Defining Atonement
Atonement is a central foundation of the Christian faith; a concept that explains why faith in the Messiah even matters. Upon researching the concept of atonement, I found that explanations for what atonement means varies depending on denominational church teachings. In this post we will review the seven different theories of atonement commonly taught and discuss the inconsistencies with each theory when tested against the whole of scripture. We will look at definitions of words as well as examine literary devices commonly used by New Testament writers. Overall, each section will look to the scriptures to uncover what Messiah’s atonement truly means in light of the Word. I will warn you, there will be parts that may go against something that you’ve always heard and hold dear to your heart. But, I encourage you to test each point for yourself. Learning and growing in understanding is a good and necessary thing. Keep in mind that each theory sounds good! It sounds right and heart warming and convincing, but as we go through this study, you will begin to see that although each theory may hold a portion of the truth, there is a great deal of the truth left out. My heart is for you to have the whole truth. The whole truth about the significance of Messiah’s atonement will bring about an even greater appreciation and praise to His name, as well as a more solid understanding of the gospel of the Kingdom to strengthen your faith.
The Theories
The Moral Influence Theory: In this theory, the cross is merely a ramification of the moral life of Jesus. He is crucified as a martyr due to the radical nature of His moral example. In this way, the Moral Influence theory emphasizes Jesus Christ as our teacher, our example, our founder and leader, and ultimately, as a result, our first martyr. Augustine from the 4th century affirmed the Moral Influence theory as the main theory of the Atonement.
The Ransom Theory: This theory finds its roots in the Early Church, particularly in Origen from the 3rd century. This theory essentially teaches that Jesus Christ died as a ransom sacrifice, paid either to Satan or to God the Father. Jesus’ death then acts as a payment to satisfy the debt on the souls of the human race, the same debt we inherited from Adam’s original sin.
Christus Victor: In this theory, Jesus Christ dies in order to defeat the powers of evil (such as sin, death, and the devil) in order to free mankind from their bondage. Gustaf Aulen argued that this theory of the Atonement is the most consistently held theory for church history, especially in the early church up until the 12th century
The Satisfaction Theory: In the 12th century, Anselm of Canterbury proposed a satisfaction theory for the Atonement. In this theory, Jesus Christ’s death is understood as a death to satisfy the justice of God. Satisfaction here means restitution, the mending of what was broken, and the paying back of a debt. In this theory, Anselm emphasizes the justice of God and claims that sin is an injustice that must be balanced.
The Penal Substitutionary Theory: Penal Substitutionary Atonement is a development of the Reformation. The Reformers, Specifically Calvin and Luther, took Anselm’s Satisfaction theory and modified it slightly. Jesus is punished in the place of sinners in order to satisfy the justice of God and the legal demand of God to punish sin. In the light of Jesus’ death, God can now forgive the sinner because Jesus Christ has been punished in the place of the sinner, in this way meeting the retributive requirements of God’s justice.
The Governmental Theory: In the Governmental Theory, primarily held by the Methodist church, Jesus Christ suffers the punishment of our sin and propitiates God’s wrath. In this way, it is similar to Penal Substitution. However, in the Governmental Theory, Jesus Christ does not take the exact punishment we deserve, He takes a punishment. This theory holds the fundamental belief that God cannot forgive if Jesus does not die a propitiating death.
The Scapegoat Theory: The Scapegoat Theory is a modern Atonement theory rooted in the philosophical concept of the Scapegoat. Here the key figures are Rene Girard and James Allison. Within this theory of the Atonement Jesus Christ dies as the Scapegoat of humanity. There are many Philosophical concepts in this theory but in short it is considered to be a form of nonviolent atonement, in that Jesus is not a sacrifice but a victim.
