The idea that almsgiving atones for sins does not negate the doctrine of
atonement through the shed blood of Jesus.
Jesus shed blood atones for all sins saving for the sin of unbelief.
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This atonement is for and between God and man.
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It restores our original relationship with God.
The shed blood of Jesus does not atone for sins committed against other
people.
The following example will serve our purposes:
Giving to The Poor
If God has directed you to give to the poor, failure to give is a sin against
both God who gave you the command, and against the person or persons to
whom you would not give.
The shed blood of Jesus has already atoned for your sin against God. When
that sin is realized, the individual need only confess it to God and receive
God’s forgiveness.
However, the person to whom the alms was supposed to be given has also
been sinned against.
The shed blood of Jesus does not atone for the sin against this poor fellow.
The only way to atone to this person for the withholding of alms due him
by the direct command of God is to pay the alms.
This is a principle that should be applied to all areas of our human interaction.
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Feeding the hungry atones for sins.
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Clothing the naked atones for sins.
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Transporting the elderly atones for sins.
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Sharing the gospel message atones for sins.
