The Covenant of the Torch. Abraham Park

this verse, the word but is . (de) in Greek, meaning “however” or “but.” It expresses the boundless agape love of God through which He pronounced atonement without cause. Even as Jesus was on the wretched cross at Golgotha, He prayed for the forgiveness of those who drove nails through Him and hurled abuses at Him. During His ministry, Jesus taught His disciples to forgive their brothers, saying, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt 18:22). Here, on the cross, was an amazing demonstration of His teaching.

      Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

      Matthew 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

      Jesus’ sixth message on the cross, recorded in John 19:30 was, “It is finished” ( in the perfect tense of . This end is not an incomplete end, but a total completion of the originally intended plan. Thus, Jesus’ work of redemption was already completed on the cross, and emphasis is placed on the eternal efficacy of that work.

      At last, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46), and breathed His last. To confirm Jesus’ death, the Roman soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out (John 19:34). Jesus shed blood and water on the cross for all sinners and died, completing His work of salvation.

      (5) The reconciliation and the attitude of the saints concerning Jesus’ work of atonement

      (i) Reconciliation, the result of Jesus’ atoning work

      The word reconciliation signifies the recovered state of harmony between God and man after sin had created a hostile relationship. Before Adam and Eve sinned, there was a close fellowship between God and man. Man communed with God and worshiped only Him. Furthermore, man ruled over all the creatures on the earth (Gen 1:26, 28; 2:15).

      After sin entered, however, not only was that close relationship cut off and ruined, but also it became hostile. Consequently, mankind became enemies with God (Rom 5:10). As a result of sin, mankind became totally fallen and corrupt, and experienced a total depravity (Job 15:16; Ps 14:1–3; 51:5; 53:1; Isa 44:20; Jer 17:9). This is what John Calvin argues is the state of mankind after the fall. Consequently, the corruption of the flesh, the nature of sin, and the presence of the old self utterly deprived mankind of the ability to consider changing the hostile relationship to an amicable one.

      For fallen mankind, Jesus Christ is truly the only way of restoring the relationship with God (John 14:6). God the Father, in His mercy, compassion, and agape love, sent His only begotten Son into this world (John 3:16) so that He may become an atoning sacrifice (Rom 3:25). 2 Corinthians 5:18 states, “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

      The Hebrew word for reconciliation in the Old Testament is (kapar), and the Greek word used in the New Testament is (katallage). Both signify the act of reconciliation (Rom 5:11; 11:15; 2 Cor 5:18–19). Sin separated mankind far apart from God, but the cross allowed them back to the bosom of God, reconciling God and mankind (2 Cor 5:18; Col 1:20–22).

      Romans 5:11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

      Colossians 1:20 … and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

      Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

      Although mankind had fallen far away from God, the blood of Jesus Christ brought them back to Him. Mankind had become the slave of death, but they were given eternal life by the grace of atonement (John 3:16; 1 John 2:25).

      Jesus completed the work of atonement once and for all on the cross (Rom 6:10; Heb 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:2, 10; 1 Pet 3:18). Mankind was cleansed for eternity by a single offering (Heb 10:14). There is no need for another offering for sin (Heb 10:18). Anyone who draws near to God through Christ will be saved (Heb 7:25). Besides the blood that Christ shed on the cross, there is no other method of atonement, and there is no other name than Jesus Christ that brings salvation (Acts 4:12).

      Historically speaking, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is the most noble and valuable among all others. No price can be given for the agape love of God that seeks to save all the chosen in Christ (Eph 1:4). Psalm 49:8 states, “For the redemption of his soul is costly, and he should cease trying forever.” Redemption of life cannot be achieved even with all the wealth in the world, but God achieved it through Jesus Christ.

      (ii) The attitude of the redeemed saints

      We are all eternally indebted to Jesus’ redemptive love (Rom 1:14), for we are unable to repay Him in all our lifetime. What ingratitude if we forget His grace in our lives! How could we forget the cross of Jesus Christ when He was whipped and beaten for our sins (1 Cor 2:2)? The redemption we received through the cross is not a disposable doctrine that we use once and throw away. The cross must not become an accessory item that we wear on our necks without much thought or emotion. The cross holds the unique power to save. It is the source of God’s wisdom. It lies at the center of the Christian gospel; without the cross, there would be no Christianity.

      As long as we are on this earth, we must love God with all our lives and boast only of the cross. Galatians 6:14 states, “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

      Anyone who boasts only of the cross has also been crucified on the cross (Gal 2:20). Furthermore, all such persons have crucified their greed and lusts on the cross (Gal 5:24). Thus, there would be nothing left to boast about but the cross if they have crucified everything on the cross. The person who boasts of the cross despises every deceitful way (Ps 119:104) and strives against sin to the point of bloodshed (Heb 12:4).

      The way to boast of the cross is to preach the life given on the cross, the gospel of eternal life to the souls who are groaning under the shadow of death. If we believe in God and love Him, then we must preach the gospel of the cross with all of our strength (Acts 4:20). Woe will befall us if we do not make restitution for the grace of atonement that we have received (1 Cor 9:16). We must become God’s own people who strive to preach the gospel of the cross in season and out of season until we enter heaven’s gate (2 Tim 4:2; Titus 2:14).

      Chapter 2

      The Divine Administration of Redemption and the Covenant

      The Bible contains the infallible blueprint of God’s great plan for the salvation of mankind. All of God’s numerous works that are accomplished according to His plan are also called His divine administration. The force that propels God’s administration is His covenant and its fulfillment. In other words, the link that connects God’s work of salvation in each era is His covenant (also called agreement or promise) and its fulfillment.

      The Bible is divided into two major parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is a covenant of the coming of Jesus Christ, while the New Testament is a covenant of Jesus Christ as the essential fulfillment (Luke 24:27, 44) and His Second Coming (Acts 1:11; Rev 1:7).

      In Matthew 26:28, Jesus says, “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” The blood that Jesus Christ shed for all mankind is the blood of the covenant (Zech 9:11; Mark 14:24; Heb 9:20; 10:29; 13:20).