each method?
- How do you think these Scriptures work together to give us a full picture of what Jesus accomplished on the cross?
- Why do people often find Jesus’ death as a substitute to be objectionable?
- Did Jesus have to die, or was his suffering for nothing?
- How do you know this?
- What are the images of the atonement found in 1 Peter 3:18-22?
- How does this Scripture help you to better understand salvation?