Substitutionary Atonement - since all men are in sin, we deserve death because "the wages of sin is death." Any person who believes that Jesus (who is God) is able and willing to take that person's death sentence upon Himself, will live with Him for eternity. Without Christ's substitutionary atonement, there is no doubt that we are doomed. When a person dies without Jesus, his soul is separated from God (spiritual death). Spiritual death will result in eternity in hell, from which there is no escape. Eternal life is available through Jesus Christ to those who believe. Right now - while you live. and the substitutionary atonement is available to you - is the time to repent of sin and believe in His love

What is the meaning of substitutionary atonement?

substitute when others are injured or fatigued or just not playing well. 

A substitute is one who takes the place of another.

There is a terrible death sentence hanging over the head of every human being.

The phrase "substitutionary atonement" means that Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners as our substitute so that that death sentence could be nullified. 

Since all men are in sin (Romans 3:9-18, 23), we deserve death because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). 

Thankfully, "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Any person who believes that Jesus (who is God) is able and willing to take that person's death sentence upon Himself, will live with Him for eternity.

Romans 6:23 teaches us two things. 

First, it tells us that without Christ's substitutionary atonement, there is no doubt that we are doomed. 

In the Bible, death refers to separation. 

When a body dies, the soul is separated from the body. 

This is the physical death that we all experience. 

When a person dies without Jesus, his soul is separated from God (spiritual death).

Spiritual death will result in eternity in hell, from which there is no escape. 

The second lesson contained in this verse is that eternal life is available through Jesus Christ to those who believe.

Here is how the substitute works. 

Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1-18) and is therefore an infinite being. 

We are finite, created beings. 

Since the sins we commit are against an infinite being (God), the punishment must also be infinite. 

There are two ways for this punishment to be carried out.

Either an infinite being must die once to pay for sins (the cross), or finite beings must pay for their sins infinitely (hell). 

Jesus lovingly offered Himself up and died in our place when He was crucified on the cross. 

This was an infinite Being making a one-time payment for sins that satisfied God's requirement (Hebrews 10:10, 14). 

When this happened, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" - (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

This atonement is spoken of again, in 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."

The Old Testament also contains prophecies that speak of this substitutionary atonement, and about the coming Messiah who would die to bring us peace. 

The prophecies contained in the Old Testament detail each aspect of His death, earthly life, and resurrection.

In Isaiah 53:5 we find the atonement outlined very clearly:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Sadly, many people still refuse to believe and will pay the price of their own sin in hell for all eternity. 

But we know that God's own Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to pay for the sins of all who believe.

There is no more important choice. 

Hebrews 3:15 says "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts …" 

Right now - while you live and the substitutionary atonement is available to you - is the time to repent of sin and believe in His love.

CompellingTruth.org is a network site of Got Questions Ministries.

The purpose statement of CompellingTruth.org is: "Presenting the truth of the Christian faith in a compelling, relevant, and practical way."

Our mission is to take the questions, issues, struggles, and disagreements that exist within the Christian faith and shine the truth of God's Word on them. We believe the truth of God's Word is compelling. God's Word does not directly address every situation we face in life, but it does contain truth that can apply to anything and everything we deal with.

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Come Boldly Unto the Throne of Grace - nobody understands our pain better than Jesus, which is why only Jesus can be our High Priest as well as the substitute for our payment of sin. Jesus has experienced all of our struggles, temptations, and sufferings. Christ fully understands our weaknesses and has experienced our pain, we can pray. When we come to God asking for mercy, grace, help, or forgiveness, we can be confident

What does Hebrews 4:16 mean?

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:16 KJV

The central figure of the Christian faith is not some remote deity, a flawed spirit, or a being with no understanding of human nature. 

If that were the case, then prayer would be a terrifying and possibly meaningless experience. 

Fortunately, for the Christian, Jesus not only understands our struggles and failures (Hebrews 2:14–18), He has overcome them first-hand (Hebrews 4:15).

This verse is the conclusion of a point begun in verse 14. 

After encouraging Christians to complete the works God has given us (Hebrews 4:1–11), the writer reminds us that God's word is the ultimate measuring stick for all of our thoughts, deeds, and intentions (Hebrews 4:12). 

Nothing is hidden or obscure to God, who is our ultimate judge (Hebrews 4:13). 

Verses 14 and 15 make it clear that we can maintain our faith in the face of struggles, knowing that Christ has already shown us the way. 

He not only experienced suffering, death, and temptation, but did it without succumbing to sin.

