Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Exodus 32:30 Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."
ATONEMENT -- MEANS BY WHICH CHRIST RECONCILED US
As we noted yesterday, our English Bibles use the word "atonement" to describe the result or effect that flows from the death of Christ in our place. Jesus has reconciled us sinners to God, so that we who were at odds with God are now at one in His Son. So atonement is an English word (not derived from the Greek or Latin) that describes just what it says -- AT-ONE-ment -- the state of being at one or reconciled.
But that is not the only way the Scriptures use this word "atonement". After Israel's idolatry in connection with the golden calf, Moses told the people he was going back up Mt. Sinai and try to "make atonement" for their sin. Here the word is used to describe the means by which a reconciliation is brought about. In this case, Moses placed before the LORD His own promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And the heart of God's original promise to the patriarchs was, of course, all wrapped up in the promise of the Savior.
So God did forgive Israel -- did so in view of and on the basis of the atonement that would be made by the promised Christ. God forgave the sin of Israel at Mt. Sinai because of the atonement made by Jesus on Mt. Calvary. And when Jesus made atonement for Israel's sin He made atonement, He made satisfaction, for your sins and mine as well.
Thou hast suffered great affliction And hast borne it patiently,
Even death by crucifixion, Fully to atone for me;
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
