Christ's doctrine of the atonement - Smeaton - XXIV - Chapter 5 concluded

Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 5 by reading Sections XLIII and XLIV.

My summary
This week Smeaton finishes speaking of the benefits of Christ's atonement.

Firstly Smeaton shows the restored communion between men and angels through the atonement.  He demonstrates this by expounding John 1:51 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.'

Secondly Smeaton teaches us that the atonement brings glory to God.  He does this by examining:
(i) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do (Joh 17:4);
(ii) Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (Joh 12:28).

What grabbed me
I'm still not convinced that the title 'son of man' refers specifically to Christ's atonement as Smeaton keeps suggesting.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy this comment about Christ's reconciling work: 'The starting-point in this inquiry is, What is the significance of the title Son of Man, which is not used as a mere expletive, but as intimating the foundation or ground on which the angelic agency here mentioned rests ? As this has been discussed and established in a separate section, it is only necessary to refer to the conclusion at which we arrived. The work of the sin-bearing second Adam is the point or import of the title ; and one of the effects which that atonement ushers in, as here stated, is the restoration of the long-forfeited intercourse between men and angels, who are brought together as two branches of one family in Christ, or gathered together under one Head the reconciler of all things in earth and heaven (Col. i. 20). If the partition wall between Jews and Gentiles is removed by the cross, and the enmity slain thereby, the same thing holds true in reference to angels and men ; and all that the promise here mentioned contains, stands in causal connection with the abasement of the second man. Moreover, the expression Henceforth, is an incontrovertible proof that, however far the provisions of this promise extend, and however long they may be carried out, they all took their origin from His surety work and His obedience unto death. '

The reconciling work of the cross is far-reaching indeed!

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 6.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.