Atonement: What is it?

Last night at the British Academy of Film Awards, the movie “Atonement” won most of the categories. I haven’t seen it yet, but it looks like an epic, similar to the masterpieces that David Lean used to direct decades ago. It covers a span of sixty years to include both World Wars and the plot involves a scandalous lie that affects the lives and love of two young people. It will be interesting to see if the movie wins any Oscars. If it’s as good as the critics say it is, I suspect it will.

Bible Verse of the Day

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Atonement is not a word that we use very often these days. In the past, it meant the ministry work that priests did to placate God for all of the sins and offenses that the community made against Him. Usually, it involved long liturgical prayer gatherings and ended with an animal sacrifice. Absolution was only given when the priests believed that the rituals were properly performed, and the sacrifice was perfectly made.

These days, we don’t make prolonged rituals of confession or slaughter innocent animals because Jesus is both our High Priest and Perfect Sacrifice. By laying down His Life on our behalf, He perfectly fulfilled what God required for our sins. And by interceding on our behalf, Christ frees us from the eternal consequences of our sins. So when we read about Christ making atonement for the sins of the people, we can rejoice and be comforted because He shields us from the wrath of God and restores us to His Everlasting Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Only One in all of history and throughout the universe who can save us from our sins and release us from the oblivion of death. We cannot do anything to dissuade God from punishing us for our sins, but You can. Be our blessed Advocate and Redeemer. Make atonement for all of our mistakes and misdeeds, as we place our hearts and souls into Your Hands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Your very own Yom Kippur - or why every day is a Day of Atonement for Christians

Leviticus 23:28 Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. (NIV)

This coming weekend, Jewish people commemorate the Day of Atonement, which they call “Yom Kippur.” It is a holy day that goes back to the times when the Hebrew children were wandering in the wilderness, more than three thousand years ago. Both religious and secular Jews keep this day sacred because it is the one time of the year when they, as individuals and a community, seek God’s forgiveness for their sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. It is a time when they recognize they are fallen creatures living under the grace of a divine and benevolent God.

As Christians, we believe that every day is a Yom Kippur. We come to Christ on a daily basis with our confessions and seek His mercy. He atoned for our sins when He died on the Cross. He became our eternal sacrifice when He gave up His life for us. His atonement for the world is complete; His forgiveness of our sins is guaranteed by His death at Calvary. We have no Savior other than Christ Jesus. He died for our sins and intercedes on our behalf each day, when we confess our faults, mistakes, and regrets to Him alone.

Perhaps you’ve been carrying guilt around in your heart and mind for years. Perhaps you want to be released of the emotional turmoil and heavy burden that guilt inflicts. The good news is that you don’t have to wait any longer to be forgiven, and you don’t have to let a year come around before you can be guaranteed atonement, grace and restoration. Come to Christ right now with your confessions. In a wee while, you’ll feel and know of His forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have the power to forgive me and to set my soul free from the burden of regret and guilt. Help me to choose this day as a time of atonement, and to see every day as an opportunity to learn from my mistakes, to lead a better life, and to depend upon Your grace to restore me to God’s favor and blessing. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.