Atonement For Sin - Where Was It Paid?

Written by John Carson

The payment of sins is the greatest gift God has provided for sinful humanity. To have our sins - all our sins - washed away is the most liberating experience individuals can have for all eternity. To know that we can have peace with God is the greatest hope. 

Without liberty though, there is bondage. Where there is bondage there is no peace, no hope. And the enemies of liberty will do anything (including deception) to keep their victims in captivity. 

Picture in your mind a room with an open door frame where the door had been removed. On the other side of the room is a deceiver's voice coming from a wall as thick as eternity. The Deceiver calls: "Take your hammer and chisel and strike this wall. I am God, and I offer you freedom if you can just get to me. Work, work, work for your salvation, and whatever you do, don't turn around!" He also causes a blindness so his victims cannot see the removed door. 

God tells us in Hebrews 10:10-12 that Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever. 

Colossians 2:13-14 tells us that transgression and sins were dealt with and nailed to the cross. 

Ephesians chapter 2 tells us that it was on the cross where God's work of grace was performed to reconcile us to God. 

And Romans 3:22-28 tells us that redemption is given freely to all who will believe in Jesus Christ; that cleansing from sin is through faith alone in His blood, and not of works. 

So the message of salvation is clear: On the cross alone, Jesus Christ became the offering for the full payment of sin, so that if anyone - meaning you - will believe in and receive the Lord Jesus Christ, having faith in His blood, will be saved and be reconciled to God for all eternity. (See also John 1:12 and John 3:16) 

The LDS church (which Mormons call "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" however, points not to Christ's death on the cross alone as the place and act of redemption, but they say he suffered for sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. (See Mormon Doctrine, p. 555)

• “The sectarian world falsely suppose that the climax of his torture and suffering was on the cross .... The fact is that .... the great pains were endured in the Garden of Gethsemane .... It was there he underwent his greatest suffering for men, taking upon himself, as he did, their sins on conditions of repentance.” 

The LDS Church also claims that the message of salvation by grace alone is wrong; that to be reconciled to God, one must work his way to salvation. 

Our prayer at Doorway Christian Outreach is that if you are being deceived by the voice of Mormonism, trying to work your way to salvation; that God would lift the veil from your eyes so that you may see that the door is removed by Jesus' death on the cross, and that you hear His voice saying to you, "Drop your hammer and chisel and come to Me. The Doorway is open."

For questions or comments (please include title of this article), email me at:

John@DoorwayChristianOutreach.info 

Send prayer requests to:

PrayerRequests@DoorwayChristianOutreach.info

All our correspondences are treated respectfully and confidentially.

Blessings to you,

John