THE FULL PURPOSES OF THE ATONEMENT 

Additionally (at the risk of being repetitive) regarding this same Scriptural theme of the 2 distinct Parts of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, (with its two standings that a Christian may stand in) it should be understood that…. 

1. It was not necessary for Jesus Christ to die for a man to be born again, for his name to be written in the Book, or to be anointed by the Holy Spirit and do mighty works. For these all happened before Jesus died. (See Luke 10. More on this in a moment.) 

2. Those reasons then not being the intent of the Salvation plan of God in Christ’s Atonement offering, rather, the Father’s express intent was/is having new creation  “sons” (Hebrews 1-3). This required a greater work upon the soul of man than just regeneration of his spirit. It required a further work unto holiness, which cannot be gifted or imputed. Redemption faith’s work is sufficient for giving Christ’s followers (before His death) “… power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.” [Luke 9:1] The greater work in holiness, unto son-ship, requires a greater propitiation than that afforded in the Old Covenant blood. A greater Blood offering was necessary in meeting God’s Justice and Holiness for that greater work, that being Christ’s Blood. It is in this further work on the soul, beyond regeneration/being saved, that we discover the necessity of His death. God’s determination was, in order to do this greater work in bringing holy sons from created man unto Himself, the concept that a Man must die in the place of men. To do this, that Man must be free from the law of sin and death.  To be sinless and thus free from death, he must have humanity distinct from that of fallen Adam. That is to say, a sinful man cannot beget a sinless human nature, so it was that such a nature must be begotten of God, thus the Incarnation of the only Begotten Son of God, and the two-fold Salvation plan. This being through:

1. Him suffering death, that He might extend, through that Blood, a Redemption plan with eternal life to all mankind.  

1. Through the Resurrection power wherein He became the First Begotten from the dead, that He might extend further the invitation unto holiness.  

3. Comprehending the Two Parts of the Atonement Gospel Callings from His Two Comings: The Suffering Servant and the Victorious King of Glory. This example of suffering before glory is the expressed pattern for the formation of the New Creature in Christ unto spiritual (first-born) sons of the Father. 

4. 4. The greater provision that was wrought in the Atonement of Christ, beyond eternal life, is the greater, fuller Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit is the Power to walk in the “newness” of Christ’s Resurrection life, in yielded–ness through the conscience unto Christ–likeness, and finally unto resurrected First Born Sons of God. [Romans 6,7,8 with John 7:37-39]

5. 5. Those who are born-again/redeemed through the faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit possess the Holy Spirit, as the seal of God marking them His children or property. [Ephesians 4:30] But it is not every believer who is possessed by the Spirit, minding the things of the spirit/Spirit in the newness of the Resurrected life, hence the exhortation to Christians who are regenerated is to “be filled in the Spirit”. [Ephesians 5:18, R.V.]

6. 6. The Two Parts of the Atonement of Christ then have to do with two “righteousnesses” (imputed righteousness vs earned righteousness). The first being the gift of eternal life with full assurance totally based upon the Righteousness of Jesus Christ. The second part of the Atonement being the prize of eternal glory based upon the believer’s hope in yielding unto a righteousness that he may own. The gains and losses of Scripture are then understood in that light and answers to much of the confusion of many polarizing doctrines. Understanding the Two Parts of Christ’s Atonement answers specifically to most, if not all the confusion, of the polarizing doctrines of Armenianism and Calvinism. One major point of controversy over “Once Saved always Saved” concept is removed with the understanding of the Gift and the Prize. Wherein the seemingly contradictory Scriptures can be harmonized according to the context of the verses.

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COMPREHENDING THE TWO PARTS OF THE ATONEMENT CALLINGS FROM THE TWO COMINGS: THE SUFFERING SERVANT AND THE VICTORIOUS KING. As well as the great “ruse” that sealed the fate of satan. 