Knowing, then, that Christ fully understands our weaknesses and has experienced our pain, we can pray. 

When we come to God asking for mercy, grace, help, or forgiveness, we can be confident (Hebrews 3:6) and assured. 

Nobody understands our pain better than Jesus, which is why only Jesus can be our High Priest as well as the substitute for our payment of sin (Hebrews 2:18).

Context Summary

Hebrews 4:14–16 is among the most often-quoted passages in the Bible. 

It is also one of the clearest expressions of Christianity's unique nature.

Jesus, the Son of God, has experienced all of our struggles, temptations, and sufferings. 

And yet, He did so without succumbing to sin. 

For this reason, we can look to Him as our perfect example. 

We can rely on Him as our perfect substitute. 

We can come to Him as our only High Priest. 

And we can trust in Him as our source of help and healing. 

Knowing that Christ fully, personally understands what it means to be human gives us confidence when we bring Him our failures and needs.

Chapter Summary

In Hebrews chapter 4, the author refines the theme of chapter 3. 

An entire generation of Israel lost out on their inheritance of the Promised Land due to a lack of faith.

Here, the author points out that the rest promised by God is still offered, through Christ. 

The razor-sharp truth of the Word of God will separate what is truly spiritual from what is faithless. 

We should make every effort to obtain our inheritance in Christ, which is something separate from our eternal salvation. 

We can also be confident, knowing Jesus can uniquely sympathize with our temptations and sufferings.

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Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace - Jesus is just waiting for you to present your needs to Him and to ask for His help. The Lord has been fighting for every believer who has come boldly and honestly to Him in prayer. He will not rebuke you for being too honest

Don't Stop at the Gate - when you made Jesus the Lord of your life, one of the privileges you received was the right to come to the throne room of God any time you want to

Praying to Angels - offering our worship or prayer to anyone but God is idolatry. Prayer to the Father through Christ is the only necessary and effective means by which we can communicate with the Father

The Law of First Mention - the law of first mention has some value in hermeneutics. Studying all the Bible has to say about a particular doctrine, including its first mention, is commendable. When following the law of first mention, we must be careful to also follow the other rules of hermeneutics. We cannot ignore context, for example. One of the weaknesses of the law of first mention is the difficulty of knowing what comes “first” sometimes. The law of first mention is not a hard-and-fast rule, but it can be a useful guideline for in-depth Bible study, as long as it is applied in conjunction with the other rules of solid hermeneutics

What is the law of first mention?

The law (or principle or rule) of first mention is a guideline that some people use for studying Scripture.

The law of first mention says that, to understand a particular word or doctrine, we must find the first place in Scripture that word or doctrine is revealed and study that passage. 

The reasoning is that the Bible’s first mention of a concept is the simplest and clearest presentation; doctrines are then more fully developed on that foundation. 

So, to fully understand an important and complex theological concept, Bible students are advised to start with its “first mention.”

Here’s an example of following the law of first mention: 

- the first time blood is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 4:10, when God asks the murderer Cain, “What have you done? 

"Listen! 

"Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” 

Based on this first mention of blood, the student concludes that blood equals human life. 

Later, we learn that God’s justice requires the blood (life) of murders (Genesis 9:6). 

Combining the concepts of blood and judgment, we see God executing the firstborn of Egypt but passing over the Israelites who mark their doors with the blood of a lamb (Exodus 12:1–13)

- this introduces us to the idea of a substitute, an animal’s life given in exchange for a human sinner’s life. 

Later, God directs Moses in the building of the altar: 

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” - (Leviticus 17:11). 

Jumping to Isaiah 53:5, we have a prophecy of a Substitute for all sinners: 

“But he was pierced [i.e., He bled] for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” 

In the New Testament, John the Baptist calls Jesus - “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” - (John 1:29; 

see also Revelation 5:6 — surely a bloody lamb). 

Jesus was insistent that His purpose in coming to earth was to shed his blood (life) for all people (Mark 8:31–33; 10:45).

The Epistles further explain: 

- “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” - (Hebrews 9:22); - “The blood of Jesus . . . purifies us from all sin” - (1 John 1:7).

Genesis, the book of beginnings, naturally contains many “first mentions,” including the foundations of these doctrines and concepts: divine omnipotence, creation, paradise, marriage, family, sin, sacrifice, atonement, angels, prayer, judgment, covenant, government, death, burial, etc. 

When asked about marriage, Jesus pointed to two “first mention” passages:

“Haven’t you read . . . that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?” - (Matthew 19:4–5; cf. Genesis 1:27; 2:24).

