Quote: “There are only two religions in the world: Divine accomplishment and human achievement. Divine accomplishment is true biblical Christianity; every other religion is some form of human achievement.” John MacArthur. Biblical definition of atonement: ‘reconciliation of the guilty by divine sacrifice.’ Biblical Christianity teaches that atonement for sins is made possible only through trusting in the divine sacrifice and Person of Jesus Christ on our behalf. No human atonement for sins therefore, can ever be acceptable to God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16.
Looking briefly at some glorious accomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ for us in the atonement: He takes our nature Hebrews 2:14. He becomes our ransom Matthew 20:20. He dies in our place 1 Peter 3:18. He dies for our sin 1 Peter 2:24. He dies as a sacrifice Ephesians 5:2. He dies willingly John 10:18. He reconciles us to God Romans 5:10. He brings us to God 1 Peter 3:18. He restores our fellowship with God 1 Thessalonians 5:10. No wonder Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me John 14:6. Religions of human achievement say you have to work and earn your way to God and heaven. Based on the Scriptures listed here, good luck with that!
What believers receive from the Lord Jesus in the atonement: Forgiveness Ephesians 1:7. Peace Romans 5:1. Reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:19. Righteousness 2 Corinthians 5:21. Justification Romans 3:24-26. Access to God Ephesians 2:18. Cleansing 1 John 1:7. Liberty Galatians 5:1. Freedom from Satan’s bondage Hebrews 2:14. Christ’s intercession on our behalf Hebrews 2:17-18. This is why the word gospel means ‘good message’ or ‘good news.’ Why then, do most people know so little about the gospel? There’s no one answer, but primarily, it is not preached. There’s no one reason for that either, but a primary one is, Christians are afraid to speak up; they don’t want to offend.
It is said that biblical Christianity is God reaching down to man; religion is man reaching up to God. But from what’s proclaimed here we see that biblical Christianity is not a religion at all, it is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the human manifestation of God. That’s the grand difference! The word for atonement also meaning reconciliation, means we are no longer enemies of God. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight Colossians 1:21-22. How’s that for a miracle! Once we were enemies, now we are friends; the war is over!
God was never our enemy, we were enemies of Him; in our sins we were actively hostile towards God! But look at us now – holy (made holy, made free from sin), blameless (without blemish, spotless), and irreproachable (free from all accusation). There’s not a person ever born who hasn’t sought for this, religious practitioner or otherwise. But perhaps 95 out of a 100 people have sought for it or are seeking it on their terms not God’s terms. That’s why religions of human achievement are more attractive than biblical Christianity. Engaging in the former makes one religious, engaging in the latter makes one real. True, being made real is an on-going process and it’s not possible without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but that is God’s goal.
Given that Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Reality, it is His mind, nature and character the Holy Spirit will have us studying for the achievement of this goal. He will probably begin with the 4 New Testament gospels, but He will certainly not stop there. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ Galatians 3:27. Quote: “To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Christ; He has left us an example that we should follow His steps, and we should, as Christians, have that mind in us which was in Him.” – Albert Barnes.
What do we learn about the Lord Jesus when we start with the gospels? From the human aspect, He knew God. He knew who He was. He knew His mission in life. He knew people. He was never disturbed or unsettled by their opinions, threats and manipulations, enemies or otherwise. He showed no desire to win friends and influence people from a worldly sense. The power and influence of the in-crowd had zero attraction for Him. He was never selfishly angry, critical, judgmental, cynical, rebellious or prone to violence. From the divine aspect, He was holy, righteous, just, guileless, sinless, spotless, innocent, meek, forgiving, merciful, humble, wise, authoritative, spiritually discerning and spiritually powerful.
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus…… 1 Corinthians 1:30. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;…… 2 Corinthians 5:17. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,…… Romans 8:1. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death Romans 8:2. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 6:11. (Underlines mine). Do you note the key to biblical Christianity? It is that we are in Christ Jesus. One can be in Roman Catholicism, in Anglicanism, in Protestantism, in Pentecostalism, in whatever group under the banner of Christianity, yet still never be in Christ Jesus.
But if one is not in Christ Jesus, then one is still in one’s sins! They have not been atoned for. That being the case one can never possess the mind, the nature and the character of Christ because there is no indwelling Holy Spirit to teach them regarding these, let alone help them become like Christ. Biblical Christians know God. They know who they are. They know their mission in life. They know people. They are being set free from people’s opinions, threats and manipulations. They have no desire to win friends and influence people from a worldly sense. And in time, the power and influence of the in-crowd has zero attraction for them as well. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Philippians 2:5.
“She’s got the spirit,” said a member of a religion of human achievement about another member. “She had the spirit,” said another about another, now dead. They were referring to the Holy Spirit, but they were wrong; they had a religious spirit, as did the two men telling me about them. How can one know that for certain? The Holy Spirit will always elevate Jesus and will encourage others to do the same. Those four people did not. The religious spirit will talk about Jesus, but he is another Jesus, 2 Corinthians 11:4, not the Jesus of biblical Christianity. How do we know this? Members of a religion of human achievement know little of the Bible, apart from, “Judge not,” and “God is love.” And they show little desire of wanting to know more.
What can be said then of religions of the world not under the banner of biblical Christianity? They are religions of human achievement. All of them reject the biblical Jesus Christ who came to earth and shed His blood on a cross for their sin. All of them reject His resurrection from death 3 days later. All of them reject Him as God Almighty Incarnate. All of them reject Him as Savior and Redeemer, the way, the truth, and the life. All of them reject He will come again to earth to rule the world. All of them reject the Bible as the sole inspired, inerrant word of God to man. All of them reject biblical Christianity. When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory Matthew 24:42.
One profound difference between divine accomplishment and human achievement: In relation to atonement for sin, those trusting in the divine accomplishment also rest in the divine accomplishment; they’re at peace – the peace of God which surpasses all understanding Philippians 4:7. This is a peace that cannot be conceived, imagined or described. Being the peace of God Himself imparted to us, it is therefore of the highest possible kind! Not so for those in religions of human achievement. They work for it, they strive for it, they might even cry for it and die for it, but it eludes them. Is there any hope for them then? Yes, certainly! But it is to be found in Christ Jesus only, the owner of peace. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 15:13.