Luke 24:13-27 “And, behold, two of them went — that same day to a village — called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, — Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass — there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, — Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe — all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and — all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

Again in 1 Peter 1:10, 11… “The prophets … prophesied … of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”  The subject of Christ’s suffering and glory following is the theme of all Scripture. The example we have in scripture of                                                                                                        Joseph teaches the essential feature that the path of the Atonement of Jesus Christ runs through suffering to glory.  Consequently, that is the entire theme of the Scriptures to Christians/followers of Christ to apprehend in the New Covenant.  

Suffering and service are the two pillars of the gateway of entrance into the [Millennial] kingdom Glory. (See Matthew 20:20-28) “Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye even suffer:” [2 Thessalonians 1:4–5] 

Looking at Hebrews 12:2, we can see the contrast of justifying faith vs sanctifying faith. The first being likened to a one-time event/choice that we make. And the second being an ongoing process wherein we daily walk in yielded-ness and fruitfulness. “Looking unto Jesus the author (through His sufferings, He brings the Gospel Grace event of eternal life to all men) and finisher (through His Resurrection power, He brings the Gospel process of eternal glory to the regenerate) of our faith: whom for the joy that was set before him (who also now sets before the Born-Again Believer a great prize/incentive) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (to Mediate as the High Priest in the Gospel Calling).” 

WITH the further Word in 1st Peter 1…“That the trial of your faith (being a process), being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found (finished) unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing (2nd Coming) of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace (power as well as favor) that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 

The “Author” relates to Redemption and regeneration/born again, whereas the “finisher” relates to the “salvation of your souls”, a term used several times in the New Testament. “But we are not of them who draw back (had to have been moved forward in order to draw back) unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” [Hebrews 10:39] And… “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” [James 1:21] The Greek word here for soul is pusche. It is the same Greek word that is used in this verse spoken by the Lord, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself (his own carnal nature within) and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life (pusche/soul, that is to say hold on to the corrupting nature over which he may have power) shall lose it (that prize set before us, salvation of the soul with glorious life); but whosoever shall lose his life (deny himself carnality, the nature/flesh by following Christ) for my sake and the gospel’s (sake), (a true witness of the gospel of the salvation of the soul beyond mere justification) the same shall save (Greek-to heal or make whole/holy) it…” (himself…in that Christ has saved him eternally and granted his spirit new life, he is now responsible for saving himself from himself. That is to say he is required to put to death/deny power to carnality in himself for Christ. In order that, in the end, his entire self, not just his spirit, may be worthy of a greater infusion of life/glory. This being a much higher quality of eternal life, that is eternal glory, and this is the meaning of the salvation of the soul and fullness of God’s Salvation Plan.) 

Salvation of the soul being the process of purging the carnal nature through following our conscience led and enlightened to the Word of Christ by the Holy Spirit, through the power afforded in Christ’s Atonement Resurrection.  This is the definition of the New Creature creation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (In Greek, a synonym is: being built or made, which is an allusion to the process, not an event. There would be no reference to an ongoing work if it was all imputed at justification.) [2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians l6:15] 

It cannot be said that the saving of the spirit was new or unique, as it was a part of the Old Covenant. Albeit the regenerations are based upon different blood efficacies, different Covenants and different amenities, the re-birth of the spirit is similar, if not the very same. Therefore that which is unique and makes a new Creature, that at its completion in being glory–filled is the proof of the salvation of the soul.  

What helps us to realize the purpose of Christ’s Atonement for a greater work than mere regeneration is that, contrary to most modern Christians’ understanding, Jesus Christ did not need to die in order for the spirit to be reborn. Christ, after speaking on the rebirth of the spirit, asked Nicodemus that rhetorical question, “…Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” [John 3:10]  

A great error in Christendom now being that Christ’s primary Atonement purpose, if not all of it, was to pay the price to redeem man from the curse by granting the repenting believer spiritual new birth by the Holy Spirit, giving him gifts and authority over the devil, and most importantly getting his name written in the Lamb’s book of (eternal) life. 

The truth is that Christ did not need to die to accomplish any of this.  