Inconsistencies With the Theories
There is a great deal of inconsistencies with each of these theories. Yes, we can pull a handful of singled out verses to support each one, making them appear to be accurate. But we also have to consider that there are emotional attachments associated with the notions that we’ve grown up hearing in our faith. The idea of penal substitutionary atonement is probably most prominent with songs and phrases about Christ taking the cross that we deserved. But, we have a duty to rightly divide the word; to test each theory against what scripture consistently describes atonement to mean. We have to allow scripture to define scriptural concepts, not philosophy and theoretical assumptions.
Moral Influence Theory alludes to the idea that anyone who pursues a righteous life discipling after Christ should be martyred. Although this one encourages a life as a ‘living sacrifice,’ it leaves out the necessity for Christ’s resurrection and His position as High Priest.
Ransom Theory presumes that a human life can be used to purchase other human lives. It also assumes the original sin theory which says that every human is born destined to hell because of Adam, including the unborn and newborn. This theory requires payment in exchange for mercy and leaves out the necessity for Christ’s resurrection and His position as High Priest. It also dismisses the fact that grace is a free gift; requiring Christ as payment does not account for this foundational piece of the Christian faith.
Christur Victor focuses on the death of Christ being the ultimate defeat of evil but if that were the case, there would have been no need for His resurrection and no need for His second coming. This theory implies all evil and death are currently defeated which is wholly and obviously inaccurate.
Satisfaction Theory assumes that all sin is equal and that the death of a perfect man satisfies the wrath of God. But according to God’s word, different sin is to be dealt with in different ways and not all sin is deserving of a death sentence. This theory also holds the assumption that all of mankind is deserving of wrath and dismisses the need for repentance as well as leaves out the necessity for Christ’s resurrection and His position as High Priest. It also dismisses the fact that God’s wrath will still be poured out on the ungodly.
Penal Substitutionary Atonement is the most prominent that I have personally grown up with. This theory is very similar to Satisfaction but adds in the necessity of punishment. The biggest issue with this theory is that the roman crucifixion is not a God ordained form of punishment. I have always heard “He took the cross that we deserved,” but nowhere in the scriptures can this notion be found. Nobody deserves the cross because the cross is not a penalty of breaking God’s Torah. This theory also assumes that all of mankind is destined for wrath and that somehow the full wrath of God was placed upon Jesus in our place, but again, it leaves out the necessity for Christ’s resurrection and His position as High Priest.
Governmental Theory holds the same framework as PSA but lends room to note that the cross isn’t necessarily the exact punishment we deserve. It still contradicts scripture in the assumption that one person can take a punishment for another in the justice system of God which is not scriptural in the slightest. Again, we see the necessity for Christ’s resurrection and His position as High Priest left out.
Scapegoat Theory puts the guilt upon the crowd because Christ was found innocent. This theory takes the need for violence off of God, but at the same time places it upon Christ in our place. I believe this theory hinges on the Day of Atonement ‘scapegoat’ which bears the sins of Israel as it is sent off into the wilderness. This point of the notion would be the closest in accuracy except for the fact that the scapegoat wasn’t supposed to die, it was the one that lived. In the light of His resurrection is an accurate point but that understanding is not included in the theory nor is His position of High Priest considered.
Do you see a common theme? Each of these theories focuses heavily on what the death of Christ on the cross must mean, but none of them take into account His resurrection or priesthood. This is a key concept that has been left out and as a result, has allowed room for inconsistent theories to become foundational doctrines of the faith. We have a responsibility to test all things against the word and seek out the purpose and definition God gives us in His Word.
Defining Atonement
The English word ‘atonement’ is not found in the original texts of scripture; the word was invented in the 16th century to encompass the idea of the Messiah's sacrifice making us ‘at-one with God.’ Translators used ‘atonement’ for the first time in Exodus 29:33 to speak of the sacrifices that were to be eaten by the priesthood. The Hebrew word behind the concept of atonement is ‘kapar.’ Kapar shows up all the way back in Genesis 6:14 speaking of the pitch that was to cover the inside and outside of the ark. Then again in Genesis 32:20 speaking of a gift from Jacob to appease Esau in hopes of acceptance. Kapar is used 102 times to describe the following concepts: atonement (73x), cover (1x), purge (9x), reconcile (7x), forgive (3x), mercy (2x), cleanse (1x), pacify (2x), appease (1x), put off (1x), pardon (1x), disannul (1x). What we don’t see is the idea of ‘taking the place of’, payment, or punishment. We also have to keep in mind that not all of these uses are an issue between man and God, some instances of kapar are making right between people. It is also important to note that translators used various English words in the place of the one Hebrew word Kapar; how they used the word doesn’t necessarily provide accurate definitions. The context surrounding the word each time it’s used is what gives us a consistent working definition. In combining the various uses, the overall theme of Kapar is a process of being covered in grace.
