The Atonement: The Perfect Man Become the Perfect Sin Offering

A sin offering was God's provision for the Israelites to transfer their sin and guilt to an animal. The animal, usually a lamb, had to be perfect, because in this process the sinfulness of the man was exchanged for the purity of the animal. If the animal had any blemish upon it, that spot would transfer over to the man, and he would not be made clean in the transaction. The lamb received the punishment, being killed instead of the unclean person; the sinner would then receive the animal's position of innocence and be cleared before God.

An animal sacrifice, however, could not provide freedom over sin and death, therefore, man was stuck in a broken relationship before God. Something more was needed: more than an animal sacrifice, more than the mere mercy of God; more than repentance on our part. These could not deliver us from the power of sin and death. A perfect life in exchange for ours can alone bring the restoration necessary for our deliverance and return to God. All have sinned: so, who could give himself as a perfect sacrifice? Only God.

To be a legitimate atonement, the sacrifice must cooperate with the current law's conditions; the exact amount required by the commandment must be paid, or else it will not effect the situation. God limited Himself to one means for full rescue of the human race when He put the law into effect; the only way to save us wholly was by His own suffering and death.

By Hebraic law, before a lamb was slain to be given as a sin offering, it had to be examined well to prove its purity. In the same way, Jesus was cross-examined and found to be without blemish or fault: Judas stated that Jesus had “innocent blood” (Matt. 27:4). Pilot's wife declared Him to be a “just man” (Matt. 27:19). Pilot said he found “no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4). The centurion at the cross said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54). And the thief on the cross testified that Jesus had “done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). Jesus was our perfect sin-offering.

He became sin for us, transferring His righteousness over to our account in exchange for our lives of filth and sin. He caused our sin to cleave unto Him as He died. When He descended into hell, our sin was cast into the lake of fire, and when He arose from the dead he was pure again. Because we received His righteousness when He was on the cross, we can now have communion with Jesus, knowing and loving Him more each day.

It is as if we had been traveling along the road of sin and death our entire lives, and suddenly discovered a fork in the road. To the left, we may continue on to death, but to the right, there is a way of atonement. This atonement was the costliest thing in the universe, for it was purchased by the blood of God. The atonement was the work of Jesus necessary for God be satisfied with our condition; He payed what was due for our sins. Those who take the way of atonement no longer suffer death as we know it: they have obtained eternal life through Christ Jesus.