There’s a significant distinction between atonement and forgiveness, even though they are often discussed together. They’re both about God’s plan to bring us back to Him, but they work in different ways. Think of it this way: God sincerely wants to be close to His people again, to mend the broken relationship between Heaven and Earth. Atoning sacrifices were a way to show His grace, not to punish His people. Atoning sacrifices created a path for that relationship to be healed.
(Leviticus 17:11)1NIV New International Version Translations – “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Understanding the laws of Israel’s sacrificial system can be challenging, but they’re a crucial part of the Bible’s narrative about humanity’s relationship with God. God explains that life is in the blood, and He gave blood to His people so they could make atonement for themselves on the altar. It is blood that makes atonement for one’s life. This system wasn’t about earning God’s favor; instead, atonement was a gift from God to humanity. Ultimately, the sacrificial system shows God’s grace.
Atonement (Hebrew: kippur – “to cover, to purge, to cleanse”; Greek: hilasmos – “propitiation, expiation”) is the act by which a wrong is rectified, a penalty is paid, or a breach is mended. Our Bible uses the concept of atonement to address the root cause of the separation between God and humanity (sin). It’s the process by which reconciliation is made possible.
The concept of atonement may seem complex, but it’s a fundamental idea that explains how people can have a relationship with God. In the Old Testament, God set up a detailed system of animal sacrifices. When people sinned, an animal was sacrificed to “cover” those sins. This was especially important on a special day called Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. These sacrifices didn’t permanently atone for sins, but they allowed God to dwell among His people, even though they weren’t perfect. These animal sacrifices were a foreshadowing – a preview of something much bigger to come.
Jesus: The Ultimate Atonement
The New Testament reveals that the ultimate act of atonement is made possible through Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus’s death on the cross was the perfect and final sacrifice. His death paid the penalty for all human sin. It’s as if Jesus took all the dire consequences of our wrongdoing upon Himself. This act satisfies God’s perfect justice regarding sin, meaning that the debt of sin is fully paid.
Atonement matters because sin creates a barrier between God and humanity. It’s an objective reality that keeps us from truly connecting with a holy God. Jesus’ death broke down this barrier. It doesn’t just make forgiveness possible; it’s the very foundation upon which God offers forgiveness to everyone.
Therefore, atonement is about God. Because of His love for us, He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him by dealing with the problem of sin once and for all through His Son, Jesus. Atonement deals with the objective reality of sin and the barrier between God and humanity. It makes forgiveness possible by addressing the legal and moral implications of sin. It’s the foundation upon which forgiveness is offered.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness (Hebrew: nasa – “to lift, to carry away”; Greek: aphesis – “release, dismissal”) is the act of pardoning an offense, releasing the offender from the penalty or consequences that would otherwise be due. It’s the decision to no longer hold a wrong against someone. God’s forgiveness is a divine declaration, erasing our sins and restoring us to Himself; human forgiveness, a profound act of grace, liberates us from the chains of bitterness and the desire for revenge, mirroring God’s boundless compassion.
God’s forgiveness is possible because of what Jesus did on the cross. Think of it this way: Jesus paid the price for all our wrongdoings through his sacrifice. Because that “payment” has been made, God can fairly and rightly forgive anyone who chooses to turn away from their sins (repent) and trust in Jesus (believe). Repentance and acceptance are requirements for Salvation.
Why Understanding Atonement and Forgiveness is Essential
It is essential to grasp the profound truth at the heart of our faith: the remarkable balance between God’s perfect justice and boundless mercy. Atonement reveals that sin is never trivial; it carries a real cost. God, in His absolute righteousness, cannot simply overlook it. Yet, in an astonishing display of grace, He provides the way for that cost to be met, offering us a complete pardon.
Without the atonement—specifically, Christ’s ultimate sacrifice—the forgiveness we know as Christians wouldn’t be possible. It’s not that God couldn’t forgive; rather, His holy nature and perfect justice demand a just satisfaction for sin. And that’s precisely what Jesus’s death accomplished. His sacrifice on the cross is the divine intersection where both justice and mercy are fully upheld, and mercy is freely poured out.
This understanding has immense implications, not just for our relationship with God, but also for our human connections. While atonement is entirely God’s work through Christ, receiving forgiveness requires our response: repentance and faith. Sin cannot be overlooked! Neither can we atone for our sins; instead, we humbly seek and gratefully receive forgiveness, knowing it’s grounded in Christ’s perfect work.
This truth empowers us in our own lives. Because God has so magnificently forgiven us through Christ’s atonement, we are equipped to extend that same grace to others. We can release grudges, let go of bitterness, and truly forgive, knowing that the ultimate payment for all sin has already been made.
In essence, atonement is the foundational work accomplished by Christ that makes reconciliation with God possible. It addresses the problem of sin at its root in an objective manner. Forgiveness, then, is the glorious result and personal application of that work. It’s where the barrier of sin is removed, personal guilt is lifted, and our fellowship with God is beautifully restored for those who respond in faith and repentance. Atonement explains why and how forgiveness can happen; forgiveness is the actual act of being pardoned.
Contemplations
- Suppose God’s perfect justice demands a satisfaction for sin, and Jesus’s death is that satisfaction. Does this imply that without Jesus, God’s justice would inherently prevent Him from showing mercy and forgiving anyone?
- Idea to explore: Consider scenarios where God’s mercy is depicted in the Old Testament before Christ’s sacrifice. How do those instances reconcile with the idea that Christ’s death was essential for justice to be met and forgiveness to be extended? Does it change our understanding of God’s character?
- The text states, “We can never atone for our sins; instead, we humbly seek and gratefully receive forgiveness.” If we are utterly incapable of contributing to our own atonement, does this diminish human responsibility in the ongoing struggle against sin, or does it heighten our dependence on divine grace in a way that can be both liberating and challenging?
- Idea to explore: What are the eternal implications of “not being able to atone for sins” and the biblical calls for personal holiness, striving against sin, and perseverance? If all the “work” is done by God, what then is the ongoing, active role of the believer in their salvation and sanctification?
- 1NIV New International Version Translations