As we can see, the law of first mention has some value in the science of hermeneutics. 

The rules of hermeneutics for studying Scripture may number from a few to a dozen or more, depending on the scholar or teaching institution, but the law of first mention is consistently included. 

Studying all the Bible has to say about a particular doctrine, including its first mention, is commendable.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” - (2 Timothy 2:15).

When following the law of first mention, we must be careful to also follow the other rules of hermeneutics.

We cannot ignore context, for example.

The fact that the first mention of a serpent in the Bible (in Genesis 3) is associated with Satan doesn’t mean that every mention of a serpent in the Bible should be interpreted as satanic 

(the serpent on the pole in Numbers 21:9 is a type of Christ, according to John 3:14).

One of the weaknesses of the law of first mention is the difficulty of knowing what comes “first” sometimes. 

Are we to look at the Scriptures strictly chronologically? 

According to the order of the books as we have them now? 

Or according to the order of the books as found in the Hebrew Bible? 

The law of first mention is not a hard-and-fast rule, but it can be a useful guideline for in-depth Bible study, as long as it is applied in conjunction with the other rules of solid hermeneutics.

GotQuestions.org is the primary site of Got Questions Ministries

Got Questions Ministries is an internet based ministry whose mission is to glorify God and reach people for Christ by providing biblical answers to spiritually-related questions.

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Exegesis and Eisegesis - the word exegesis means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text. The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Only exegesis does justice to the text

The Word of God is Living and Active - God's Word can distinguish between the godly and ungodly. The razor-sharp truth of the Word of God will separate what is truly spiritual from what is faithless. Christians should strive to complete the work given them by God in order to obtain heavenly rewards. The most potent tool we have in this effort is the razor-sharp Word of God. We should make every effort to obtain our inheritance in Christ, which is something separate from our eternal salvation

How to Receive a Rhema Word Today - behind every scripture of the Bible is the voice of God. This is very important to understand. The Holy Spirit makes us hear God’s voice in the scriptures as it applies to us in specific circumstances. This is the Rhema Word. We can also hear the voice of the Spirit directly and audibly. The Bible is God’s Word. It has Rhema in it for you every day. Learn to stay with the written word and allow the Spirit speak into your spirit man as He teaches you the Word today from the scriptures

Idol Worship - idolatry is when we ask the gods we create to help us get all we want for our own personal yet selfish desires. This contrasts with the heart of Christianity, which is to live for God’s glory. When people engage in either greed or sexual sins they follow their desires rather than God’s, in essence worshiping themselves which is idolatry. You have made a person an idol when you start thinking of someone as your primary source of blessings and contentment

 What is idol worship?

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

"you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

"but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. - Exodus 20:4-6 (NKJV)

An idol is a substitute for God – when something or someone becomes more important to us than God.

What are the things in your life that have taken the place of God? 

What are the things to which we devote our energy, time or for which you make sacrifices? 

When there is a distinction in our adoration or desire for God and something else – you can be certain that you have idolized something.  

John Calvin said our “heart is an idol factory. In a fallen world, people constantly seek things they can worship, even though the Creator is before us in plain view.” 

Physical Idol 

Why is the worship of a physical idol wrong? 

Jesus explained the rationale behind the second commandment when he said … "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:24 (NKJV)

Attempting to create a visible representation of the invisible God will always lead to misrepresenting Him.

No matter how beautiful the picture we might make, it is no substitute for reality. 

All they do is arouse God’s jealousy.

Furthermore, people are easily tempted to attribute power to various objects or idols to capture the power and use it. 

Therefore, it reduces God to something we could manage for our own self-satisfaction.

The essence of idolatry is where we ask the gods (we create) to help us get all we want (for our own personal yet selfish desires).

This contrasts with the heart of Christianity, which is to live for God’s glory. 

You could be an idol

Paul mentions several sinful desires in Colossians, which he links to idolatry.  "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." - Colossians 3:5 (NKJV) 

When people engage in either greed or the sexual sins that Paul has mentioned, they follow their desires rather than God’s, in essence worshiping themselves which is idolatry.  

Man as an idol. 

Paul in the book of Romans reminded us of the danger and futility of trying to make God into our own image: 

"Professing to be wise, they became fools,

"and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." - Romans 1:22-23 (NKJV)

The first warning in Paul’s list is the “corruptible or mortal man.” 

You have made a person an idol when you start thinking of someone as your primary source of blessings and contentment. 

