Here is an audio link for today’s post.
Have you ever thought much about the word atonement, from the Biblical perspective?
To be atoned for means to be made one with, or in agreement with. The Hebrew expression of atonement means to be covered.
For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
Leviticus 16:30
The Old Testament Book of Leviticus contains more than a dozen passages that foreshadow the atoning work of Christ. Chapter sixteen is a key passage that every believer should know well.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
Leviticus 17:11
I have composed a short list of singular sins that make up the whole sin nature of the human heart.
Just for one moment, imagine each one of these sins being attributed to Jesus.
- Pride
- Abuse of God’s name
- Lies
- Adultery
- Apathy
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Theft
- Human trafficking/slavery
- Gossip
- Murder/abortion
- Laziness
- Sinful Rage
- Rape
- Selfishness
- Hypocrisy…
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
He was guiltless. He was sinless. Every single one of those sins and many, many more- were poured out, all over Him, on the cross.
Jesus became sin.
In Leviticus 16 you can read about two innocent goats that symbolized Atonement.
The first goat became the sacrifice for the Hebrew people. The first little goat’s blood represented the shed blood of the innocent Christ. His divine blood would be poured out by His own free will.
“..So he shall make atonement, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins” Leviticus 16:16
The second goat, the Scapegoat symbolizes the sin being carried away from the people.
This little goat is a reminder that our sins have been carried away “…as far as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12
“Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the Israelites’ iniquities and rebellious acts—all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the man appointed for the task. The goat will carry all their iniquities into a desolate land, and the man will release it there.”
Leviticus 16:21 & 22
After reading a little bit about the Day of Atonement, what does the Atonement of Jesus mean to you? It is everything, isn’t it? But that’s just an easy, feel-good answer that doesn’t really explain the sacrifice of Jesus.
The sacrifice of animals could never permanently save people from their sin. This was merely a foreshadowing of all that Jesus would do for you and me.
People no longer need the intercession of an earthly priest, or animal sacrifice.
So, the merciful day came, and Jesus was sacrificed. God poured out His holy wrath for sin on His Son. And then He left Him to draw His last breath, alone. (Matthew 27:45 & 46)
God had made a way to show mercy to sinners.
Jesus wore our putrid sin. (Isaiah 53:5)
He covered us in His blood. (Isaiah 1:18)
He removed our sin as far as the east is from the west and doesn’t remember them anymore. (Psalm 103:12) (Isaiah 43:25)
He reconciled us to the Father. (2 Corinthians 5:18)
He made us one with Himself and God. (John 17:21)
God gave mankind the right to choose Atonement. We have the full right to accept or reject Him. After all, coerced love, is not love. It is tyranny. God will never forsake His own righteous ways.
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
Romans 3:24-25
The forbearance of God was His act of mercy for sinners. Instead of justifiably pouring out a full measure of divine wrath on hateful sinners, God poured His wrath for sin upon Jesus.
Because of this costly act of love and mercy all believers should live every day in faith, obedience, repentance for any sin, and worship.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18
Now we can have an unbroken relationship with God!
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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