September 17 - Grace of Atonement 대속의 은혜

September 17 - Grace of Atonement

 

“Therefore he can save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them.” – Hebrews 7:25

 

 

This verse begins with the Greek word " other, " which means "therefore." The next statement entirely depends on what has just been said. In prior verses, the author has explained how the Old Testament system of priests is limited and ultimately useless for our salvation. Human priests can only serve until they die (Hebrews 7:23), so they cannot intercede for us forever. No human priest could offer sacrifice for all

 sins since he could never live long enough. Jesus, on the other hand, lives forever (Hebrews 7:16), with a priesthood guaranteed forever by God (Hebrews 7:17, 7:21).

Therefore, Christ can save us in ways the Old Covenant never could. The concept of Jesus saving "to the uttermost" is often taken to mean that God can save anyone, no matter how sinful they may be. That idea is true (1 Corinthians 6:9–11) but is not the point. 

Instead, the author of Hebrews echoes the same points made earlier: that Jesus is eternally available to intercede for us and offer us forgiveness, even now (Hebrews 4:14–16). 

Where a human priest would fall short, Christ can save us entirely since His priesthood is unending (Romans 8:34). What man's effort cannot achieve, Christ's finished work on the cross has already done (Matthew 19:26; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 11:6).

 

The prophet Isaiah said that our iniquities had separated us from God so that we do not repent and receive God’s grace. “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1, 2). 

 

Jesus came to this world to break down the wall between God and us. Jesus carried all our sins and granted us the power to win over sin. Namely, Jesus died for our sins and gave us the power to overcome sin through His resurrection. We cannot overcome sin by ourselves. It is possible only by God’s strength. Thus, the apostle Peter said, “who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). 

 

Only God can save us with his power. A person sins because of their iniquity and will receive judgment on the last day. The Bible clearly shows us that there will be an eternal condemnation in hell “where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched’” (Mark 9:48). Unless God intervenes, we have no hope of salvation. Therefore, the atonement of Jesus on the cross is the most significant event in human history. God demonstrated His grace through the event. Thus, the author of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore he can save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). 

 

Jesus interceded for us, for he sees us with his love. He told a sinner not to sin again (John 8:11). He also said he forgave all sins on the cross (Luke 5:23). “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Christians commemorate the body and blood of Christ by partaking in the Holy Communion. We should always praise God’s grace of atonement and Jesus’ atonement.

 

 

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Corinthians 9

Today’s Prayer: Ask God to watch over the powerless of the world – the sick, the poor, the orphaned - that his strength would be sufficient to help them endure. 

Prayer Pointer: Whether we like it or not, asking is the kingdom's rule. – Charles H. Spurgeon

 

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9월 17일 - 대속의 은혜

 

“그러므로 자기를 힘입어 하나님께 나아가는 자들을 온전히 구원하실 수 있으니 이는 그가 항상 살아서 저희를 위하여 간구하심이니라” - 히 7:25

 

 

히브리서 저자는 "그러므로"를 의미하는 헬라어 ‘호덴’으로 위의 구절을 시작하고 있습니다. 그리고 저자는 앞의 24절에서 구약의 제사장 제도의 제한성과 우리의 구원에 유용하지 못함을 설명합니다. 구약의 제사장들은 자신들이 살아있는 동안에만 사역할 수 있었고(히 7:23) 우리를 위해 영원히 중보 제사를 드릴 수 없었습니다. 어떤 제사장도 우리의 모든 죄를 위해 제사를 드릴 수 없었고 장수할 수 없었기 때문입니다. 그러나 예수 그리스도는 영원히 살아계시며(히 7:16), 하나님이 주신 영원히 보장된 제사장 직분을 가지고 있습니다(히 7:17,21).

