Demonstrating Faith in the Atonement of Christ Daily
Demonstrating Faith in the Atonement of Christ Daily
The concept of demonstrating faith in the atonement of Christ daily is rooted in the biblical understanding of the atonement as a continuous aspect of Christian life. The atonement, as explained in Torrey's Topical Textbook, is "explained" through various biblical references, emphasizing its significance in Christian theology [3].
The apostle Paul's statement, "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31), underscores the daily commitment required of Christians in their faith [2]. This daily dying is a testament to the believer's identification with Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. The writer of Hebrews also emphasizes the importance of daily exhortation among believers, encouraging one another "day by day" to remain steadfast in their faith (Hebrews 3:13) [1].
The atonement is not just a historical event but a living reality that informs daily Christian living. According to Calvin's commentary on Isaiah, the atonement is a manifestation of God's love and mercy, highlighting the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation [6]. This understanding is echoed in the Reformed tradition, which emphasizes the ongoing significance of Christ's sacrifice in the life of believers.
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, John Chrysostom's homilies on various biblical books, including Galatians and Hebrews, stress the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God, including the demonstration of faith through actions and perseverance [7]. This perspective underscores the universal Christian call to live out one's faith daily.
The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke's commentary on Leviticus, views the atonement as a central aspect of Christian doctrine, emphasizing the need for personal holiness and daily devotion to God [9]. This aligns with the broader Protestant emphasis on the atonement as a foundational element of Christian faith and practice.
Demonstrating faith in the atonement daily involves several key practices:
- Confessing Christ: This is seen as necessary to salvation and an evidence of union with God (Torrey's Topical Textbook) [4].
- Perseverance: Believers are encouraged to continue in the faith, seeking God, and waiting upon Him (Torrey's Topical Textbook) [5].
- Living a life of obedience: This includes seeking God, prayer, well-doing, and continuing in the faith (Torrey's Topical Textbook) [5].
The daily demonstration of faith in Christ's atonement is thus a multifaceted commitment that encompasses both personal devotion and communal practices. It is grounded in the biblical understanding of the atonement and is reflected across various Christian traditions.
The significance of the atonement in daily Christian life is further underscored by its connection to the concept of the Sabbath, as noted in the commentary on Isaiah 56:2. The Sabbath is seen as a sign of the covenant and a gift to God's people, belonging to both the present age and the age to come [8].
Sources
- Hebrews “but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. -- Hebrews 3:13”
- 1 Corinthians “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. -- 1 Corinthians 15:31”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Atonement, The — Explained -- Ro 5:8-11; 2Co 5:18,19; Ga 1:4; 1Jo 2:2; 4:10. Foreordained -- Ro 3:25; 1Pe 1:11,20; Re 13:8. Foretold -- Isa 53:4-6,8-12; Da 9:24-27; Zec 13:1,7; Joh 11:50,51. Effected by Christ alone -- Joh 1:29,36; Ac 4:10,12; 1Th 1:10; 1Ti 2:5,6; Heb 2:9; 1Pe 2:24. Was voluntary -- Ps 40:6-8; Heb 10:5-9; Joh 10:11,15,17,18. Exhibits the Grace and mercy of God. -- Ro 8:32; Eph 2:4,5,7; 1Ti 2:4; Heb 2:9. Love of God. -- Ro 5:8; 1Jo 4:9,10. Love of Christ. -- Joh 15:13; Ga 2:20; Eph 5:2,25; Re 1:5. Reconciles the justice and mercy of God -- Isa 45:21; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:11 1:11 1:26 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:31 1:31 2:2 2:7 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:16 3:24 4 4:9 4:14 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:9 6:12 7:7 8:21 12:1 12:4 12:16 13:10 13:10-11 14:14 14:21-23 15:16 16:5 16:6 17:8 18:11 18:12 18:14 18:21 19:13 19:14 19:24 21:10 21:12 21:12 22:7-8 22:16 22:18 22:18 24:1-67 24:22 24:65 25:21 25:21 26:4 27:46 28:1 28:13 31:42 31:45 32:48 35:18 37:9-10 37:20 39:1 39:6 40:4 40:7 40:8 40:14-15 40:22 41 41:16 42:36 43:14 43:30 45:5 48:15-16 49:9 64:28 Exodus 2:11 2”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 56:2: 56:2 Blessed: Cp. 30:18; 32:20; see also Pss 1:1; 119:1; Matt 5:3. • The Sabbath, as a sign of the covenant (Exod 31:13-17), is God’s gift to his people; it belongs to this age as well as to the age to come (Isa 56:4, 6; 58:13-14; see Heb 4:1-13).”
- Leviticus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Leviticus 23:28: A day of atonement - See the note on Lev 16:2, etc., where this subject is largely explained.”