Proofing it up…Luke 9:1 says Christ called his twelve disciples together, “and He gave them power and authority over all devils…” He could grant them this authority not because He was Son of God or that He was the Sacrificial Lamb, but because He had successfully withstood satan in all tests, all temptations and trials as Son of Man. Look at John 14:30, “for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” Satan had no authority over Him as he had nothing in Him. That is to say that He had none of Adam’s fallen nature or satan’s nature. Not because HE was the manifest infallible Son of God appearing on the Earth, but because He as the Incarnate flesh as the Son of Man, was wholly found yielded up to God. He, being then full of the Holy Ghost, …was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and withstood all temptations. Unlike the first Adam who succumbed to temptation brought about by satan, who then died spiritually, that is to say in that his spirit lost its communion abilities. Then this Living soul just became a soul living. He, being without his mighty spirit’s leading, became un-whole and reason–led, and controlled by the senses of flesh. 

Satan then had great access into man and authority over Adam and his seed. 

1. In that man fell under the authority of satan. 

1. In that man, being without enlivening spirit, was now highly susceptible unto satan’s further darkening and corrupting lies. 

This Second Adam did not, in any of satan’s numerous temptations, miss the mark of God’s righteousness, but honored Him and hallowed Him Who was HIS Father. “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the POWER of THE SPIRIT….The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me…”  [Luke 4] Thus satan had no authority in THIS Seed of Adam, the Seed of Abraham, and the Seed of David, to all of whom God had prophetically promised eternal blessings through their Seed.  “He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” 

And to Eve God said of her Seed to satan the serpent: “…it shall bruise (crush) thy head.” [Genesis 3:15] To David, God said He would raise up from him, “One whose kingdom would never end.” And to Abraham, God said, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” [Genesis 13:15] All these Words were not lost on satan’s ears…. 

Now in the course of time satan found himself confronted with the manifest Presence to whom, he would surmise, these promises were made; Him being Yeshua/Jesus.  It was in that 3 ½ year confrontation period, ending in Jesus being crucified, that we must understand was the basis for Paul’s revelatory comment  “for had they (satan and his minions) known it (the wisdom of God’s salvation plan through Christ’s Atonement) they would not of crucified the Lord of Glory.” [1 Corinthians 2:7, 8] 

What is being revealed in the 4 Gospels, coupled with Paul’s Words, is that satan was convinced that Jesus, this Son of man/Son of God was the Messiah that would NOW, at that time, in that day, establish this, His prophesied, Kingdom upon the earth. That He was that One/singular Seed; that it was Written of Who would “…crush his head…”. Satan was well aware, that in the setting up of Jesus’ Kingdom; he would lose his kingdom and authority he usurped from Adam.  

Looking at it from satan’s perspective.… 

The scriptures reveal a picture of what satan thought, for all intents and purposes, that this must be the Messiah whom was promised by God, in Whom he had gained nothing through temptation. One Who by the authority of God, appears to be set to establish again the original authority of man in the earth, according to that original command to the first Adam to “…be fruitful and multiply and REPLENISH the earth and SUBDUE it.”… the seed to which He had promised again would rule the earth. This is what satan now sees and experiences before his very eyes; the power of God on display with this original command and intent being fulfilled by Jesus. Jesus being the Second Adam, WHO NOW SENDS NOT ONLY THE 12 BUT NOW SEVENTY WITH AUTHORITY, AUTHORITY OVER DISEASE AND HIS SATANIC FORCES. 

This is a different challenge of satan’s authority than what he had seen in times past. Occasionally he had been confronted with the impenetrable hedge of God’s protection in “imputed righteousness” extended by God to those He had ascertained as worthy on an individual basis, such as Enoch, Noah, and Job.  And then on a greater scale, the promised “seeds” /progeny of Abraham, being called and supernaturally brought out of Egypt by Moses, to be kings and priests to the Nations, who later proved to be no great challenge for him to thwart. 