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and cover (kapar) it with pitch (koper) inside and out. Genesis 6:14
You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease (kapar) Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.” Genesis 32:20
He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement (kapar) for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:26
Sacrifice and Offering
Atonement offerings were to be made every morning and evening, every feast and Sabbath, to cover the unintentional sin of Israel. The offerings that are for atonement/kapar (Lev. 5-7) include: atonement for guilt , atonement for uncleanness, or atonement for unintentional sin. However, not all sacrifices and offerings are for atonement. Other offerings include: grain or first fruits (Lev. 2), wave (Lev. 23:11), free-will (Lev. 23:38), thanksgiving (Lev. 7:12), and peace (Lev. 3). Almost all offerings and sacrifices were for food, even atonement offerings were to be eaten by the priests and/ or the person coming forward to bring the offering. When you see the long list of animals required for the feast offerings by fire in Leviticus 23, it’s literally the menu of what the priests are grilling up for the party. The only offering that could not be eaten was a specific sin sacrifice that required a whole burnt offering; it could not be eaten because the whole thing was to be burned up (Lev. 4:35). We see Messiah encourage obedience to the law regarding offerings after he healed a man of leprosy…
“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Luke 5:14
The priest shall next offer the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Then afterward, he shall slaughter the burnt offering. The priest shall offer up the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be clean. Leviticus 14:19-20
In spite of the narrative commonly taught, sacrifice and offerings were not a scary, bloody ordeal. They are a meal with the Father cooked by ordained chefs; a physical act of apologizing to seek forgiveness. The old testament sacrificial system was a system of grace and provision and fellowship with God and with the congregation. If you have ever brought a potluck meal to a church gathering, you are partaking in the concept of the sacrificial system. If you have ever met someone for coffee to reconcile issues, you have participated in the concept of the sacrificial system. If you give tithes and offerings to a church, you are participating in the concept of the sacrificial system. It really is that simple.
Another false narrative I want to address is the idea that the Old Testament sacrifices were for salvation. This 100% not true. Atonement is not equivalent to salvation. This is what Paul refers to with “no man will be justified by works of the law.” You will not find anywhere in God’s law that describes sacrifice being a means to salvation. Atonement is the concept of being covered by grace; forgiveness of sins, not for the removal of sin. Salvation is the concept of being resurrected to inherit eternal life which involves sin being completely removed. The works of the law can not, and were never intended to, resurrect someone. That is only made possible by the authority of Messiah to gather His flock at His second coming. The point of the law is to reveal sin by holding a standard of righteous behavior. The point of sacrifices is to have a system that covers transgressions with grace and provides for the Levites. Even before the tribe of Levi was given the priesthood, we find people making sacrifices- Abraham, Job, Noah. Some of their sacrifices were for atonement and some were for the other offerings mentioned above. Atonement offerings were not about Salvation, but rather a response to believing in the God who promises resurrection, and repenting to be in communion with Him.
Atonement = grace while we’re in the flesh.
Salvation = resurrection to inherit eternal life.
