Aspects of Atonement

The Law of Moses presents an accurate snapshot of God's judgments and statutes.  What is forbidden under Law is contrary to God's good character--like the perversion of justice by receiving bribes.  The assumption God is partial to people based on their "good deeds" is foreign to the kingdom of God, for the LORD commanded in Deuteronomy 16:19-20:  "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. ²⁰ You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you."  The God of gods has revealed He does not regard persons nor receives rewards, for He executes judgment on behalf of all (Deut. 10:17-18).

It is important to understand sacrifice in itself does not and cannot provide atonement for sin.  The passage which speaks of Cain and Abel both offering sacrifices demonstrates God will not receive a sacrifice from one He does not respect--for Cain had no respect for God or His ways.  Under the Law of Moses sinners required the services of a sanctified priest to participate in the offering of sacrifices, and atonement for sin was made by shedding the blood of the prescribed animal.  The Strong's Concordance defines "atonement" as "to cover over, pacify, make propitiation."  Webster's definition gives insight into various aspects of atonement:  "1) Agreement; concord; reconciliation, after enmity or controversy; 2) expiation; satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing or suffering that which is received in satisfaction for an offense or injury."

Atonement for sin requires two major aspects:  coming into agreement with God for reconciliation and making an acceptable payment to satisfy or cover a debt.  Some overlook the first and most important aspect of atonement, assuming payment is the main thing God cares about.  Since God and His righteous standards do not change, it is man who must change by submission to God and choosing to agree with Him.  Without a change of heart that is brought into agreement with God through repentance, any sacrifice offered is in vain.  Psalm 51:17 reads, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  To think God must receive us due to our sacrifices and is thus obligated to deem us in good standing with Him--without consideration of our hearts and motives--is presumptuous and folly.  God is not a respecter of persons but is discerning as Psalm 34:18 says:  "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

We ought to be sorry for our sin, but contrition does not excuse us from paying the price necessary to satisfy justice.  Praise God Jesus (our great High Priest who is righteous in Himself) has provided the required means of atonement through His shed blood, and all who repent and trust in Him can be born again, forgiven and receive eternal life by the Gospel.  See how there must be humble agreement with God coupled with a price paid to receive atonement for sin?  This is one reason why the death and resurrection of Jesus will not have a saving effect for those who will not receive Him.  Like Cain who would not submit or humble himself before God, their good deeds will not benefit them.  We Christians ought to rejoice that while we were enemies of God we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son Jesus, and having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life through whom we received atonement (Romans 5:10-11).