The Narrow Path Ministries

It is my believe that Jesus' death on the cross "paid" for, or that He suffered for, the sins of all (potentially) who ever lived, and actually His atonement took care of the debt of sin for all people of faith since Adam.

There are some who believe that this is untrue, that the atonement somehow empowers us to escape from the practice of sin. If this is so, what of the Old Testament saints? It would seem that Jesus' death on the cross was too late to help them overcome sin and thus of no benefit to them. So then, if they were saved, they did it with no assistance from the atonement. And if they could, why couldn't we? And thus why the necessity of the cross of Christ?

Hi Homer,

As you probably know, there are several different viewpoints on how the Atonement worked on a functional level. These include Ransom, Penal Substitution, Satisfaction, Moral Influence, Christus Victor, etc. It sounds like you subscribe to the Satisfaction view.

There are some who believe that this is untrue, that the atonement somehow empowers us to escape from the practice of sin.

Are you talking about the doctrine of perfection or something else? Can you be more specific about who believes/teaches this?

.

Hi Jill,

What do you do with the following New Testament passages that clearly speak of propitiation (atonement?):

Romans 3:24-25 (New King James Version)
24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25. whom God set forth as a propitiation (Strongs #2433) by His bloodthrough faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

From The New Testament Greek Lexicon:

Strong's Number: 2435 iÔlasth/rion
Original Word Word Origin
iÔlasth/rion from a derivative of (2433)
Transliterated Word Phonetic Spelling
Hilasterion hil-as-tay'-ree-on
Parts of Speech TDNT
Noun Neuter 3:318,362
Definition
relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation
used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory
an expiatory sacrifice
a expiatory victim


Hebrews 2:17 (New King James Version)
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation (Strongs #2433) for the sins of the people.

Also from the lexicon:

Strong's Number: 2433 iÔla/skomai
Original Word Word Origin
iÔla/skomai middle voice from the same as (2436)
Transliterated Word Phonetic Spelling
Hilaskomai hil-as'-kom-ahee
Parts of Speech TDNT
Verb 3:301,362
Definition
to render one's self, to appease, conciliate to one's self
to become propitious, be placated or appeased
to be propitious, be gracious, be merciful
to expiate, make propitiation for

And a quote from Wiki Answers:

Propitiation is the work Jesus did on the cross to appease and satisfy God's wrath so He would be able to pardon sinners who trust in Christ.

Atonement - Used in the Old Testament means to cover. The Hebrew word is "kaphar" also "kippur". The same word is used for pitch, when Noah built the ark, see Genesis 6:14. Israel as a distinct nation was required every year to offer the blood of an animal for the sins of the nation on the day of atonement or "yom kippur", see Exodus 30:10.

The difference is the death of Jesus Christ was a propitiation for our sins not just a covering. The old repetitive system required under the Mosaic law was done away with and a new covenant was established. The shedding of Christ's blood satisfied once and for all time the wrath of God, which no animal's blood could ever do. See Hebrews chapter 10.

God Bless, Homer