Atonement in NT

The atoning purpose of Jesus Christ’s death

Jesus Christ’s death on behalf of others

John 10:11 NRSV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

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Jesus Christ’s atoning death for sin

1 Corinthians 15:3 NRSV

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,

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The atoning significance of Jesus Christ’s death is expressed by references to his blood

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Jesus Christ’s atoning death is commemorated in the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 NRSV

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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Explanations of the atonement

Jesus Christ’s death as an atoning sacrifice

Romans 3:25 NRSV

whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;

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Jesus Christ’s atoning death as redemption

Mark 10:45 NRSV

For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

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The atonement is effective because of Jesus Christ’s sinlessness

2 Corinthians 5:21 NRSV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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Jesus Christ’s death fulfils and replaces the Day of Atonement

Jesus Christ makes atonement as the new high priest

Hebrews 7:26–28 NRSV

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new and better covenant

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Jesus Christ has made atonement in the true heavenly sanctuary

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Jesus Christ’s atoning blood brings effective cleansing

Hebrews 9:12–14 NRSV

he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

Jesus Christ’s single sacrifice replaces the many required under the old covenant

Hebrews 10:11–14 NRSV

And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Access to the heavenly sanctuary is now open

Hebrews 10:19–20 NRSV

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),

By dying with Christ, believers are released from this age into the life of the age to come

Romans 6:1–7 NRSV

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin.

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God the Father and the atoning death of his Son

God’s sending of his Son to make atonement

1 John 4:14 NRSV

And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.

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God’s grace displayed in making atonement for the ungodly

Ephesians 2:4–5 NRSV

But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

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The worldwide scope of Jesus Christ’s atoning death

1 John 2:2 NRSV

and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

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The appropriate response to the atonement

The response of repentance

Acts 3:19 NRSV

Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,

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The response of faith

Acts 10:43 NRSV

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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The response of baptism

Acts 22:16 NRSV

And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’

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