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atonement

Reconciliation; sin has alienated humanity from God and provoked God’s anger. God has responded by providing the means of restoring this broken relationship, bringing both sides to a place where they are at one again (“at-one-ment”).

 

atonement, necessity and nature of  
Scripture stresses the seriousness and reality of human sin, and that human beings are unable to atone for their own sins. In his grace, God provides a means by which the situation can be remedied.
 

Atonement is necessary because of human sinfulness  

Atonement is necessary because sin cuts people off from God
Isa 59:2
See also Isa 64:7; Eze 39:23; Hab 1:13; Jn 9:31

Atonement is necessary because sin provokes God’s wrath
Eph 2:1-3
See also Ge 6:5-7; Ex 32:30-35; Ro 1:18-20; 2:8

 

God’s gracious nature is the basis for atonement  

Atonement is grounded in God’s reluctance to punish sinners
Eze 18:32
See also Eze 33:11; 1Ti 2:1-4; 2Pe 3:9

Atonement is grounded in God’s readiness to forgive sin
Ex 34:6-7
The punishment of subsequent generations makes God’s abhorrence of sin quite clear, but the extension of his love and forgiveness “to thousands” puts the emphasis in these verses on God’s grace and compassion.
See also Ps 145:8; Da 9:9; Jnh 4:2

Atonement is grounded in God’s covenant love
Nu 14:19
The Hebrew word for “great love” means God’s loving faithfulness to those within the covenant.
See also Ps 25:6-7; 103:8-12; Joel 2:13

 

God’s provision of atonement is a means of dealing with sin  

Atonement through sacrifice
Lev 9:7
See also Ex 30:10; Nu 15:22-26

God’s promised new covenant of forgiveness was fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s atoning death
Heb 10:16-17
See also Jer 31:33-34; Mt 26:28; Heb 9:15; 12:24

 

Images used to portray the at-one-ment, or restored relationship, between God and humanity  

Atonement as forgiveness of sins
Eph 1:7-8
See also Lev 19:22; Ac 13:38; Col 2:13-14

Atonement as cleansing and purification
Lev 16:30
See also Isa 6:6-7; Tit 2:14; 1Jn 1:7; Rev 7:14

Atonement as reconciliation
2Co 5:19
See also Ro 5:9-11; Eph 2:14-16

Atonement as healing
1Pe 2:24
See also 2Ch 7:14; Ps 103:2-3; Isa 53:5

Atonement as God buying people back for himself
Rev 5:9
See also Mt 20:28   Mk 10:45; Ac 20:28; 1Pe 1:18-19

Atonement as making holy: creating a relationship of consecrated nearness to God
Heb 10:10
See also Col 1:22; Heb 13:12

 

atonement, in OT  
The OT laid down complex regulations by which the guilt of sin could be removed through the sacrificial system. Particular emphasis was placed upon the role of the high priest, who was required to make annual atonement for the sins of the people.
 

The covenantal framework of atonement  

As God’s covenant partners, the Israelites undertook to keep his laws
Ex 24:3
See also Dt 26:17; Jos 24:24

The sin offering made atonement for unintentional sins under the covenant
Lev 9:7
See also Lev 4:13-14; Nu 15:22-26

The guilt offering atoned for sins where reparation was required
Lev 19:20-22
See also Lev 6:1-7

Deliberate flouting of God’s law could not be atoned for
Nu 15:30-31
See also Nu 35:33; 1Sa 3:14

The Day of Atonement provided for the removal of the nation’s sin
Lev 16:34
See also Ex 30:10; Lev 16:1-33
The nation’s sin was atoned for by sprinkling the atonement cover in the Most Holy Place with the blood of the sacrificial goat; the removal of the people’s sin was symbolised by the driving of the scapegoat into the wilderness; Heb 9:7

The atonement cover
Ex 25:17-22
The locating of God’s presence above the atonement cover in the tabernacle demonstrated that it was only on the basis of atonement that God could accompany his people.
See also Ex 30:6; Lev 16:2; Nu 7:89

Atonement was effected by the blood of the sacrifice
Lev 17:11
The blood signified that the life of the animal had been given in place of that of the worshipper.
See also Heb 9:22

 

The role of priests in making atonement  

Priests were dedicated to God in order to make atonement for others
Ex 29:44
See also Lev 8:22-30

The priests had to make atonement for their own sins
Heb 5:1-3
See also Lev 9:8-11

