Necessity and nature of atonement

Atonement is necessary because of human sinfulness

Atonement is necessary because sin cuts people off from God

Isaiah 59:2 NASB95

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

See also Is 64:7; Eze 39:23; Hab 1:13; Jn 9:31

Atonement is necessary because sin provokes God’s wrath

Ephesians 2:1–3 NASB95

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

See also Ge 6:5–7; Ex 32:30–35; Ro 1:18–20; Ro 2:8

God’s gracious nature is the basis for atonement

Atonement is grounded in God’s reluctance to punish sinners

Ezekiel 18:32 NASB95

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”

See also Eze 33:11; 1 Ti 2:1–4; 2 Pe 3:9

Atonement is grounded in God’s readiness to forgive sin

Ex 34:6–7 The punishment of subsequent generations makes God’s abhorrence of sin quite clear, but the extension of his love and forgiveness “to thousands” puts the emphasis in these verses on God’s grace and compassion.

See also Ps 145:8; Da 9:9; Jon 4:2

Atonement is grounded in God’s covenant love

Nu 14:19 The Hebrew word for “great love” means God’s loving faithfulness to those within the covenant.

See also Ps 25:6–7; Ps 103:8–12; Joe 2:13

God’s provision of atonement is a means of dealing with sin

Atonement through sacrifice

Leviticus 9:7 NASB95

Moses then said to Aaron, “Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, that you may make atonement for yourself and for the people; then make the offering for the people, that you may make atonement for them, just as the Lord has commanded.”

See also Ex 30:10; Nu 15:22–26

God’s promised new covenant of forgiveness was fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s atoning death

Hebrews 10:16–17 NASB95

“This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

See also Je 31:33–34; Mt 26:28; Heb 9:15; Heb 12:24

Images used to portray the at-one-ment, or restored relationship, between God and humanity

Atonement as forgiveness of sins

Ephesians 1:7–8 NASB95

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight

See also Le 19:22; Ac 13:38; Col 2:13–14

Atonement as cleansing and purification

Leviticus 16:30 NASB95

for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.

See also Is 6:6–7; Tt 2:14; 1 Jn 1:7; Re 7:14

Atonement as reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:19 NASB95

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

See also Ro 5:9–11; Eph 2:14–16

Atonement as healing

1 Peter 2:24 NASB95

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

See also 2 Ch 7:14; Ps 103:2–3; Is 53:5

Atonement as God buying people back for himself

Revelation 5:9 NASB95

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

See also Mt 20:28; Ac 20:28; 1 Pe 1:18–19

Atonement as making holy: creating a relationship of consecrated nearness to God

Hebrews 10:10 NASB95

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

See also Col 1:22; Heb 13:12