Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Lent Words Day 13: Atonement


"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—"
Romans 3:25

Webster's dictionary defines atonement as: "Reparation (making amends for, payment for) an offense or injury; reparation for sin; the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ." Synonyms for atonement are: Penance, redemption, amends, payment, propitiation, restitution.

In the Old Testament the shed blood of sacrificial animals as offerings brought about atonement. The animal substituted, took the place of the person's sin. In the New Testament the shed blood of Jesus on the cross brought atonement, once and for all (Hebrews 10:12). We see this description of atonement in today's passage in Romans 3:25. Let's look at it in its context. Romans 3:21-26:

"21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

I'm just going to walk through this passage as I would when I study it and let it speak for itself - with a few notes for definition's sake.

A righteousness apart from the law (works done to earn God's favor) has been revealed - 
a righteousness that is given by God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. 
ALL of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
And ALL are justified (made right, made righteous) freely - through no work or standing of their own - we are made right with God by God's grace through the redemption (deliverance from our sin) that came by Jesus Christ. 
You see, God presented (offered, gave up) Jesus Christ as an atonement (payment for our sins) through the shedding of His blood, which is to be received (it is a gift) by faith. 
He did this to show (reveal, make known) His righteousness, because in his forbearance (refraining from enforcing the payment of a debt, overlooking for the time being) he had left  the sins committed beforehand unpunished - He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just (righteous, virtuous) and the one who justifies (makes righteous) those who have faith in Jesus.

Jesus took our place as a sacrifice of atonement for our sin. Jesus paid it all, once and for all.


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