Literary Devices
Now that we have some framework established let’s look at how this concept of atonement applies to the work of Messiah. It is vital to remember that nowhere in the descriptions of atonement does suffering a punishment appear. Nor do we ever see that God accepts human blood; that would be against His Torah. So when we get to the new testament how are we to interpret the multiple verses describing Messiah as our atonement sacrifice. Well, plain and simple the collection of testimonies and letters of the apostles assume you understand what the process of a priesthood means. Our problem is that upon coming to faith, we are taught to take every metaphor and assume it is literal instead of being shown the literal definitions that were already written. Understanding what the texts means requires that we understand how literary devices are used- simile, hyperbole, metaphor, personification, and analogy. This is very common throughout the writings of the prophets and new testament, even Messiah used literary devices to teach true concepts through parables. The new testament is supplemental testimony to the facts and instructions already laid out within the old testament narrative. There is a literally defined job of the Messiah that was prophesied in the old testament, and there are metaphors used to direct the reader to understand the significance of His job. READ ‘The Prophesied Job of Messiah.’
Literal: For it is testified: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7:17 (Psalm 110:4)
Metaphor: God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith… Romans 3:25
Literal: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Metaphor: but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:19
Literal: Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
Metaphor: And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
Literal : For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
Metaphor: He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
The above Hebrews 7:25 is a perfect example of both salvation- “able to save completely” and atonement- “to intercede.” Hebrews 9:28 further expounds by saying, “the Messiah died once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await.” Messiah being called an atoning sacrifice is describing Him bearing sin as a High Priest. It is His position as High priest that offers grace and forgiveness while we are in the flesh growing, learning, and making mistakes. We are awaiting the resurrection at His second coming to be ‘saved completely’. We’ll dig into this more coming up, but first let’s look at additional points as to why we must be careful not to take metaphors as literal, while dismissing the literal definitions.
Messiah is referred to as bread of life, but bread and grains were not an atonement offering, they were firstfruits just as Messiah was the first fruits of the resurrection to eternal life.
All but one atonement sacrifice is eaten, Messiah is not eaten and He was not burned up as a whole burnt offering. This metaphor is along the same lines as the bread being broken as “My body which is given for you” and the wine being “the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.” The bread and wine aren’t literally His body and blood just as Messiah’s offering of Himself was not literally an atonement offering. READ ‘Do This in Remembrance of Me’
Messiah is called the Passover Lamb, but the Passover was not an atonement sacrifice, and He was not literally a sheep. One of the Atonement theories calls Him the scapegoat which refers to one of the two Day of Atonement goats that bears the sin of Israel, however there is no scripture that refers to Him as a goat- we understand scapegoat theory is a metaphor. Each feast has prophetic significance that points to Messiah’s role in YHWH’s Kingdom, READ ‘Feasts & Prophecy.’ He is the First Fruit of the resurrection and Tabernacled in the flesh, but we don’t think that He’s literally a bowl of fruit or literally a tent, we understand those are metaphors. So why then do we assume other uses of various terms apply literally?
Assuming literal meaning to metaphors, without defining terms, leaves a wide range of inconsistencies. Metaphors are valuable and hold beautiful insight, but they are intended to point you back to the literal definitions of the words and terms being used. Without defining our terms, we are left with huge gaps in understanding as well as vulnerability to winds of doctrine that sound good, but may not be telling the whole truth.
A Ransom
Messiah calls Himself a ransom for many, but a ransom is not an atonement. This metaphor emphasizes that He gave His life so that He could take it up again and intercede on our behalf. Messiah being a ransom does not mean that we no longer face death, all men die once. The point is that Messiah needed to resurrect from the dead so that He could also resurrect us from the dead on the last day. This is WHY we put our hope in Him, He holds authority over death and dedicated His life to fulfill this purpose.
The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father. John 10:17-18
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:14-17
Messiah was metaphorically a ransom, but His death was not literally a payment required for Satan or for God. He gave His life, not in place of ours, but to be our High Priest forever as He was prophesied and appointed to be. The giving of His life is in the context of obedience, He gave up His own will; His own desires; His own temptations in the flesh so that He could fulfill the role of High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle, living to intercede on our behalf. He gave Himself as a ransom “in order to make atonement for the sins of the people” as a merciful and faithful high priest serving the Father.