But here, with Jesus empowered and capable of empowering, satan is finally confronted with the possibilities of a real loss of authority on a massive scale through this, The Seed of promise. Who, it would appear that along side the Covenant with blood sacrifices for Israel’s atonement was extremely formidable. All the personal Words directed at satan and Scriptural Words he knew that were foreshadowed in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, looked to satan to be a present occurring reality! 

Luke 10:17 says, “and the seventy returned again with joy and saying Lord, even the devils are subject unto US through Thy name…” (then here is a statement worthy of pondering….) “and He said unto them (prophetically), I beheld satan as lightning fall from heaven, behold I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over ALL power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you, Notwithstanding in this, rejoice not that spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice, because your NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.…” 

IT WAS THEN NOT NECESSARY FOR CHRIST TO DIE TO GET THE BELIEVERS’ NAMES WRITTEN IN HEAVEN’S BOOK….presumably the book of eternal Life.

What satan was experiencing and what was being presented or portrayed, before satan’s highly intelligent reasonings, was that through these events, over the last 3 ½ years, the culmination of centuries of prophetic Words of God to His people, were now being fulfilled. That being that there would be a Messiah that would establish His kingdom in Israel, a Kingdom which would be without end on the earth. Satan, having failed in previous encounters in tempting and soliciting Christ and seeing now the exponential affect of Jesus, now determines to kill Yeshua. As far as satan perceived, He was that Messiah in a very real PRESENT sense, as forecast.  

Satan was obviously unaware of what was in the Mind of God. That being the Sacrificial offering of His only Begotten Son (in His First Coming with a plan for a Second Coming). So as far as satan could determine, what was happening then at that moment 2000 years ago, was that the promised SALVATION for man was being implemented.  

Satan almost certainly thought,“my kingdom is being assailed, like no other time before, and that by the means of this sinless Man. This Son of Man Jesus is the anointed ONE that God spoke of as the Redeemer and He fully intends to crush my authority and to set up His kingdom on the earth NOW.…What am I to do?…. The plan is simple, if it is possible we must kill Him.” And it was right there we see the reality behind the words of Paul,  ….if satan and the princes of this World had known the wisdom of GOD hidden in Christ’s Atonement he would not have killed Him. [1st Corinthians 2:8]  

What was the reason for their regret? What possibly could be worse, as a result of killing Him, than what they were presently experiencing in the growing displacing upheaval, and overwhelming threat for which they had no answer?  The question becomes: Why did God let satan kill Jesus if He had already defeated satan and had authority to give His disciples, and already had recorded their names in the book of LIFE?  What may be discovered then is God’s Salvation Plan was not about giving man authority over the devil; it wasn’t about getting their names or our names written in the book of Life. This Wisdom on display is about things much deeper.  

The Wisdom of God’s hidden intent in the suffering Servant’s Atonement, the ruse of God on satan, was man’s glory shrouded in mystery. The Wisdom of this Atonement that they, satan’s forces were unaware of, as well as the Wisdom of God in the Atonement in the “cleansing of the heavenly utensils” of worship in the throne room of God which satan had polluted long before the creation of man. (See Hebrews 9:12,23 which speaks of the Heavenly Temple.)   

The Atonement Wisdom of God, that satan was unaware of, was God satisfying His own Righteous Holy and Just demands, the high price He Himself required for the Atonement of ALL His creation for what Lucifer did. That PRICE could be no less than the BLOOD and SOUL of His own, only begotten SON. That Blood that would Atone not only for man unto glory, but for Heaven’s holy cleansing. It was His own BLOOD that cleansed the heavenly utensils of worship that had been polluted by the very “presence” of satan for untold time.  (See Ezekiel 28:18)  

What was/is worse than what satan was experiencing while Christ was alive? What was the regret of satan for killing the Lord of Glory expressed by Paul in Corinthians?  It was his defiling presence purged from the Heavens and the sealing of his fate forever. That heavenly being in whom was found pride who once walked as the anointed cherub around the altar in the heavenly throne room of God, who defiantly and arrogantly presented himself oft before Him has finally been expelled. (Job 1:6-11) Through Christ, he has been judged, condemned and his eternal fate now sealed. 

