Foundations of Faith
Atonement (I)
This little ditty describes the thinking of many so-called Christians today. But as we have seen in the last several issues, man today is still as bad and sinful as the Bible describes him to be (Rom. 3:10-23). And God is still as holy and intolerant of sin as the Bible describes Him to be (Hab. 1:13; Isa. 6:1-5). Because of man’s sin and God’s holy hatred of sin, God has prepared eternal punishment for sinners (Matt. 8:12; 18:8,9; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:11-15). In view of this, is there any hope for mankind? Or are we all doomed to eternal darkness and separation from God because of our sin?
The Bible’s answers to these all-important questions are centered around the doctrine of atonement. In its simplest form, this doctrine can be stated in five one-syllable words:”Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3). However, there are two major sides to this doctrine (propitiation and substitution, as we shall see in the next issue), as well as many fine details. May the Lord help us to come to a clear and correct understanding of what the Bible teaches about atonement.
We immediately run up against a problem when we try to give a definition of the word “atonement.” This is an English word derived from two simple words-“at one.” Man is separated from God and an enemy of God because of sin (Isa. 59:2; Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21). He needs to be made “at one” with God or “reconciled” to God (2 Cor. 5:20). The problem lies in the fact that the word “atonement” as found in the Old Testament does not mean “reconciliation” (although reconciliation of man with God is surely one of the results of atonement).
The Hebrew words translated “to atone” or “atonement” throughout the Old Testament basically mean “to cover” or “covering.” Since the word atonement is so commonly heard in our prayers, hymns, and Bible studies, we shall continue to use it. We just need to keep in mind that the word refers to our sins being covered rather than our “at-one-ment” with God.
The concept of atonement is introduced to us in Genesis 3. God provided coverings of animal skins for Adam and Eve after they had sinned. Adam and Eve had tried to provide their own covering with fig leaves, but God’s covering was based on the killing of an animal-the shedding of blood.
We read much in the Old Testament about God’s requirement of animal sacrifices to make atonement for the sins of His people. “It is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11). These sacrifices, though imperfect in themselves (Heb. 10:1-4), pointed the sinners forward to the One Perfect Sacrifice of God’s provision, and so provided a covering for man’s sins in the eyes of a holy God. In Abraham’s offering of Isaac on the altar, we have a hint that God’s purpose in atonement was the sacrifice of a human being. The Prophet Isaiah further developed this idea, foretelling the sufferings and death of a man on behalf of sinners. (See Assignment 1)
Still the question remained:where could be found a human being who fulfilled the Old Testament types and qualified as a sinless sin-bearer? The answer is revealed in the New Testament. All of the Old Testament sacrifices were types and pictures that had their fulfillment in the sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ:
1. The animals offered as sacrifices could not have any physical defect (Lev. 1:3; Num. 19:2). Christ had no moral or spiritual defect, being totally without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5).
2. The animals were to be taken from the people’s flocks and herds, rather than wild beasts that had to be hunted down and captured (Lev. 1:2). Christ offered Himself as a willing Victim (Luke 22:42; John 18:3-6).
3. The animal’s blood was shed (Lev. 1:5). Christ’s blood was shed (John 19:34).
4. The animal was killed (Lev. 1:5). Christ died (John 19:30.33).
In the sacrificial death of Christ we have elements that take us far above and beyond the types and shadows of animal sacrifices:
1. The animals apparently were killed quickly and painlessly, whereas Christ suffered greatly before He died (Luke 24:46; 1 Pet. 2:21). Not only did He suffer from man (see the Dec96 issue), but He particularly suffered from the hand of God. He suffered as the sinless sin-bearer (Psa. 40:12; 69:5; 2 Cor. 5:21). He experienced the wrath and judgment of God (Psa. 42:7; 88:7,16; 102:10; Lam. 1:12). He was forsaken by God (Psa. 22:1,2; 69:20; Matt. 27:46).
2. Christ, being the Son of God, was infinite (Job 5:9; Psa. 147:5), and thus could suffer infinitely for our sins.
Spotless Man, uniquely fair,
God Eternal from above,
Suffered infinitely there-
Mighty, quenchless, deathless love.
3. While the animals were killed by man, Christ laid down His own life (John 10:15-18).
At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on a great plain before God’s throne. Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the front talked heatedly-not with cringing shame, but with belligerence.
“Can God judge us? How can He know about suffering?” snapped a pert young brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. “We endured terror, beatings, torture and death!” In another group, an African- American man lowered his collar. “What about this?” he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. “Lynched-for no crime but being black!” In another crowd, there was a pregnant schoolgirl with sullen eyes. “Why should I suffer?” she murmured. “It wasn’t my fault.”
Far out across the plain there were hundreds of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for the evil and suffering He had permitted in His world. How lucky God was to live in heaven where all was sweetness and light, where there was no weeping or fear, no hunger or hatred. What did God know of all that man had been forced to endure in this world? God leads a pretty sheltered life, they said.
So each of these groups sent forth their leader, chosen because he had suffered the most. A Jew, an African-American, a person from Hiroshima, a horribly deformed arthritic, a youth with severe birth defects. In the center of the plain they consulted with each other. At last they were ready to present their case. It was rather clever. Before God could be qualified to be their judge, He must endure what they had endured. The decision was that God should be sentenced to live upon earth as a man!
“Let Him be born a Jew. Let the legitimacy of His birth be doubted. Give Him a work so difficult that even His family will think Him out of His mind when He tries to do it. Let Him be betrayed by His closest friends. Let Him face false charges, be tried by a prejudiced jury, and convicted by a cowardly judge. Let Him be tortured. At the last, let Him see what it means to be terribly alone. Then let Him die. Let Him die so that there can be no doubt that He died. Let there be a host of witnesses to verify it.”
As each leader announced his portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval went up from the throng of people assembled. And when the last had finished pronouncing sentence, there was a long silence. No one uttered another word. No one moved. For suddenly all knew that God had already served His sentence.
(Taken from Understanding the Trinity by Alister E. McGrath. Copyright (c) 1988 by Alister E. McGrath. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.)
Running the Race
Assignment 1: Write out four verses in Isaiah 53 that speak of one making atonement, that is, suffering on behalf of the sins of others.