#Bible #Study Not So Random Thoughts about Atonement
This is the first in a periodic series on Christian and secular topics for Wednesdays. Most will not be this lengthy. While some will post in this blog, others will post, still on Wednesday, in my "Life as I see it" blog.
The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.
3 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering[a] and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.[b] 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:1-10
The text above is part of the description of The Day of Atonement, celebrated by Jews as Yom Kippur. Verses 11-34 continue the ritual. The Day of Atonement is considered the most solemn religious fast.
What most non-Jews know about atonement comes from this passage and the scapegoat. What is missing is "why" atonement is required.
In Old Testament times, the Spirit of the Lord filled a specific person, allowing that person to complete a specific task. For example, the phrase "The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully" is used to describe the role of the Holy Spirit in significant successes of Samson.
Before Christ's death in the cross, Jews had no method of removing sinfulness from their souls. The sacrificial system established by Moses and Aaron provided temporary cleansing from sins by the blood of animals, but no lasting forgiveness for sin.
The moment Christ died on the cross, the Temple Veil was torn from top to bottom allowing direct access to God's presence by all believers.
On the Day of Pentecost after Christ's ascension, the Holy Spirit filled the hearts of 120 believers bringing them POWER to complete what we now call The Great Commission:
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
The text below was written by TRACI A BIANCHINI. It presents the Christian perspective of this Jewish tradition.
* * *
What humans need rescue from is the just wrath of God poured out on sin.
- Sin would be that kernel of thought that rejects God and sets up oneself as ruler.
So atonement, then, is that transaction initiated by God, to take upon himself the just punishment for sin rightfully due the sinner.
Atone means to make right, not merely paying for the sin by serving a sentence or paying reparations, but going a step further to declare one "innocent." That is, righteous.
- That's where human effort to try to "pay" for one's own sin would fall short.
- The debt owed is too great, sin against God too big of an affront, that could one work 24/7 for all one's lives, it wouldn't make one righteous.
Foundationally, one must believe there is a God who made everything and therefore has the right to rule over that creation, and therefore, would be justified and righteous to respond to rebellion against Authority with wrath.
Next one must see that humans are in a position of being "under wrath" (in rebellion against God) with no way out from under that judgment. That's where atonement comes in.
Not just that there is a need for atonement, but that "Jesus paid it all."
- That Jesus (God in the flesh) took upon himself the wrath due humans and that trusting Jesus as the sole means of escape from wrath due humans is the only atonement.
That there is no amount of "good things" to be done to assuage God's wrath or earn the "right" to be under the umbrella of grace, vs wrath...
- just believing He paid it and receiving His righteousness as one's own...
Dominion of darkness [Colossians 1:13] is not just a future place from which to escape, but a present reality of life separated from God by sin.
And atonement is not about anything a human needs to DO...
- it's about what Christ Jesus has DONE...
* * *
I pray you are processing that, too.The Old Testament sacrificial system pointed to the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus.
- All people are saved by grace through faith in God's "Promised One."
- This includes Old Testament believers, whose atonement wasn't achieved by the priestly sacrifices.
- Their atonement was achieved by believing God's Word.
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Jesus tells His disciples in Acts 1:18,
- That can happen only after you experience atonement.
C. R. Downing
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