 THE SUFFERING SERVANT’S (Isaiah 53) DAY OF TRIUMPH! 

The example of Jonah and Psalm 22 sets the stage for His wondrous “Day of Triumph”….  

“Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, 

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered — the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out — Jonah upon the dry land.” [Jonah 2:1-10] 

With Psalm 22…. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 

He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.”   

With ACTS 2:22-36…. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made — that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 

The place is Hades, in the center of the Earth. It is all astir for this Man Jesus, the hope of Israel, the only begotten Son of God. Now, like His predecessor Adam, having been bound a prisoner, found in the pains of death, he is carried by Angels within its inescapable Gates, surrounded, mocked and jeered by hordes, where he recites: “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” [Psalm 18]  (The time is that moment 2000 years ago, that Jesus cried out unto the Father, from the Bottomless Pit.) 

Psalm 18 continues…. “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.”  [verses 7-19]    

THE END OF THE ATONEMENT IN THE SUFFERING SERVANT HAS COME. Now in the Power of the Spirit of God, (that had left Him upon the Cross when he committed His spirit unto God and died) now returns to Him down and within the heart of that satan–inspired realm, and by whose authority death then (temporarily) reigned over Him. The Father “…brought Him into a large place.…”  Jesus, having been victoriously vindicated with overcoming Power, not yet ready to come out of Hades, wherein the ancient faithful long awaited His victory, now gathered with Him, their now manifest Master and Messiah. They now rejoiced in His procession “..and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them (leading his captivity captive, that is to say His enemies) openly, triumphing over them in it.”[Colossians 2:15 with Ephesians 4:8, Judges 5:12, Psalm 68:18] 

THE SECOND PART OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS NOW REVEALS ITSELF. Immediately after this, the Day of Triumph, is the Resurrection gift of the power of the Holy Spirit in newness of life. It is in this Resurrection power that the principalities further discover their fatal mistake…. (“…for had they known (the Wisdom of God) they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”) 

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades) and of death.” 

Jesus Christ prophetically speaking in Luke 10:18, (“I beheld satan as lightning fall from heavens..”) saw the future of satan and his kingdom as it progressively fails and falls. In that he first was cast out of the Heaven, down unto these Created heavens associated with this Earth, from where he now yet rules, but only as the defeated incumbent) and again from there Jesus Christ gives us the further prophetic revelation of his being cast down out of these heavens, to the earth in the latter days. The anointing then on His followers exhibited here in Luke 10 but foreshadowing the fullness of that New Creation Anointing in the Millennial authority of His Coming Kingdom, prophetically seen in those future worthy followers now caught up into the heavens and completed, which Christ had in clear view two thousand years yet in the future. (Revelation 12:7-11)  And following this great final anointing on His victorious overcomers, then comes satan’s final fate, that Lake of Fire, from where he or his followers will never escape to corrupt again in the New Heavens and New Earth. (Revelation 20:10, Isaiah 66:24) This all was sealed on that Day of Triumph, 2000 years ago, in the bowels of the Earth. 

But this is not all that is being accomplished by the amazing Wisdom of God’s Salvation plan.“…to the intent that now unto the (incumbent) principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord….” [Ephesians 3:9,10]  

Now Jesus Christ Resurrected and caught up into the Heaven and then Glorified, being then freshly Anointed, now as the High Priest at the right side of the Father, Whose Blood now cleansed heaven’s throne room and sealed satan’s fate, and through Whose victory God has now given the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit,  is revealing His many-fold [manifold] wisdom. This being the final VICTORY BLOW, through His re-created spirit/Spirit–filled fallen being…Man! The “coup-de-grace”. God, through Christ’s Atonement and the gift of the Holy Spirit has put man back into the “very good” posture of potential, of man’s original created state. That is in that God desired to create a being that would have the inherent ability through the power of choice to develop character. That of Christ-like-ness unto sonship, that in the future Kingdom of Christ in the earth and heavens related to it, in that they would replace the angels now ruling here. 