This could be your boss, pastor, leader, spouse, children, etc.

The legitimate image we can worship. 

There is only one legitimate representation of God and therefore only one legitimate means of accessing him – Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). 

So if you want a representation of God – look at Christ, learn Christ, read Christ and think about Christ. "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." - Colossians 1:15 (NKJV)

Conclusion

Not everyone is going to live a 100% idol-free life. 

But this is more for us to remember how easily we can fall victim to it. 

We should ask ourselves questions like the following to verify if we have created an idol; 

Where Do I Spend My Time? 

Where Do I Spend My Money? 

Where Do I Get My Joy? 

What’s Always on My Mind?  

We are not saying that you should not have a fun-filled life, but question yourself: 

- Is there a difference in your devotion to the idol and towards God? 

- Do you find yourself more drawn closer towards this idol?

Idolatry is self-glory; the aim of Christianity is God's glory

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Praying to Mary and the Saints - we are all sinners who need a Savior that will deliver us from the eternal consequences of living in sin. The Bible does not mention that Mary is an exception or that Mary was a sinless person. The only Person who was sinless was Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one and only Mediator between God and mankind. There is no other person who serves as a bridge between God and man apart from Jesus Himself. Without Christ there can be no reconciliation with God

Ancestor Worship - honoring the memory of our forbearers is okay, but worshipping our ancestors or thinking that they can be some sort of mediator between us and God or some sort of god to us is clearly not biblical. Often, those who practice ancestor worship give prayers and offerings, such as money or fruit, to the spirits of dead relatives who lived good and moral lives. The spirits of such ancestors, it is believed, can affect the present and future circumstances of the living

Idols Are Connected to Demons - there may be a specific demon that dominates a certain people-group or area and is perhaps associated with the gods of that place. Idolatry is participation with demons. When we see these connections between idols and demons, we should perceive that God's warning against idolatry is sound and should be followed. Today, our idols may not be made of metal or stone. Sins like sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness are called idolatry

The Prayer of Faith - faith calls those things that be not as though they were. “The prayer that calls those things that be not as though they were will heal the sick.” That’s what the prayer of faith is. It’s the prayer of the evidence of things not seen. The prayer of faith doesn’t say, “Look and see if you’re healed. If you are, that’s how you’ll know if you prayed the prayer of faith.” No, the prayer of faith sees with the eye of faith and counts it done. “The prayer of faith will save the sick.” It’s not the anointing with oil that does it. It’s not the elders’ hands or even the elders. It’s the prayer of faith that does it. You can pray that prayer as well as anyone can

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;

"and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." - James 5:15

Notice that this scripture says, “The prayer of faith will save the sick.” 

It’s not the anointing with oil that does it. 

It’s not the elders’ hands or even the elders. 

It’s the prayer of faith that does it. 

You can pray that prayer as well as anyone can.

Many people reason that if they don’t get healed after someone lays hands on them, anoints them with oil, and prays, then the person who ministered to them didn’t pray the prayer of faith. 

What is the prayer of faith?

Let’s substitute God’s definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 for the word “faith” in this scripture. 

In other words, “The prayer of the evidence of things not seen will heal the sick.” 

Or we could substitute Romans 4:17 in there: 

“The prayer that calls those things that be not as though they were will heal the sick.” 

That’s what the prayer of faith is. 

It’s the prayer of the evidence of things not seen.

The prayer of faith doesn’t say, “Look and see if you’re healed. 

"If you are, that’s how you’ll know if you prayed the prayer of faith.” 

No, the prayer of faith sees with the eye of faith and counts it done. 

Faith calls those things that be not as though they were.

I saw this as a Baptist boy, and I started preaching it as a Baptist boy. 

And I got results. 

Then the Full Gospel people came to town, held a revival, and built a church. 

I found out that they believed in divine healing, and I was thrilled about it. 

I had people to fellowship with around faith and divine healing.

Confession: 

I can pray the prayer of faith and get results. 

I can pray the prayer of “the evidence of things not seen” - the prayer that calls those things that be not as though they were. 

I can call my body well and whole in Jesus’ Name.

From Faith Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin 

Kenneth Hagin Ministries (aka Rhema) is a worldwide ministry based on faith, prayer, and the healing truths in God's Word. Founded in 1963 by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, we are currently led by Rev. Kenneth W. Hagin with the help of his wife, Lynette Hagin, and son, Craig W. Hagin. 

As a ministry, we are dedicated to reaching people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

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