© Copyright July 28, 2004,
Bernie L. Gillespie. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book/paper may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without written permission from the author.
The Importance of Atonement
When we talk about the Cross, we are
addressing the doctrine of the Atonement. We find the most frequent
use of the word atonement in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and
Deuteronomy. All of the teaching on atonement found in the Bible is
rooted in the teaching found in these three books. The need for
atonement arises from the reality of sin. The Bible overwhelming
speaks of Mankind as sinful. Sin consists of the personal violation
of God through the breaking of His law. God’s character is impugned
by our rejection of His sovereign rule through his law. God is
clearly pictured as angry, in holy wrath, against all sin. This is
because sin is a deadly threat to the whole Creation. All are
sinners, and sin is viewed as our most serious malady. Sin places us
in a grave situation because the wrath of God is against us. God
tells throughout Scripture that He will judge and punish all who
break his law, unless they accept the atonement He prescribes. In
this way atonement is a satisfaction of God’s law. It is a
propitiation because it mitigates the anger of God. Atonement is an
expiation because the guilt of the sinner is removed. A result of
atonement is reconciliation, because the relationship between God
and Humanity is restored.
The primary form of atonement in the Bible is substitutionary and
sacrificial. One is chosen to die for others. The one chosen is
sacrificed or slain in a way that all its blood is spilled. This is
to prove that death has been achieved. This is why blood is used as
a symbol for the work of the Cross in the New Testament. The blood
of Christ proves his death is achieved and therefore, his work of
atonement for us in complete.
Read the rest of this article in
PDF format at
The
Nature of Biblical Atonement
|