Divine Punishment
The crucifixion that Messiah suffered, was not a divine punishment. Crucifixion is not even a punishment within God's eternal Torah, it was a Roman torturous death sentence that executed hundreds of thousands of people. Jesus was not the only person to die on a cross. And He did not ‘take the cross we deserve.’ We do not deserve the cross because that is not a God ordained punishment or capital punishment. Another aspect to consider is that God does not punish one man for another’s sins (Ezekiel 18). Each individual is still judged according to his and her own choices. The faithful believer is covered by Messiah atoning for sins and mistakes, but we still have to answer for our actions on the day of judgment and resurrection. There is no scripture that describes a believer being punished, but there are plenty of verses that describe our reward being dependent on our words and deeds.
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. Ezekiel 18:20-22
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. Ezekiel 18:30
Every man's workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 1 Corinthians 3:13
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” Romans 2:6 (Psalm 62:12)
So why did Messiah have to suffer the crucifixion? Well, plain and simple, Messiah’s death happened at the appointed time, (1 Tim. 2:6) just before the Roman empire would destroy the temple for the final time and all of Judea would be dispersed. It was a matter of timing, not a matter of the cross holding mystical power. The significance of Messiah’s death is not about the physical blood spilled on the cross; the significance is in His obedience to allow it to happen so that He could resurrect three days later. His resurrected, perfected human body gave Him the ability to ascend to heaven’s tabernacle and be a priest for His human brothers.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8
The base for the divine punishment theory or PSA comes from Isaiah 53, a prophecy describing how He would suffer and die. I understand it can be difficult to read it without the lens of PSA, but take each verse with the context and definitions of the words. This prophecy was written while the northern house of Israel was being dispersed for their idolatry and unrepentant sin. Within God’s judgment to punish the people, He promises that he would return them to the land; He promises a shepherd to gather His flock. These are new covenant promises that come about at Messiah’s return when Israel is resurrected. Isaiah 53 is describing what He would endure during His first coming, to ensure the healing and peace would be brought about at His second coming.
For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd. Zechariah 10:2
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. Ezekiel 34:5
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
When we read ‘the punishment of our peace was upon Him,’ we have to remember that #1 What's being described is not a God ordained punishment, it was a Roman punishment that He took in order to get to the place where He could intercede for us before God. And #2 Israel’s punishment was to be scattered amongst the nations; Messiah brings back scattered when He returns to establish peace on the earth. Isaiah 53:10-12 provides us with this context- YHWH was pleased to allow this to happen to His Son because He appointed His Son to be the healer of the sick and the bearer of guilt as a high priest. It goes on to say that He will prolong His days teaching righteousness and bearing crookedness. Again, it’s not His death that accomplishes these things but His life as a resurrected high priest. Examine the following verses (look up the full passage) and compare them to the language of Isaiah 53. Scripture is consistent, the definitions don’t change in Isaiah 53 or in Paul’s letters, things are just said in a different way so that those who have eyes to see, will seek to see the truth.
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:11
My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes. They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince forever. And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever. Ezekiel 37:24-26
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
Messiah’s Blood & Obedience
The blood of Messiah represents the life that He lived; pure, undefiled, obedient. We have a handful of passages mentioning the “blood of the lamb,” but remember, the lamb metaphor speaks of His purity, “He was found without sin” just as the Passover lamb is to be without blemish. As well as the Isaiah 53 prophecy, “He is led like a lamb to the slaughter,” He did not fight back nor did He argue. He remained humble and obedient unto death, without malice, fear, or hatred.
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:19
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7
They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. Revelation 12:11
We see Messiah’s blood mentioned quite a bit in these and other passages, but we have to keep the concept in proper context. Firstly, God does not accept human blood on His alter; He abhorred the spilling of innocent blood and human sacrifice. Secondly, His blood was spilled in the dirt from the whipping post to the cross, it was not actually gathered up and sprinkled on anything. Lastly, flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He had to remove the flesh and blood (as we all do) to resurrect and enter the Kingdom.
