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Aug 08, 2024 18:00pm

What Now?: Atonement

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The following comes from the devotional book “What Now?” by Ashley Akers. To learn more, go to www.whatnowdevo.com.

Atonement

Atonement. What does that strange looking word even mean? It is described as “satisfaction or payment for a wrong”.

You may be sitting there wondering if you have ever done anything wrong. If that thought even crosses your mind, let me just kindly say, you are in denial. Of course you have done wrong things. Who hasn’t? When it comes to doing and being all that I should, I’m certain I mess up every single day; and regrettably, that won’t change tomorrow. There was only one person born perfect, and it wasn’t me! Nobody had to teach any of us how to do bad things. Nobody taught my precious little 4-year-old girl to hide chocolate from me and then lie about eating it—despite the evidence all over her face. I didn’t teach her to lie, but I do have to teach her to tell the truth, and at times that teaching involves punishment for lying.

Here’s the thing; we all sin or do wrong. We generally get that part. But do you realize that there is a price that must be paid for sin? This is where that strange looking word atonement comes into the picture. The Bible is made up of two different sections; the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament and in the beginning of the New Testament until Jesus’ death, people had to sacrifice an animal, shedding its’ blood, for the atonement (payment) of their sins. And it couldn’t be just any animal. They needed to bring a perfect animal, without any kind of blemish. When they sacrificed the animal, God was willing to forgive their sins.

“So, why don’t we still have to do that?” you may be wondering. It’s because God provided the ULTIMATE sacrifice, His Son Jesus Christ, who forever atoned for our sin and satisfied the requirements of God. Romans 3:23-25 says:

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood….

Jesus died on a cross, shedding His blood, for both you and me. Now, when we ask Him for forgiveness, our slate is wiped clean of all our sin—even the one you think is too bad or unforgiveable. Jesus paid the price for all sin, and there is not any sin beyond His blood. Atonement becomes a beautiful word when we understand how Jesus lost His life to save ours and because of His love, we give our lives to Him.

Reflection Questions

1. Are you holding on to any sins because you think they are too big for Jesus to forgive?

2. Use your Bible or Bible app to read 1 Peter 3:18. What emotions well up inside of you when you think about Christ suffering and dying for your sins?