Atonement

Definition

The Old Testament prepares man's flesh for God’s presence. All the sacrifices for sin were merely atonements, not remission.

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Hebrews 7:22

At-one-ment

The word “atonement” is an Anglo-Saxon term which has the force of “at-one-ment,” a “making at one.” It speaks of a process of bringing those who are enemies into harmony and unity, and thus it means reconciliation.

Forgiveness

Remission (forgiveness) depends upon just payment of the penalty for sin. The OT sacrifices provided this typically, and prophetically looked forward to the final sacrifice of Christ (of. Acts 17:30; Romans 3:25).

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh. Hebrews 9:13

ATONEMENT in the Hebrew merely meant to “cover over.”  Forgiveness of those sins existed, but the “sin” was not paid for until Jesus Christ died on the cross.

REMISSION in the Greek means a passing by of debt, a dismissal. Jesus paid for the sins of all mankind, past, present and future! Price paid.  “It is finished!”

• 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
• Galatians 5:16-26
• Romans 8:1-16

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past... Romans 3:24-25

• Old Testament sacrifices had to be offered daily for sin.
• Redemption had to be bought every year.
• The law insisted that the priest was the one to do the sacrifice.

The priest had to sanctify the people.

In the Old Testament God showed up for short visits.

That is why David wrote in Psalm 51:11

Cast me not away from thy presence, O Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from me!

David was serious.  God came and went.  When he needed to use David for a task he would fall upon him and when the job was done he would leave.  David liked God in him best!

The people of the Old Testament could only walk in the flesh, and prepared themselves for God through works!

• God had to meet them on their level - the flesh.

The New Testament or Covenant is a better Covenant.

We now prepare for God's presence by cleaning our hearts and minds. Instead of God dwelling in the tabernacle, he now dwells in us.

• We are his temple of dwelling.

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1. God expects us to walk in the Spirit.

2. We can have a personal relationship with all three persons of the trinity.

3. Redemption is by faith through Grace by believing and confessing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. We confess our sins and God forgives us of our sins and cleans us of all unrighteousness.

5. God dwells in us.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12