The blood is heavily talked about in the Christian church, some circles plead the blood of Jesus while praying but there is a lack of understanding for what His blood actually represents. He never tells His disciples to plead the blood or sing about the blood, nor do we see that mentioned as a practice instructed by the apostles. Jesus said to ask all things “in my name” not ‘in My blood’ because His name represents His authority. So what did He mean when He said that the cup was the “new covenant in My blood?” His blood is a metaphor for His life of obedience. We, with our pagan influenced mindsets, tend to think of blood as death, but the bible describes blood as life. Because He lived a life of complete righteousness, when He did allow His life in the flesh to be taken, that righteousness gave Him authority over death ,to be resurrected- resurrection is a promise of the new covenant. It is by His authority as High Priest that brings about the new covenant.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
So also it has been written: "The first man Adam became a living soul;" the last Adam a life-giving spirit. . . Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:45-50
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19
Through His OBEDIENCE, many are made righteous, not through the Roman crucifixion. His obedience involved His life being given, “even death on a cross’” but the cross was not the sum of His purpose nor was it a literal means for atonement being made.
Recall the above list of types of atonement offerings, all but one atonement sacrifice is eaten- Messiah is not eaten and He was not burned up as a whole burnt offering. He did not literally take the place of a lamb, bull, or goat. This metaphor is along the same lines as the bread being broken as “My body which is given for you” and again, the wine being “the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.” The bread and wine aren’t literally His body and blood; Messiah’s offering of Himself was not literally an atonement offering. The atonement covering He provides is through His priesthood, mediating between us and the Father for the forgiveness of our sins. Yes, His body had to be given, not because the physical flesh made atonement but because He had to resurrect in order to assume His priesthood where atonement is actively made. It was out of absolute love for us and obedience to the Father that He gave His life in the flesh. He knew it was the Father’s will for it to happen because the big picture of complete salvation relied upon His priesthood.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. Hebrews 5:8
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 5:30
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6
And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:9-10
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the LORD, not by man. Hebrews 8:1-2
In the above Hebrew 5 verse we see “having been made perfect,” this is describing His resurrection. (Being made perfect is an idiom for the resurrection that all who are of faith and belief will inherit- Phil. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:53, Mark 12:25). When Messiah was resurrected immortal and perfect, He then became the source of eternal salvation as a High Priest; the physical blood that was spilled is not the source of salvation. No where in scripture does a priest make atonement by his own blood; atonement is made by preparing offerings before the Father. This definition does not change with Jesus ministering in the literal tabernacle set up by YHWH. Consider this- If Moses was shown the tabernacle and was instructed to replicate everything exactly (Ex. 25:40, Heb. 8:5), what does that mean the heavenly tabernacle must contain? Logically, we can conclude that it does contain altars, incense, utensils, a bronze laver, golden lampstand, priestly garments, etc. The Levitical priesthood served a copy and shadow of the literal, original tabernacle; nowhere in the instructions for the copy, is the blood of the High Priest required for atonement.
