Atonement

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This term is not found in the New Testament, but the truth of it surely is. (The text in the KJV in Romans 5:1111And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11) mistakenly states “atonement,” but it should be “reconciliation.”) Bible teachers use the word “atonement” in reference to the work that Christ accomplished on the cross in the putting away of sin(s) by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)).
The word “atonement” (“kaphar” in the Hebrew) means to cover (Lev. 16:6, 10-11, 16-18, 276And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. (Leviticus 16:6)
10But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 11And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: (Leviticus 16:10‑11)
16And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. (Leviticus 16:16‑18)
27And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. (Leviticus 16:27), etc.). The sacrifices for sin in the Old Testament did that; they “covered” the sins of the people before God (Psa. 32:11<<A Psalm of David, Maschil.>> Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)). But those sacrifices could not “take away” sins (Heb. 10:44For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)). Such required an infinitely greater sacrifice than that “of bulls and of goats.” Today, on account of Christ’s finished work on the cross, the sins of those who believe are “put away” (Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)) and “taken away” (1 John 3:55And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)). Since Christ’s finished work has accomplished much more than providing a covering for sin, the word “atonement” drops off in the New Testament when Christ’s death is in view. Instead, the two parts of His finished work are focused on:
•  Propitiation—meets God’s holy claims against sin.
•  Substitution—meets our guilt.
In Romans 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25), J. N. Darby translates "propitiation" (in the KJV) as "mercy-seat." The Apostle Paul's point in this verse is that God has set forth Christ as the Mercy Seat in the gospel testimony. The mercy seat in the Old Testament sacrificial system was the place where God met with His people on the ground of the blood of a victim—a sacrifice (Ex. 25:21-2221And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:21‑22); Lev. 16:1414And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. (Leviticus 16:14)). The blood on the mercy seat illustrates (typically) what the gospel announces—that propitiation has been made. Christ glorified on high is now the divine meeting Place for all in the world to come and be saved. He is not on the cross today, but is risen and seated on high in glory. He is there as an Object of testimony for all to believe. Hence, the sinner desiring to be saved does not come to a dying Saviour on the cross, but to a risen Saviour on high. The apostles preached Christ as such (a risen Saviour) throughout the book of the Acts (Acts 4:10-12; 5:29-32; 10:38-43; 13:22-39; 16:3110Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10‑12)
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:29‑32)
38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; 41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:38‑43)
22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:22‑39)
31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
This refers to the side of Christ's work on the cross that has to do with His taking our guilty place under the judgment of God, and thus bore our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). Propitiation is for the whole world (1 John 2:22And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)), but substitution applies only to those who believe. The actual word “substitution” is not in the Bible, but the truth of it is found in many places. For instance, when the believer’s side of Christ’s work (substitution) is in view in Scripture, it will say, "many"—referring to the many who believe (Isa. 53:11-1211He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:11‑12); Matt. 20:28; 26:2828Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)
28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28); John 17:22As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (John 17:2); Rom. 5:1919For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19); Heb. 2:10; 9:2810For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)
28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)). Or, it will say, "us," "our," or "we"—again referring to that same company of believers (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25); 1 Cor. 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3); 1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24); Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5), etc.). Isaiah 53 mentions Christ's substitutionary work ten times—verses: 5 (four times), 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 (twice).
A frequent error in preaching today is in telling lost sinners that Christ died for their sins. If this erroneous statement is worked out to its logical conclusion, it makes God to be unjust in His dealings with men! If indeed Christ has borne the judgment for the sins of all men, then God would not judge any sinner for his sins, because the price has been paid for them. Therefore, announcing to an audience of unbelievers that Christ died for their sins, or that Christ bore their sins, is false. He only bore the sins of those who believe—the “many” (Isa. 53:1212Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12); Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)). Out of this mistaken idea comes the thought that in the day of judgment God will not judge the unbeliever for his sins, because that has been settled at the cross. The question in that day (they think) will simply be whether a person has received Christ or not. If they haven't received Him in faith, then they will be judged on that basis, as a rejecter of Christ. This, however, is not the truth of Scripture which says that the lost will be judged "according to their works" (Rev. 20:12-1512And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12‑15)). As a rule, in the gospel we are to preach propitiation to the world (1 Tim. 2:66Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)), and upon sinners believing the message of God’s grace, we are to teach them the truth of substitution for their peace.
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Romans 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25) gives God's side of Christ's work on the cross, emphasizing propitiation, whereas Romans 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25) gives the believer's side of Christ's work on the cross, emphasizing substitution. In 1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18), the Apostle Peter linked these things together, and then added to it the truth of reconciliation. He said, “Christ suffered for us (propitiation), the Just for the unjust (substitution), that He might bring us to God” (reconciliation).
The two parts in atonement are illustrated in the sacrifices made on the Day of Atonement. Atonement was first made for Aaron’s house (Lev. 16:11-1411And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 12And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: 14And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. (Leviticus 16:11‑14)), which typifies the Church as a company of priests (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5); Rev. 1:66And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)) and then for the house of Israel (Lev. 16:15-2215Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:15‑22)), which is a type of the remnant of Israel coming into the blessing of Christ’s work on the cross in a coming day (Rom. 11:2626And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26)). The order of this is significant; it indicates that the Church comes into the good of the atonement that Christ made on the cross before the remnant of Israel will. While atonement was made twice in the chapter (on behalf of these two companies), it typifies the one work of atonement the Lord made on the cross.
In each case, there was that which speaks of propitiation and substitution. In regard to Aaron’s house, a bullock was brought to the altar and killed, and its blood was sprinkled “upon” the mercy seat before God (vs. 14a). This typifies propitiation. Then, seven drops of blood were placed on the ground “before” the mercy seat, where the priests (Aaron’s sons) stood and ministered (vs. 14b). This typifies substitution.
In regard to the house of Israel, one of two goats that had been taken for the work was brought to the altar and killed, and its blood was put “upon” the mercy seat. This speaks of propitiation. Then, the live goat had the sins of the people confessed over it, and it was let go to run away into the wilderness (vss. 21-22). This typifies the sins of the children of Israel being confessed (Psa. 69:55O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. (Psalm 69:5)) and borne away (Isa. 53:1212Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)) by Christ on the cross as their Substitute. When the remnant of Israel comes into the good of this in a coming day, they will understand that their sins have been removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psa. 103:1212As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)). W. Kelly said, “Atonement consists of two parts, united for us in the bullock, and for Israel in the two goats of Leviticus 16, which set forth Jehovah’s part in propitiation and the people’s in substitution (The Bible Herald, vol. 1, p. 234).
Noah’s ark, which was God’s means of saving Noah and his family, also typifies these two parts in atonement. In making the ark, Noah was to “pitch it within and without with pitch” (Gen. 6:1414Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. (Genesis 6:14)). “Pitch” is the same word as “atone” in the Hebrew. It is what made the ark impervious to the rain (judgment) that came against it. God saw the pitch on the outside, and Noah’s family saw the pitch on the inside. This typifies propitiation and substitution.
While Scripture distinguishes Christ’s atoning sufferings, His atoning death, and His atoning blood, God intends that we should take them as one work. Many have gotten into serious error by separating these three things from one another. As a rule, we should distinguish them, but not separate them.