Teaching on The Atonement atonement Atonement in the

Teaching on The Atonement (at-one-ment)

Atonement in the Apostolic Age

1 – Recapitulation (Last Adam) Iraneaus – “Against Heresies” He has therefore, in His work of recapitulation, summed up all things, both waging war against our enemy, and crushing him who had at the beginning led us away captives in Adam. . . the enemy would not have been fairly vanquished, unless it had been a man [born] of woman who conquered him. . And therefore does the Lord profess Himself to be the Son of man, comprising in Himself that original man out of whom the woman was fashioned, in order that, as our species went down to death through a vanquished man, so we may ascend to life again through a victorious one; and as through a man death received the palm [of victory] against us, so again by a man we may receive the palm against death.

Romans 5: 12 -15 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. . . Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

2 - Christus Victor Irenaeus of Lyons: For he fought and conquered; for he was man contending for the fathers, and through obedience doing away with disobedience completely: for he bound the strong man, and set free the weak, and endowed his own handiwork with salvation, by destroying sin. For he is a most holy and merciful Lord and loves the human race…For unless man had overcome the enemy of man, the enemy would not have been legitimately vanquished.

Ephesians 1: 18 -22 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

I challenge every devil that has these people bound, upon the authority of God’s Word, and the Presence of Jesus Christ Who shed His Blood, to make every Word a reality to every person that would believe. Satan, you are defeated, your time is at hand, leave these people, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Come out from them! We move the act of God, by laying hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. 63 -0628 E - A Greater Than Solomon Is Here Rev. William Marrion Branham

3) Ransom (the trap) Augustine of Hippo The Redeemer came and the deceiver was overcome. What did our Redeemer do to our Captor? In payment for us He set the trap, His Cross, with His blood for bait. He [Satan] could indeed shed that blood; but he deserved not to drink it. By shedding the blood of One who was not his debtor, he was forced to release his debtors. 1 Corinthians 2: 7 -8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

John 14: 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 2 Corinthians 4: 3 -4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Colossians 1: 12 -14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

86 He said, “I thought I had You when I destroyed Abel. I thought I had You when I destroyed the prophets. I was positive I had You when I beheaded John. But now, after all, You’ve arrived. I’ve got You now. ” Oh, my! 87 I can hear Him say, “Satan, come here!” He is Boss now. Reaches over, grabs that key of death and hell off his side, hung it on His Own side. “I want to serve notice on you. You’ve been a bluff long enough. I am the virgin-born Son of the living God. My Blood is still wet on the cross, and the full debt is paid! You have no rights no more. You are stripped. Give me those keys!” That’s right. Turns around and gives him a good healthy kick, and slams the door together, and say, “Stay in there! I’m Boss from now on. ” 57 -0420 - The Entombment Rev. William Marrion Branham

Atonement in the Middle Ages

4) Moral Exemplar Theory • Peter Abelard (1079 -1142) • Christ lived a perfect life and died as the first Martyr in order to teach Christians how to follow his example. • Christ’s death doesn’t actually do anything in relationship to God, the devil, or justice but it finds it’s only purpose in inspiring us to follow his example. • Sets up a system where salvation is based on works.

5) Satisfaction Theory • Anselm of Canterbury (1033 -1109) • Dominates Catholic theology • Every sin offends God’s honor because it deprives him of the obedience we owe him. “Therefore the honor taken away must be repaid, or punishment must follow; otherwise, either God will not be just to himself, or he will be weak in respect to both parties; and this it is impious even to think of. ” • “No man except this one ever gave to God what he was not obliged to lose, or paid a debt he did not owe. ” • Analogy: Medieval feudal justice.

Atonement in the Reformation

6) Penal Substitution Martin Luther (1483 -1546) “God cannot be a friend of sin nor gracious to it, nor can he remit the punishment and wrath, unless payment and satisfaction be made. ” John Calvin (1509 -1564) “Christ interposed, took the punishment upon himself and bore what by the just judgment of God was impending over sinners; with his own blood expiated the sins which rendered them hateful to God, by this expiation satisfied and duly propitiated God the Father, by this intercession appeased his anger, on this basis founded peace between God and men. ”

