By Hazel Holland
The Scriptures clearly teach that we are entitled to the benefits of the atonement NOW, not at some future time. Christ does not place us on probation first in order to see how well we will perform. Salvation is by faith in His blood, not in the performance of our good works. Listen to what the book of Hebrews teaches us.
"But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the age to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Hebrews 9:26). When the Scripture says, "to do away with sin, or put away sin" it means in the Greek "to put away once and final." In writing about the events leading up to the death of Jesus on the cross, the apostle John says, "When He had received the drink, Jesus cried, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:30). It is finished means that the debt of our sins has been paid in full at the cross. It's done!
The Scriptures nowhere indicate that Christ entered heaven after the cross in order to continue making atonement for us. No! It says that when "this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. That means He “rested” because His work was finished.
Our forbearers in Adventism failed to take into consideration that after Jesus' resurrection "He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12). Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made perfect" (Hebrews 10:12-14).
Clearly these Scriptures tell us that Jesus entered the very presence of God at His ascension to offer Himself to God as our substitute. The yearly Jewish Day of Atonement pointed forward to the Great Day of Atonement where “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people" (Hebrews 9:28). He has taken care of the sin problem. It was completed at the cross. And when He comes again in the clouds of heaven the second time it will "not be to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him"(Hebrews 9:28).
The test is over our faith—faith in His righteousness, NOT over the performance of our good works. For "the righteous will live by faith"—faith in Christ's finished work of grace (Romans 1:17; Habakkuk 2:4). "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to ALL who believe”(Romans 3:21-22).
Since salvation is by faith in His blood, will you chose to place your faith in Christ's righteousness alone?
Since salvation is by faith in His blood, will you chose to place your faith in Christ's righteousness alone?