 

예수님은 구약의 옛 언약이 아닌 방법으로 우리를 구원하십니다. 예수님께서 "온전히 구원하실 수” 있다는 말씀은 하나님은 모든 죄인을 구원하실 수 있다는 의미로 이해할 수 있지만(고전 6:9-11) 여기서 강조하는 말씀은 아닙니다. 히브리서 저자는 앞서 지적한 대로 예수님은 우리를 위해 중보하시고 용서하시는 영원한 구원자라는 점을 반복하며 강조합니다(히 4:14-16). 인간 제사장은 부족하지만 예수 그리스도의 제사장 직분은 한이 없기 때문에 우리를 온전히  구원하실 수 있습니다(롬 8:34). 인간의 노력으로 성취할 없는 것을 예수 그리스도의 십자가의 구속 사역으로 우리의 구원을 완성하신 것입니다(마 19:26; 사 64:6; 롬 11:6).

 

이사야 선지자는 하나님과 우리의 사이에 죄 때문에 우리가 회개하지 않으면 하나님의 은혜를 받지 못한다고 말합니다. "여호와의 손이 짧아 구원하지 못하심도 아니요 귀가 둔하여 듣지 못하심도 아니라 오직 너의 죄악이 너희와 너희 하나님 사이를 갈라 놓았고 너희 죄가 그의 얼굴을 가리어서 너희에게서 듣지 않으시게 함이니라”(사 59:1, 2). 

 

예수님은 하나님과 우리의 사이의 죄의 문제를 해결하기 위해 이 세상에 오셨습니다. 예수님은  우리의 모든 죄를 담당하시고 십자가에서 죽으실 뿐만 아니라 다시 죽음에서 부활하심으로 죄를 극복하는 능력도 주셨습니다. 우리는 스스로 죄를 이길 수 없습니다. 오직 예수님의  능력 으로만 이길 수 있습니다. 베드로는 "너희는 말세에 나타내기로 예비하신 구원을 얻기 위하여 믿음으로 말미암아 하나님의 능력으로 보호하심을 받았으니라”(벧전 1:5)고 말합니다. 

 

우리는 하나님의 능력으로 구원받습니다. 인간은 타락하고 범죄했기 때문에 마지막 날에는 하나님의 심판을 받습니다. 범죄한 자들이 가는 지옥에는 "벌레도 죽지 않고 불도 꺼지지 않는" 영원한 심판이 있다고 성경은 말씀합니다(막 9:48). 하나님의 은혜와 도우심이 없다면  우리에게는 구원 받을 소망이 없습니다. 그러므로 십자가 위의 예수님의 대속의 사역은 인류 역사상 가장 중요한 사건이며 하나님은 십자가의 사건을 통해 구원의 은혜를 나타내셨습니다. 그러므로 히브리서 저자는 "그러므로 자기를 힘입어 하나님께 나아가는 자들을 온전히 구원하실 수 있으니 이는 그가 항상 살아 계셔서 그들을 위하여 간구하심이라"(히 7:25)라고 말합니다. 

 

예수님은 지금도 우리를 사랑으로 돌보고 계시며 위해 간구하십니다. 예수님은 범죄한 자에게 다시 죄를 짓지 말라고 말씀하셨고(요 8:11) 십자가 위에서 우리의 모든 죄를 용서하셨다고 말씀하셨습니다(눅 5:23). "이것은 죄 사함을 얻게 하려고 많은 사람을 위하여 흘리는 바 나의 피 곧 언약의 피니라”(마 26:28). 그러므로 그리스도인들은 성만찬을 통해 예수님의 몸과 피를 기념하고 항상 하나님의 구원의 은혜와 그리스도의 대속의 은혜를 감사하고 찬양해야 합니다. 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 하나님께서 세상에 힘이 없는 자들, 즉 병 든자, 가난한 자, 고아들을 돌보아 주셔서 주님의 힘으로 충분히 찰 견딜 수 있도록 기도하십시오. 

기도 지침: 우리가 좋아하든지 관계 없이 간구하는 것은 하나님 나라의 법칙이다. 촬스 스펄젼

성경 읽기: 전도서 1-3장; 고린도후서 9장