There are several words used to describe our relationship to God and all that happened the day we were saved. Words like salvation, redemption, forgiveness, sanctification, and perhaps others which the Bible uses to indicate all that changed on that day. Each of these emphasize what transpired at the time when we were washed in His blood. Another word that is used is atonement, and it emphasizes that which those other words do not express. As you will see in this article, the word atonement indicates that removal of the anger of God toward sin and toward sinners.
David said, “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa. 7:11). When we have been wronged by others, we are often greatly upset, but after time passes our anger may subside. Not only are we angry, but so is God. The difference is that God’s anger is not forgotten over time. He is angry every day. He is as angry every day like we both were angry when it first happened. How can His anger be appeased? What can sinful man do to remove that anger? The answer is that His wrath can be assuaged by an atoning sacrifice that will deal with His response especially to our sin.
In the Old Testament, sin offerings were made at the temple every day as an atonement for sin. God said, “You shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement” (Ex. 29:36). Every year on the tenth day of the seventh month, there was a vital part of the Jews’ relationship with God when on that day the high priest went inside the Most Holy Place to offer an atoning sacrifice of blood. “And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns (the horns of the altar,) once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement” (Ex. 30:10).
God was so angry at the sin involving the golden calf that He was about to destroy all the Jews, had it not been for Moses who said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sins” (Ex. 32:30). Atonement removes His anger.
Space forbids giving all the details showing atonement from the sins of Korah, Dathan and Abriam (Num. 16:46) or in what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did to atone for the shameful sin brought into Israel on the advice of Balaam, the false prophet (Num. 25:1-13). If you do not know the details of these two incidents, you will not understand atonement.
Thanks be to our God! The blood of bulls and goats brought only temporary atonement, but the blood of the Lamb brings our complete and eternal atonement. He is not angry even one day for our sins. He does not even remember them!
-Dan Jenkins
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