Though this sounds similar to satisfaction theory, the metaphor is not so much a debtor in need of someone to pay her fine, but of a guilty criminal in a courtroom. Christ stands in as our substitute, taking the penalty we deserve. R. C. Sproul “In the act of propitiation, God’s righteous wrath is appeased, and his justice is satisfied. The moral obligation that we owe for our sins is paid to God, who is thereby placated. ”

“The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. ” Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Problems with Ransom Theory • Gives too much authority to the devil—as if he is somehow God’s equal. • The idea that God is making deals with Satan for human lives and even employing trickery may appear startling, if not revolting. • It’s not clear precisely why humanity is under Satan’s control or why God cannot just take us back. • Anselm of Canterbury (followed by Peter Abelard) pointed out that since Satan himself was a rogue, he could not equitably lay claim to humanity, therefore, God was under no obligation to pay him a ransom.

The Solution • Though temped by Satan, Adam alone is responsible for his bondage to sin. • Satan usurped man in the garden by corrupting his entire makeup • The seed of the woman must crush the seed of the serpent.

And now we bring her to You, in the light of Calvary’s cross, where Jesus, standing there, that made the—the atonement. How You swung between the heavens and earth, reconciling the Heavenly to the earthly, by the shedding of Your Own Blood. How that You lifted up from the earth! You died in mid air. And there the Blood dripped upon the earth, to stain the old Calvary’s cross. There is where You spoiled principalities. There is where You robbed Satan of everything that he had. You took back, and give to the children of God, their rightful belonging. There is where You give us Eternal Life. There is where You give us the promise of the resurrection. O Heavenly Father, that paid the price! 56 -0108 - God Hath A Provided Way William Branham

Problems with Penal Substitution Theory • Doctring of the Trinity sets up a division between the persons, in which the Son loves us unconditionally and must rescue us from the wrath of the Father. • However, God does not have a split personality. • How can the Father be holier than the Son? Is it not true that to see Jesus is to see the Father? • If the murderer released an innocent killed in his place, has justice really been done? • If the debt was paid, has forgiveness really happened?

The Solution 2 Corinthians 5: 18 -19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Ephesians 2: 4 -6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus

First of all, we know most assuredly that the purpose of God stands in election. It was purposed in Himself. It was God’s purpose to bring forth a people like unto Himself that would be a Word Bride. She was chosen before the foundation of the world IN HIM. She was foreknown and beloved before she was ever brought forth during the ages upon the earth. She was redeemed by His blood and can NEVER come into condemnation. She can never be in the judgment because sin cannot be imputed unto her. Romans 4: 8, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. ” But indeed she shall be with Him in His throne of judgment, judging the world and even angels. Her name (each of her members) was written in a section of the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages - 7 - The Sardisean

Secondly, there is another class. Their names are also in the Book of Life and they will come up in the second resurrection. Such are the foolish virgins and the righteous as are spoken of in Matthew 25. In this class also are those who do not worship the beast or become involved in the antichrist system but die for their faith even though they are not in the bride, not having been born again. But they will come up in the second resurrection and go into eternal life. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages - 7 - The Sardisean Church Age

51 My children, I’ve got two, yet, that has never been baptized as yet, because they’ve just been dedicated. I got a baby in Glory, that was just dedicated, not baptized. 52 Because, baptism is for remission of sins, see, to show that you have repented. That baby has done nothing to repent for. It’s a baby, just born here in the world. It hasn’t got no power with coming here, see, and it has no sins. When Christ died at the Cross, He died to take away the sin of the world. Until this baby has done something to repent for, the Blood of Jesus Christ makes an atonement. 61 -0903 - Let Your Light So Shine Before Men Rev. William Marrion Branham

Christ was God’s Plan from the Beginning Ephesians 1: 4 -6 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

85 David himself wrote, act…fell into the Spirit like all prophets, he act like it was him. David cried, in the 22 nd Psalm, “My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? All My bones they stare at Me. They pierced My hands and My feet. ” David, speaking like it was him. And it wasn’t David, it was Christ in David. 86 And here the very prophecy that went forth, of all the different prophets, was being fulfilled on Mount Calvary. What’s the attraction on Mount Calvary? God fulfilling His Word. 65 -0725 E - What Is The Attraction On The Mountain? Rev. William Marrion Branham

מות ﻭ [muth] die/death John 12: 31 -33 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Psalm 34: 20 -22 ש 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. ת Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. the LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Luke 24: 25 -27 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.