Sunday, April 16th, 2017


Subject — Doctrine Of Atonement

Golden Text: Romans 5 : 11


“We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”


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Responsive Reading: II Corinthians 5 : 14-20

14.     For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15.     And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16.     Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17.     Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18.     And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19.     To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20.     Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.


Lesson Sermon

The Bible


1.     John 1 : 6, 7, 29

6     There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7     The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

29     The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.


2.     John 9 : 1-7

1     And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2     And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3     Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4     I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5     As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6     When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7     And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.


3.     John 10 : 24, 25, 30-38

24     Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25     Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

30     I and my Father are one.

31     Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32     Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33     The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34     Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35     If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36     Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37     If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38     But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.


4.     John 13 : 1, 31 (Jesus), 33

1     Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

31     Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

33     Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.


5.     John 14 : 1, 12 (to 2nd ;)

1     Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

12     Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;


6.     John 16 : 32, 33

32     Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33     These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


7.     John 18 : 1, 3-5 (to 2nd .)

1     When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

3     Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4     Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5     They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he.


8.     John 19 : 16 (And), 18 (to 1st ,)

16     And they took Jesus, and led him away.

18     Where they crucified him,


9.     John 20 : 1, 11-17

1     The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

11     But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12     And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13     And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14     And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15     Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16     Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17     Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.



Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures


1.     465 : 17 (Principle)-1

Principle and its idea is one, and this one is God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-present Being, and His reflection is man and the universe.


2.     203 : 7-12

If God were understood instead of being merely believed, this understanding would establish health. The accusation of the rabbis, "He made himself the Son of God," was really the justification of Jesus, for to the Christian the only true spirit is Godlike.


3.     18 : 3-5, 13-14 (to ,)

Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man's oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage.

The atonement of Christ reconciles man to God, not God to man; for the divine Principle of Christ is God,


4.     20 : 14-23

Jesus bore our infirmities; he knew the error of mortal belief, and "with his stripes [the rejection of error] we are healed." "Despised and rejected of men," returning blessing for cursing, he taught mortals the opposite of themselves, even the nature of God; and when error felt the power of Truth, the scourge and the cross awaited the great Teacher. Yet he swerved not, well knowing that to obey the divine order and trust God, saves retracing and traversing anew the path from sin to holiness.


5.     50 : 26-31

The burden of that hour was terrible beyond human conception. The distrust of mortal minds, disbelieving the purpose of his mission, was a million times sharper than the thorns which pierced his flesh. The real cross, which Jesus bore up the hill of grief, was the world's hatred of Truth and Love.


6.     51 : 1-24

It was the possible loss of something more important than human life which moved him, — the possible misapprehension of the sublimest influence of his career. This dread added the drop of gall to his cup.

Jesus could have withdrawn himself from his enemies. He had power to lay down a human sense of life for his spiritual identity in the likeness of the divine; but he allowed men to attempt the destruction of the mortal body in order that he might furnish the proof of immortal life.

Nothing could kill this Life of man. Jesus could give his temporal life into his enemies' hands; but when his earth-mission was accomplished, his spiritual life, indestructible and eternal, was found forever the same. He knew that matter had no life and that real Life is God; therefore he could no more be separated from his spiritual Life than God could be extinguished.

His consummate example was for the salvation of us all, but only through doing the works which he did and taught others to do. His purpose in healing was not alone to restore health, but to demonstrate his divine Principle. He was inspired by God, by Truth and Love, in all that he said and did.


7.     34 : 18-23

Through all the disciples experienced, they became more spiritual and understood better what the Master had taught. His resurrection was also their resurrection. It helped them to raise themselves and others from spiritual dulness and blind belief in God into the perception of infinite possibilities.


8.     54 : 8-28

Who is ready to follow his teaching and example? All must sooner or later plant themselves in Christ, the true idea of God. That he might liberally pour his dear-bought treasures into empty or sin-filled human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus' intense human sacrifice. In witness of his divine commission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter. This was the highest proof he could have offered of divine Love. His hearers understood neither his words nor his works. They would not accept his meek interpretation of life nor follow his example.

His earthly cup of bitterness was drained to the dregs. There adhered to him only a few unpretentious friends, whose religion was something more than a name. It was so vital, that it enabled them to understand the Nazarene and to share the glory of eternal life. He said that those who followed him should drink of his cup, and history has confirmed the prediction.


9.     19 : 17-26

Every pang of repentance and suffering, every effort for reform, every good thought and deed, will help us to understand Jesus' atonement for sin and aid its efficacy; but if the sinner continues to pray and repent, sin and be sorry, he has little part in the atonement,— in the at- one-ment with God,— for he lacks the practical repentance, which reforms the heart and enables man to do the will of wisdom. Those who cannot demonstrate, at least in part, the divine Principle of the teachings and practice of our Master have no part in God.


10.     35 : 19 only, 27-29

Our baptism is a purification from all error. …Our cup is the cross. Our wine the inspiration of Love, the draught our Master drank and commended to his followers.


11.     21 : 1-14

If Truth is overcoming error in your daily walk and conversation, you can finally say, "I have fought a good fight . . . I have kept the faith," because you are a better man. This is having our part in the at-one-ment with Truth and Love. Christians do not continue to labor and pray, expecting because of another's goodness, suffering, and triumph, that they shall reach his harmony and reward.

If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy.


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