Let us perceive what great depth of character that Christ OBTAINED UNTO THROUGH THE YIELDING AND FOLLOWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT as Son of man.  “…and Jesus INCREASED in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” [Luke 2:52] Let us identify with the importance, significance, consequence, seriousness, weightiness, and urgency of Christ obtaining that critical stature. For it was essential to overcome the obstacles and temptations. Let us see that overcoming character was not without tremendous merit due to the onslaught He endured. It is this same overcoming character the Father looks to develop in those who WILL yield to receive the intended full purpose of His Atonement, in the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit. BEING “SAVED”, that is to say reborn in spirit to eternal life, HAS the much greater purpose in view: the salvation of the soul. 

Through the Atonement, Christ is God’s appointed Head of a new order of mankind, a much greater work than mere works or spiritual gifts, that are experienced by many Christians.  See Matthew 7:21-23…”Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity.”  This Scripture is not spoken to the un-saved, and again shows us that the Father’s intent wasn’t about giving man authority over the devil; it wasn’t about your eternal residence. It wasn’t about the rote ritual of dead works or the ritual/formality of luke-warm repentance and forgiveness, repentance and forgiveness over and over again.  It wasn’t about mere deliverance from the curse of the Law. Christ’s Atonement was about an intended deep work upon the character of the soul of a willing follower of Christ unto a certain worthiness. Thereby HALLOWING God as God, NOT just calling Him “Father” or just believing Jesus is Lord, taking His Name and then not do the things that hallow Him, and thereby taking that Name in vain. 

This rebuke by the Lord was to His followers who would aspire to enter into His Kingdom of heavens. It was the same subject and exhortation of Paul’s teachings in 1st Corinthians including chapters 12 & 13, in that merely Born Again Christians are not automatically determined worthy for the kingdom of heavens. For many after RE-Birth shall continue to walk immaturely, unyielding to the spirit/Spirit in an unprofitable loveless life. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”  (Nothing, as it relates to eternal glory.) 

Many of these are those who believe in a “gospel” of the CHEAP GRACE message. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” [Revelation 3]  

* These are those who have received the “gift” but will miss “the Prize” of Inheritance. 

FOLLOWING Christ unto the eternal inheritance is not “BELIEVING” in Him and what He did, but cooperating with the Holy Spirit in crucifying the carnal part of our soul/being, and thereby through our will and inspired desire, overcome the very nature of satan which we inherited from the first Adam’s fall. And in a real and practical sense fulfilling the same heart of son-ship and obedience Christ did. That is following the HOLY SPIRIT into the wilderness of temptation, trials and tests unto selfless, faithfulness, and Christ-likeness (The Spirit of The Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me….) unto fruitfulness. Overcoming as He did by the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT and being fit for His use. It’s about being found worthy upon His Second Coming, and qualifying as heirs, joint heirs, and being appointed Kings and Priests in His heavenly Kingdom.  

It’s religion that has not understood scriptural SINLESS-NESS, and so therefore has declared it cannot be done. The Church has not rightly understood “justifying faith” and “imputed righteousness.” It is ignorance of God’s Atonement Salvation plan, and unfortunately an ignorance leading in the abuse of the Blood of Christ, in attempting to obtain mercy and grace in the wrong state of heart. (Often critically appraising God’s goodness, with no intent to repent, so as to continue in the acts of that nature that defiles.)  

This call to the process of sanctification is being heard and worked out in every wholehearted seeker of God. God is able to ascertain each individual in their level of willing participation, for this is going from Glory to Glory to Glory. [2 Corinthians 3:18] 

Not all will reach the same level of sanctification that Paul did, but like Paul, “we buffet our bodies daily so as after receiving eternal life and then preaching to others, not to be castaway….” … We, like Paul, continue to appropriate the blood and water that cries for His divine influence upon our hearts. And with fear and trembling we are working out our salvation. [Philippians 2:12] “Beholding the goodness and the severity of our God.” [Romans 11:22]