The Biblical Concept of Atonement

1. The Biblical Concept of Atonement “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Rom 5:11)

2. “What is Atonement?” • Atonement: Although the word appears frequently in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, the word only appears in Rom 5:11, where in some versions, the word “reconciliation” is used. • The meaning of the word is simply “at-one-ment,” or the state of being “at one” or being “reconciled.” Easton's Bible Dictionary • “It means ‘a making at one,’ and points to a process of bringing those who are estranged into a unity.” New Bible Dictionary

3. Man’s Need for Atonement GOD MAN Isa 59:2 Rom 3:23 Rom 6:23 SIN

4. Man’s Need for Atonement • In the beginning, God and man enjoyed a direct relationship whereby God was with man and there was nothing between them (Gen 1:31; 2:15-25). • Man transgressed God’s word/command (Gen 3:6, 22-24; Rom 3:23), causing sin to come between them (Isa 59:2). • SIN separates man from God (Isa 59:2), thereby taking away LIFE and bringing about DEATH (Gen 3:21; Rom 6:23).

5. “So Atonement Is…” GOD Rom 5:11 2 Cor 5:18, 19 Col 1:20 1 Joh 2:2, 4:10 SIN MAN

6. God’s Nature in Conflict With Sin • God’s holiness causes Him to identify sin (Lev 19:2; Jos 24:19, 20; Isa 5:16). • God’s justice causes Him to punish sin (Deu 32:4; Psa 89:14). Justice means to “receive what one deserves.” • God’s love causes Him to punish sin but still show mercy to the sinner (Exo 20:6, 34:6, 7; Psa 86:15; Rom 5:8). Mercy is to “not receive what one deserves.”

7. Atonement for Sin • Atonement for sin involves a substitutionary sacrifice (Lev 4:1-12, 9:2, 7). Satisfies God’s holiness and shows His love • Atonement for sin involves the shedding of blood (Lev 17:11; Heb 9:22). Satisfies God’s holiness & mercy • Atonement for sin involves death (Lev 3, 4:4, 22-24). Satisfies God’s holiness, justice, & mercy

8. The Old Testament ‘Shadow’ The Old Testament sacrifices teach us (Rom 15:4) certain truths concerning atonement: 1.) the victim must always be unblemished (Exo 12; Lev 4), which indicates the necessity for perfection2.) the victims cost something which indicates that atonement does not come cheap and, therefore, sin should never be taken lightly and 3.) the death of the victim was necessary (Lev 3). It is clear from the Old Testament that death was the penalty for sin (Eze 18:20), but God, by His grace, mercy, and love, allowed a substitute to be given in place of the sinner.

9. The Old Testament ‘Shadow’ “The Day of Atonement” or “Yom Kippur” • Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), a special service was held. It was to be on the 10th day of Tishri. On today’s calendar, it occurs in September to early October. The Day of Atonement was the only day of the year that the priest entered the Holy of Holies to make sin offerings for himself, his family, and the “assembly of Israel.” After making these offerings, the nation’s sins were symbolically laid on the scapegoat and it was led out into the wilderness and released (Lev 16).

10. The New Testament ‘Reality’ The New Testament reveals that it is through Jesus Christ that we have received atonement (Rom 5:11). In keeping with the Old Testament ‘shadow’ concerning atonement: 1.) Jesus was ‘unblemished’ or sinless (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Joh 3:5), which demonstrates the perfection of Jesus Christ2.) atonement cost Jesus His life(Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:18, 19), which indicates that atonement does not come cheap and, therefore, sin should never be taken lightly (Rom 6:1, 2; 1 Pet 2:24) and 3.) the death of the victim was necessary (Heb 9:14-16). It is clear from the New Testament that death is still the penalty for sin (Rom 6:23), but God, by His grace, mercy, and love, allowed a substitute (Jesus Christ) to be given in place of the sinner (1 Pet 3:18).

11. The New Testament ‘Reality’ “The Death of Jesus” • We all have sinned (Rom 3:23) and have separated ourselves from God (Isa 59:1, 2). Though we were deserving of death (Rom 6:23), God loved us so much that He gave Himself, through His Son (Joh 1:1, 3:16), as a substitionary sacrifice and a propitiation for our sins (1 Joh 4:10). The Lord’s death satisfied God’s need to judge and punish sin, while simultaneously making forgiveness possible (Heb 9:22).

12. Man’s Need for Atonement • In the beginning, God and man enjoyed a direct relationship whereby God was with man and there was nothing between them (Gen 1:31; 2:15-25). Man transgressed God’s word/command (Gen 3:6, 22-24; Rom 3:23), causing sin to come between them (Isa 59:2).SIN separates man from God (Isa 59:2), thereby taking away LIFE and bringing about DEATH (Gen 3:21; Rom 6:23). • Jesus was the answer (Rom 5:11).

13. Atonement: Need & Solution SIN DEATH LIFE X Isa 59:2; Jas 2:26 1 Joh 3:4 Rom 6:23 DEATH SIN LIFE X Act 2:38; 22:16; Rom 6:7 Rom 6:3, 4 Rom 6:3, 4

14. The Biblical Concept of Atonement • Concerning atonement, scripture reveals that: 1.) Jesus was ‘unblemished’ or sinless (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Joh 3:5), which demonstrates the perfection of Jesus Christ2.) atonement cost Jesus His life(Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:18, 19), which indicates that atonement does not come cheap and, therefore, sin should never be taken lightly (Rom 6:1, 2; 1 Pet 2:24) and 3.) the death of the victim was necessary (Heb 9:14-16). It is clear from the New Testament that death is still the penalty for sin (Rom 6:23), but God, by His grace, mercy, and love, allowed a substitute (Jesus Christ) to be given in place of the sinner (1 Pet 3:18). “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Rom 5:11)