Passage Picker sample
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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 |
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Atonement is necessary because sin cuts people off from God Atonement is necessary because sin provokes God's wrath |
| God's gracious nature is the basis for atonement |
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Atonement is grounded in God's reluctance to punish sinners Atonement is grounded in God's readiness to forgive sin Atonement is grounded in God's covenant love |
| God's provision of atonement is a means of dealing with sin |
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Atonement through sacrifice God's promised new covenant of forgiveness was fulfilled in Jesus Christ's atoning death |
| Images used to portray the at-one-ment, or restored relationship, between God and humanity |
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Atonement as forgiveness of sins Atonement as cleansing and purification Atonement as reconciliation Atonement as healing Atonement as God buying people back for himself Atonement as making holy: creating a relationship of consecrated nearness to God |
| See also |
| God, grace & mercy sin & God's character salvation forgiveness, divine reconciliation, world to God redemption blood holiness |
| 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 |
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As God's covenant partners, the Israelites undertook to keep his laws The sin offering made atonement for unintentional sins under the covenant The guilt offering atoned for sins where reparation was required Deliberate flouting of God's law could not be atoned for The Day of Atonement provided for the removal of the nation's sin The atonement cover Atonement was effected by the blood of the sacrifice |
| The role of priests in making atonement |
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Priests were dedicated to God in order to make atonement for others The priests had to make atonement for their own sins The priests represented the people before God to atone for their sin |
| The people had constant reminders of the need for atonement |
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Rituals of cleansing included an atoning offering Atonement was a feature of Israel's festivals |
| Abuses of the system of atonement |
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The sinful conduct of the priests who made atonement The sinful conduct of the people who sought atonement without repenting of their sins The need for repentance for a relationship of atonement |
| The prophets foretold a renewing of God's relationship with Israel, involving atonement for sin |
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Isaiah's message about the obedient servant Jeremiah's prophecy of a new covenant Ezekiel's vision of a new temple |
| See also |
| covenant guilt expiation propitiation Atonement, Day of high priest priesthood sacrifice, in OT scapegoat sin offering sprinkling worship |
| 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 |
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Jesus Christ's death on behalf of others Jesus Christ's atoning death for sin The atoning significance of Jesus Christ's death is expressed by references to his blood Jesus Christ's atoning death is commemorated in the Lord's Supper |
| Explanations of the atonement |
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Jesus Christ's death as an atoning sacrifice Jesus Christ's atoning death as redemption |
| 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 |
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Jesus Christ makes atonement as the new high priest Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new and better covenant Jesus Christ has made atonement in the true heavenly sanctuary Jesus Christ's atoning blood brings effective cleansing Jesus Christ's single sacrifice replaces the many required under the old covenant Access to the heavenly sanctuary is now open |
| 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 |
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God's sending of his Son to make atonement God's grace displayed in making atonement for the ungodly |
| The appropriate response to the atonement |
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The response of repentance The response of faith |
| See also |
| Christ, high priest Christ as Lamb cross, the Christ, death of human race & redemption restitution sin, remedy for justification regeneration union with Christ faith restoration |
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