Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 5 by reading Sections XXXVII to XXXIX.
My summary
This week Smeaton continues examining the perceptible influence of the atonement to other interests in the universe.
Firstly Smeaton teaches us that Christ by his atonement overcomes the world as taught in John 16:28 'In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.' From His representative act Christ's people get:
(i) boldness to overcome the world and the world's lord;
(ii) victorious power of a divine life, to rise superior, both to the world's allurements and to its frowns.
Secondly Smeaton explains how Christ has cast out Satan as claimed in John 12:31 'Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.' Smeaton also refers to:
(i) John 16:11 'the prince of this world is judged';
(ii) Matthew 12:29 'the binding of the strong man, and the spoiling of his goods'.
Thirdly Smeaton discusses how the death of Christ has taken the sting out of death and abolished it. At the end of this section he also answers the questions:
(i) why do believers undergo temporal death at all, if divine justice has been fully satisfied?;
(ii) why do the consequences of sin remain, if the acquittal is complete, and justice fully satisfied?
What grabbed me
I liked Smeaton's explanation of what Christ has achieved in his removal of death's sting: 'The Christian sees his death, as he sees his sins, on Jesus, and meets the approach of the last enemy with calm triumph, because in the cross of Christ death itself has died. It is no more a penalty, no more the expression of the curse, but the pathway to endless rest. '
As a result of Christ's death, the Christian welcomes death.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 5 by reading Section XL.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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