Atonement

“For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” – Leviticus 16:30

For there to be atonement, there must first be an act of sin.  The scripture tells us that the law was our “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.”  What an effective teacher it is! Under the law, blood was shed for the atonement for sins committed.  The blood of the animal was meant to atone for the sins of the offeror. 

It was early and often that the Israelites came to offer atonement for their sin.  Why so early, and so often?  Because they kept on sinning.  Why did they keep on sinning?  Because the blood could not make the “comers thereunto perfect.” (Heb 10:1) The blood of animals could not purge from the conscience the “dead works” of sin.  There was a nature in every man that could not be eradicated by the works of the law.  The stain of sin was too deep, you might say, for the blood of bulls and goats to cleanse.  It was Jesus who would come to destroy the works of the devil so says first John: “For this purpose the son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.”(1 John 3:7-9)  The blood of Christ is an instrument of eradication, not a blanket of toleration.  The stain of sin was inherited and embedded in the very fabric of our being.  It manifested itself in fornication, adultery, covetousness, violence, malice, and many such sins.  Injuring, tormenting, and enslaving mankind since the fall of Adam.  Mankind’s capacity for evil and destruction emulates “our father the devil.”  For this, no atonement was available before Jesus.  If you don’t have Jesus, though you strive to do right, it is only a matter of time before you find yourself overcome by an evil inclination within.  No amount of discipline or will power can combat this!  That sin rooted within produces sin committed without.  If we lived under the law, you would go back to the priest with your best offering (and guilt) in hand.  Now we see our school master teaching us; showing us that atonement is needed.  Not needed only for committed sin, but for the inclination to sin, for the inbred sin.  We also see the need for a Savior.  A blood that cleanses and eradicates all sin.  This Savior is Jesus.  The wrongful acts, and inherited sin is an offense against a holy God.  It has been atoned for by the free will offering of Jesus Christ.  The blood is enough and more than enough.  This offering is applied to our hearts only by faith.  No longer do we need to go to a priest or temple, through faith, simple faith, we go to God directly in prayer and repent of our sins.  He forgives, because of Jesus.  Then we ask for the Holy Spirit to sanctify our hearts.  He does, because of Jesus.  We can then live free from sin each day through the power and with obedience to the Holy Spirit.  Jesus paid the price we could not pay, accomplished the work we could not perform, and stands before the Father as an advocate for us.  Not an advocate to defend our sin, but to plead our case, acquit our charges, and change our nature. 

There is no reason for you to live in sin.  It is your choice.  You can be free.  Free from guilt, shame, and bondage.  You can walk in peace and holiness before Almighty God.  In a living and loving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Walking in communion with the Holy Spirit and having assurance of a home in heaven.  All because of the sacrifice of Christ and his blessed atonement.