Foundations of the Faith

Atonement

AtonementDefinition: The appeasing of the holy hostility of God toward man because of man’s sins.Synonyms: pardon, cleanse, cover

-Atonement was accomplished imperfectly

by the Old Testament sacrificial system.

-Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Atonement: The appeasing of the holy hostility of God toward man because

of man’s sins.

Atonement was accomplished imperfectlyby the Old Testament sacrificial system.

52 of the 94 times in the OT are in Leviticus

13 times in Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:2-30 “The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter freely into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat…11 “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall slaughter the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 “He shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil… 30 it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

Old Testament sacrificial system

God created a system by which sincere worshippers could appease His holy hostility by offering a sacrifice for their sins.

-It required humility and faith of the sinner.

-It required the death of an innocent substitute.

-It was a prerequisite to fellowship and worship.

-It resulted in acceptance by and access to God.

Atonement was accomplished imperfectlyby the Old Testament sacrificial system.

Hebrews 9-10The old system was designed to be temporary and preparatory. The system is described as “copies of the things in heaven” (9:23) and “a shadow of the good things to come” (10:1).The old system was not actually effective.Served a purpose, had value but only because it pictures something better coming that was real, worth a picture

Atonement was accomplished imperfectlyby the Old Testament sacrificial system.

Hebrews 9-10The System was designed to be temporary and preparatory.

The old system was not actually effective.

-The OT sacrificial system “cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience” (9:9) and “can never make perfect those who draw near” (10:1) because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”(10:4).

Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. How was the atonement made by Jesus better than the atonement made by the OT sacrifices?

Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.Hebrews 9:11-12 “when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

What do new learn about Jesus’ sacrifice?

Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.Hebrews 9:11-12 “when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

-His Blood-One time-Sufficient for all-Eternal results

Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.Hebrew 10:10-20“…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD…14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified… we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil”

What else do we learn about Jesus’ sacrifice?

Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.Hebrew 10:10-20“…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD…14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified… we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil”

-Jesus’ body was the sacrifice-it atoned for the sins of all time-Gives acceptance by God-Gives access to God

Atonement was accomplished perfectly by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

- Jesus was the sacrifice maker and His body was the sacrifice.

- His sacrifice was so valuable that He only needed to make it once.

- It was sufficient to appease the holy hostility of God against all the sins of all God’s people of all time: past, present and future.

- The result was eternal acceptance by God and open access to God for His followers.

Since Jesus has appeased the holy hostility of God toward us because of our sins, we should…

Hebrews 10:22-2722 “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith”23 “let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”24 “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” 25 not forsaking our own assembling together… but encouraging one another”

Atonement is Central to the Identity and Legacy of Jesus

Jesus: the Lamb of GodJohn 1:29 “John saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Revelation 5:11–12 There were “thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Jesus is called the Lamb 32x in the book of Revelation

Hebrews 8-10

The main purpose of Christ’s death was penal substitutionary

atonement

Penal- Jesus was taking the penalty from God the Father against sin.Substitutionary- Jesus was taking the penalty as a substitute for sinners: you and I.Atonement- Jesus’ death appeased the holy hostility of God toward us because of our sin

Atonement was Essential an unjust judge.Romans 3:25–26God displayed Jesus “publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

God’s desire was to justify us:

to declare us “not guilty” of sin and forgive us

God’s character demanded that He be just and punish

our sin

God was able to punish our sin and to forgive us at the same time because of the atoning death of

Jesus. Jesus appeased the holy hostility of God against

us.

NIV “sacrifice of atonement”

What does Jesus’ death for our sins tell us about God’s love for

us?

What does Jesus’ death for our sins tell us about our sin?

What does Jesus’ death for our sins tell us about God’s justice?

Results of the Atonement:

1) Debt Paid- Forgiveness of our sins

2) Credit Added- Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness

3) Fellowship- Acquittal, Acceptance, Access

Date Description Amount Balance

04/23Credit Added: Jesus

transferring his righteousness to

Greg1000.00 USD 1,000.00

04/23Debt Paid: Jesus

paying Greg’s debt on the cross

265.00 USD 0.00

04/02 Greg’s Debt for Sin -265.00 USD -265.00

Date Description Amount Balance

04/23Credit Added: Jesus

transferring his righteousness to

Greg1,000.00 USD 1,000.00

04/23Debt Paid: Jesus

paying Greg’s debt on the cross

265.00 USD 0.00

04/02 Greg’s Debt for Sin -265.00 USD -265.00

Results of the Atonement:

1) Debt Paid- Forgiveness of our sins

2) Credit Added- Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness

3) Fellowship- Acquittal, Acceptance, Access

-It required humility and faith of the sinner.

-It required the death of an innocent substitute.

-It was a prerequisite to fellowship and worship.

-It resulted in acceptance by and access to God.

Romans 3:25–26 God displayed Jesus “publicly as a sacrifice of atonement in His blood… so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Atonement