The Priesthood
The majority of the book of Hebrews is explaining the concept of Messiah’s priesthood, but as I said in the beginning, the writer assumes you have a basic understanding for how the priesthood works. The writer is comparing and contrasting the Levitical priesthood with the Melchizedek priesthood:
A High Priest is chosen from among men to minister on behalf of men before God. Aaron was chosen from the lineage of Levi. Jesus was chosen as the Son of God to take on flesh so he could sympathize with His brothers. (Hebrews 5:1-11)
The Levitical priesthood relies on lineage. The Melchizedek Priesthood is appointed to the most righteous ruler, “without mother, without father.” The two priesthoods are orders, not individuals. “For the priesthood being changed out of necessity, there takes place a change of the law also,” Is describing the change of the law giver, the Levitical High Priest had no authority to perfect/resurrect a person, only the One perfected Melchizedek has that authority. (Hebrews 7:1-12)
The Levitical priesthood was bound by flesh, the high priest would die and another had to be appointed. Messiah’s priesthood is without end because He resurrected from the dead as an eternal man. “He entered once for all time” a High Priest forever. (Hebrews 7:23-28)
The Levitical Priesthood served in a tabernacle that was copy and shadow. Messiah serves in the original, literal tabernacle in the heavens. The earthly priesthood ministered the covenant with flesh where they could only atone for sin, not remove it. They never held the authority to remove sin because they were at fault themselves. Messiah also makes atonement while we are in the flesh, but He, being without fault, possesses the authority to minister a better covenant which is the resurrection apart from the flesh, and completely removes sin. (Hebrews 8:1-13) *Remember, atonement sacrifices were never intended to remove sin; atonement is not salvation. (Hebrews 10:1-4)
The Levitical High Priest was tempted by sin and had to atone for himself and his household on the day of atonement, entering multiple times. Jesus did not have to atone for HImself, He was without sin, “able to enter by His own blood once for all time.” (Hebrews 9:6-15) Remember, the use of ‘blood’ is indicating His righteousness; Messiah had no sin so He was able to enter into the most holy by His own righteousness.
There are a multitude of scriptures about the sacrifices and offerings of the Levitical priesthood not being accepted or desired by God. The context there is that the priests themselves were not doing the law of God; they were not obedient so their sacrifices were in vain. He does love sacrifice and offering, He ordains them and calls them a sweet smelling aroma. But what He hated was evil, disobedient hearts attempting to appease Him with sacrifices. The entire book of Malachi goes into explaining how the priests were sacrificing blind and lame animals.
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.” (Hebrews 10:5) God does not accept human sacrifice, He accepts human obedience. The body the Father prepared for the Son was used as an instrument of holiness, able to make atonement for mankind and resurrect the dead at the proper time.
Authority to Redeem
Now that we have a better understanding of atonement and metaphor, let’s look into where the complete removal of sin comes into play. Above, I summarized this concept by stating, “ Messiah also makes atonement while we are in the flesh, but He, being without fault, possesses the authority to minister a better covenant which is the resurrection apart from the flesh, and completely removes sin.” This concept is almost always conflated with the notion of praying for forgiveness and stating that you are saved now. A common phrase in the modern church is, “your sins are wiped away, past, present, and future!” However, there is no scriptural evidence for this theology, nor is there any notion that you can choose how you want to live your Christian life because you are forgiven. On the contrary, there is a strong exhortation to stop walking and thinking according to the sinful flesh and start behaving like Messiah while we wait for salvation.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-14
This is a huge trigger warning, and I am sure some people will shake their heads in complete disagreement. But, we are studying this to understand what the Word actually says by defining our terms. We are not currently, literally saved. We have faith in the saving authority of Messiah and we learn to walk in righteousness, but we are still in the flesh which is corrupted; we still have to actively deny sin; we are still able to sin. Yes, “if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart you WILL BE saved,” but there is still a lifelong choice ahead of each and every individual to continue in that belief. Our faith that Messiah WILL completely remove sin and save us from the second death IS the concept of saying, “I’m saved.” It’s not wrong at all to called yourself saved, my point here is to help us better understand what that actually means, according to scripture. We also have to understand that actually walking in what you know to be true, is biblical belief; belief is not just mentally acknowledging a fact.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:2
Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! Romans 5:9
He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12
We are justified by His blood- His righteousness as our High Priest. And we will be saved from the wrath of God by His authority so resurrect us from the dead. The idea of eternal life is spoken of quite a bit in the Christian church but from my experience and observation, there is little to no teaching about what that means or when it happens. Consider Romans 5:9 in light of the following verses…
Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed. Isaiah 26:19-20
Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD. Ezekiel 37:13-14
They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God. My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes. Ezekiel 37:23-24
The salvation we receive has a very literal definition for what exactly we are saved from, as well as a time qualifier. The time qualifier is the last trumpet at the coming of Messiah: Matt. 24:31, 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thess. 4:16. READ ‘New Covenant Promises.’ What we’re saved from is the wrath of YHWH that is about to be poured out upon the earth, as well as the second death to the lake of fire: Rev. 11:18, Isa. 26:20, …
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6
For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9
The concept of salvation to eternal life is synonymous with redemption. The “redemption of our bodies” is speaking of the resurrection where “perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Cor. 15). With that in mind, let’s break down the Titus 2 verse that says that He “redeems us from all lawlessness.” According to 1 John 3:4 lawlessness, or transgressing the law, is the literal definition of sin, not ‘missing the mark;’ sin is the transgression of God’s Law. The point of Messiah being our High Priest is that He makes atonement/covers our sin and offers grace while we faithfully await the complete redemption where all sin is removed as Ezekiel 37 describes. We see this concept in various places throughout the old testament. These scriptures ARE what the apostles were preaching: the resurrection and the Kingdom by Way of Messiah as the chosen vessel of God, executing His plan for salvation. The definition of salvation/ redemption does not change from old testament to new testament, the promise of the resurrection is consistent.
