The Word “Atonement”
What does the Old Testament teach us about the important doctrine of atonement? The word in English literally means “at-one-ment’. The early English translators of the Bible tried to find a word that expressed what Old Testament teaches. Because there was no English word available, they created this word.
Sin Separates Us from God
The Old Testament teaches that sin – whether intentional or unintentional – results in consequences. Sin is the refusal to walk in the way God designed for us. Among the consequences of so doing is separation from God. Fellowship is broken between us and him. So the Old Testament asks: how can those consequences be reversed? What has to happen for us to be at one with God again?
Sin Must Be Blotted Out
The answer is that sin has to be covered over. In Psalm 51:1, the writer prays, “Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” Blotting involves pouring something over a stain to cover and even remove it. The Old Testament word translated “atonement” means “to cover over.” So how do we cover over or blot out sin? How do we remove the effects of sin to restore that life-giving fellowship with God?
The Old Testament Atonement Ritual
God revealed to the ancient Hebrews that the only sufficient covering for sin is blood. Blood represents life. Only life can blot out death. So various Old Testament rituals involve priests sprinkling blood. On the Day of Atonement every fall, the people of Israel celebrated that God had preserved their life again through a good harvest. But they also fasted and wept for the sins they had committed during the past year. The high priest went into the holiest place in the temple, where the Ark of the Covenant resided. The Ark was a box containing the written covenant that represented Israel’s relationship with God. The people had sinned against the requirements of that covenant, so they must face the consequences. But as the priest sprinkled blood on the cover of the box, the blood made atonement (Leviticus 16:14-16, Hebrews 9:7). It covered over the sins of another year. Life blotted out death so the people could have fellowship with God.
Atonement Through Jesus Christ
That ancient atonement ritual prefigured what God was to do, not just symbolically, but in fact. Jesus Christ shed his blood in death so that his life – the life of God himself – blotted out the sins of his people.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you think “atonement” is a good word to describe the Old Testament process of covering over sin? Why or why not?
- Why does sin separate us from fellowship with God?
- Why do you think blood is such an important symbol of atonement?
- Read Hebrews 9:11-12 and Hebrews 9:25-26. How is the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross superior to the Old Testament sacrifices?
- The video says, “Sacrifices are not for people who want to live like hell and still go to heaven.” Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
