With his own blood – not the blood of goats and calves – he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Hebrews 9:12 NLT
Everyone who takes the Bible seriously and at face value recognizes that Jesus’ death and resurrection are of ultimate importance if we humans are to be restored to the untroubled relationship with God that Adam and Eve had with him before the Fall. But the Bible never quite defines how those events accomplish that purpose. This has led to a great deal of scholarly cogitation.
The initial problem lies in the Hebrew word that has been translated “atone.” The English word was created by the first English translators. They did not know the meaning of the Hebrew word, so they made up one to express what they saw being accomplished in the Old Testament sacrifices; that is, the offerer and God were being reconciled, being “at-oned.”
We are now in a much better position than they were. The three consonants of the Hebrew word seem to express the concept of “covering.” Thus, we might say that the blood of the sacrifices, and of Jesus, “covers” us (Lev 17:11;1 Jn 2:2). Similarly, the lid of the ark is called “the covering” or “the cover.” Luther called it “the mercy-seat” because blood was sprinkled on it.
But are our sins merely covered over? Perhaps it is better to think of the words of Psalm 51:2 “Wipe out my transgressions.” The blood wipes the old record clean. But why is blood necessary? Why is there “no forgiveness without the shedding of blood” (Heb 9:22)? Some suggest that it is to satisfy God’s wrath at sin. I think that is to go too far. Rather, it is to nullify, wipe out, the effects of sin. God is life; sin separates us from him and thus, results in death. “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezek 18:20). If you cut your throat, you will die. Why? Because God is mad at you for doing such a stupid thing? No. It is because you have disturbed what is essential to life. Sin does that. So God has stepped in and taken our death for us. Jesus has not died because of God’s wrath, but because of his love. Revel in your abundant, eternal life. You have been “at-oned,”
Called To Be Transformed 