I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man. Acts 24:14-15
He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:5-7
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Galatians 3:13
I want to quickly point out another use of a metaphor in this Galatians 3 verse, Paul is quoting Deut. 21:23. Messiah did not literally become a curse; it’s acknowledging that He allowed His death on a cross in order to bear our sin as High Priest. READ ‘Galatians Apologetics.’ The “curse of the law” that we are redeemed from is the second death, as Romans 6:23 above explains that the wages of sin (transgressing the law) is death. This is not a reference to the first death; it is appointed for all men who die once. When the New Testament speaks of the law of sin and death, the second death is the literal definition applied to the shortened phrase. Again, these phrases assume the reader is learned in the law and understands the promise of the resurrection. We have to remember that the writings of the apostles are supplemental writings to congregations that were being taught the “Old Testament” as the whole of scripture. So, when Paul speaks about sin and the curse of death, he’s pulling from what Moses already said as he ended the second giving of the law…
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
Choosing Life
Choosing life is choosing the covenant of YHWH and walking in it. Messiah did not give His life to be our High Priest so that we can continue sinning- breaking His Father’s Law. Messiah gave His life to be our sympathetic High Priest, atoning for our mistakes and sins of ignorance. Messiah pours out the Spirit of YHWH onto us and calls us to disciple after HIm, to learn His ways and walk as He walked- according to the righteous standard of the Law. There are just as many verses calling believers to be a living sacrifice as there are speaking of Messiah’s sacrifice- that is saying something about the expectation of our Master! But it also speaks to the reality that we aren’t literally sacrificing ourselves on an altar, we are expected to live a righteous life of obedience to the Father, just as Messiah wasn’t literally sacrificed on an altar but rather, He lived in complete obedience, relinquishing His own will to fulfill the Father’s will.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4
The message here is that Messiah denied sin while in the flesh; by the power of the Spirit, you can too! Choosing life in accordance with Him, removes the power of sin from condemning you to the second death (law of sin and death). This was His whole point in telling the disciples they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, before He even went to the cross. If our hope and faith is in complete redemption- the removal of sin at the resurrection, we ought to walk in this belief and behave as if we are saved. Yes, we will mess up and fail sometimes but we have atonement- we are covered by the grace and mercy of God through our eternal High Priest. And at the end of the age, He will return not to atone for sin but to bring about salvation to those who are waiting (Heb. 9:28)
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received Ephesians 4:1
Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:13
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10
It is the love of the Father that has predestined a righteous path for those who love Him and obey His commands. While we were still bound by sin, He gave His Son to die for us so THAT love and righteousness could be perfected in us. His plan of redemption is to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and bring us into His Kingdom as sons and daughters forever. YHWH is a God of great mercy and perfect justice. While He holds a standard of what righteous behavior means, He is also merciful and patient while we learn and grow in our walk with Him. The giving of His own Son expressed this love and confirmed the promise of His covenant.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. Revelation 12:11