A Foundation for the Atonement – Part 2
May 26, 2009
Dear Friends,
The next principle for the atonement that we would like to discuss is,
Principle #2 – Jesus’ sacrifice dictated the types, not the other way around.
It is quite natural for us to think of thing linearly regarding time. For example, it would be nonsensical for us to argue that the Emperor Napoleon based his battle tactics on Hitler’s invasion of Russia in World War II. We might be able to argue the reverse – that Hitler copied Napoleon – but the time factor precludes Napoleon copying Hitler.
The exception to this rule concerning time, however, is certainly found in God. God lives outside of time. As God declares of Himself in Isaiah,
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. (46:9,10)
And also in Romans,
God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (4:17 NIV)
It is a very normal thing for us to think that the manner in which Jesus died on the cross was dictated by Eden and the Mosaic sacrifices. Therefore, Jesus had to die the way that he died. This logic does not hold true for Christ and the cross. The opposite holds true. The events of Eden and the sacrifices of the Law of Moses were set up because of the way that Jesus was going to die. The language of the Bible is that Jesus is the reality while the Law was simply a shadow of things coming. It would be a ridiculous mistake while viewing a shadow of a tree on the ground to suggest that a shadow on the ground dictated the shape of the tree. Everyone knows that the shape of the tree – the reality – dictates the shadow.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Col. 2:16- 17 NIV)
We therefore need to resist the temptation to say things like “Jesus needed to die in such a such a fashion because of what happened in Eden or in the Law.” This is putting the cart before the horse not in the sense of time, but in reality versus shadow. We also need to be careful in saying that because God knew they were going to happen that He demanded that they happen or brought them about. This is not necessarily true. This type of reasoning only confuses rather than helps to clarify. Jesus was going to die in the manner in which he died and God, with his ability to see perfectly what was going to take place, placed shadows for us in advance “for our learning.” (Rom. 15:4) Mankind is quite capable of erecting symbols, shadows and markers once things have already happened such as wearing ribbons for war dead, but only God does these things in advance of them happening. This is a powerful testament to who He is and, by contrast, who we are.
Have a great week,