The priests represented the people before God to atone for their sin
Heb 5:1
See also Ex 28:36-38; Lev 10:16-17

 

The people had constant reminders of the need for atonement  

Rituals of cleansing included an atoning offering
Lev 12:7-8; 14:18-22,53; 15:15

Atonement was a feature of Israel’s festivals
Nu 28:22,30; 29:5,11

 

Abuses of the system of atonement  

The sinful conduct of the priests who made atonement
Hos 4:7-8
See also 1Sa 2:12-17; Jer 6:13-14; Eze 22:26; Mal 1:6-8

The sinful conduct of the people who sought atonement without repenting of their sins
Hos 8:11-13
See also Isa 1:10-17; 66:3; Jer 7:21-24; Am 4:4

The need for repentance for a relationship of atonement
Pr 16:6
See also 1Sa 15:22; Ps 51:16-17; Mic 6:6-8

 

The prophets foretold a renewing of God’s relationship with Israel, involving atonement for sin  

Isaiah’s message about the obedient servant
Isa 53:4-12

Jeremiah’s prophecy of a new covenant
Jer 31:31-34

Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple
Eze 43:18-27

 

atonement, in NT  
In dying for the sins of the world, Jesus Christ fulfilled and replaced the OT sacrificial system, so that all who believe in him are restored to fellowship with God. Christ is the true high priest, who finally liberates his people from the guilt of sin, by offering himself as the supreme sacrifice.
 

The atoning purpose of Jesus Christ’s death  

Jesus Christ’s death on behalf of others
Jn 10:11
See also Jn 10:14-18; 2Co 5:15; Heb 2:9; 1Jn 3:16

Jesus Christ’s atoning death for sin
1Co 15:3
See also Ro 4:25; 8:3; Gal 1:4; 1Pe 3:18

The atoning significance of Jesus Christ’s death is expressed by references to his blood
Ro 5:9; Rev 5:9
See also Eph 2:13; 1Pe 1:18-19; 1Jn 1:7; Rev 7:14

Jesus Christ’s atoning death is commemorated in the Lord’s Supper
1Co 11:23-25
See also Mt 26:26-28   Mk 14:22-24   Lk 22:19-20

 

Explanations of the atonement  

Jesus Christ’s death as an atoning sacrifice
Ro 3:25
See also 1Co 5:7; Eph 5:2; 1Jn 4:10; Rev 5:6

Jesus Christ’s atoning death as redemption
Mk 10:45   Mt 20:28
See also Ac 20:28; Gal 3:13-14; Eph 1:7; Col 1:13-14

 

The atonement is effective because of Jesus Christ’s sinlessness  
2Co 5:21
See also Heb 4:15; 1Pe 2:22-24; 1Jn 3:5
 

Jesus Christ’s death fulfils and replaces the Day of Atonement  

Jesus Christ makes atonement as the new high priest
Heb 7:26-28

Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new and better covenant
Heb 8:6-7; 9:15

Jesus Christ has made atonement in the true heavenly sanctuary
Heb 8:1-2; 9:24

Jesus Christ’s atoning blood brings effective cleansing
Heb 9:12-14

Jesus Christ’s single sacrifice replaces the many required under the old covenant
Heb 10:11-14

Access to the heavenly sanctuary is now open
Heb 10:19-20

 

By dying with Christ, believers are released from this age into the life of the age to come  
Ro 6:1-7
See also Ro 7:4-6; Gal 2:19-20; 6:14; Eph 2:6-7; Col 2:11-13
 

God the Father and the atoning death of his Son  

God’s sending of his Son to make atonement
1Jn 4:14
See also Jn 3:16; Ro 8:32; 2Co 5:18; Gal 4:4-5

God’s grace displayed in making atonement for the ungodly
Eph 2:4-5
See also Ro 5:6-8; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:4-5

 

The worldwide scope of Jesus Christ’s atoning death  
1Jn 2:2
See also Jn 1:29; 2Co 5:19; 1Ti 2:5
 

The appropriate response to the atonement  

The response of repentance
Ac 3:19
See also Ac 2:38; 17:30; 20:21

The response of faith
Ac 10:43
See also Jn 3:14-15; Ac 16:31; Ro 3:22; Gal 2:16

The response of baptism
Ac 22:16
See also Ac 2:38; 1Pe 3:21

 


Thematic NIV Study Bible
from The Thematic NIV Study Bible,
used with permission

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