Paper Sample on Atonement Unveiled: Exploring Theological Dimensions in the Old and New Testament

The term atonement means resulting from the condition of something. This word is among some of the English words that have grown into theological. This word frequently occurs in the Old Testament, and its usage has prejudiced the subsequent tradition and the New Testament (Kilcrease, 2018). In the Christian religion, the word refers to the needed resolution between sinful human beings and God. The extent of how the term is used in the Old Testament is outstanding. Atonement is delivered for lifeless objects like a temple, the altar in a temple, the holy dwelling, and as a mildewing household, the refuge.

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Atonement is regularly used in the Old Testament signifying sacrifices for sins. Some of the events where atonement was applied in the Old Testament include: the atonement of lifeless objects which is found in twelve different places in the book; Leviticus, Exodus, and Ezekiel, eleven of these scriptures discuss the cleansing of the temple or tent, on a particular room or the altar in it. The sole exclusion states the emetic of a filthy household. In one of the extraordinary verses of rule, Aron and Moses were instructed by the Lord on the purification means they were to use for houses that have “diffusion mildew”. They affirm that when the houses respond to the treatment, they are declared to be holy and spotless (Lev 14:33). The priests perform the cleansing by sacrificing a bird and then sinking scarlet yarn, cedarwood, and hyssop and the live bird into the blood of the dead. Then the blood on the household seven times, and the live bird was released. In this way, the house was purely cleansed from all evil.

The whole passage suggestively echoes the preceding passage where human beings go through similar purifications and investigations for communicable skin illnesses, and it forestalls the vital rules of Leviticus 16, which entails the Atonement Day. The most significant of entirely is when a sacrifice is performed to clean all people of their sins. The idea is deceptive that a deeper sickness can be demonstrated underneath the skin surface as can the exterior of the household. Both needed to be cleansed of the deeper skin sickness as it does for the sins in the human heart.

More references to the atonement of the temple, the altar, sanctuary, and the tent of meeting, take place in different settings of the initiation of the priests (Lev 8:15, Ex 29:35). God orders the construction of the eschatological sanctuary in the late chapters of Ezekiel, and the atonement day. The significance of cleansing the sanctuaries, altars, and buildings was that they were divine places for people to meet with the Holy One. This person believed God was pure and needed a clean place to meet with the people.

However, the things used for the atonement in the Old Testament by the people of God varied, birds, sheep, and goats are listed as the acceptable animal for sacrifice. There was also the offering of drinks, oil, and grain. The most mentioned way of atonement in the script is the blood sacrifices which dominate in most books. Atonement was required to be performed for everything from monstrous crimes such as idolatry (Num 16:47) to faults committed. The only sin that people would have committed is ignorance, which was disobedience (Num 15:22-29). People had to clean themselves every time, as some sins were not noticeable.

The heart of atonement in the Old Testament is shown in Leviticus chapter 16, where regulations of the Atonement day are granted. Five characteristics are related to the Day of Atonement that is worthy. First, the control of the Holy One in the atonement. Secondly, the result and purpose of performing the ritual. Thirdly, the two goats that stressed, two unlike things and burning signified the removal of sins from the unclean individuals. Aaron had to perform a sacrifice ritual himself to cleanse the people, from their wrongdoings. The two sons of Aron Abihu and Nadab had been put to demise by God for disobeying the command of offering unauthorized fire before him. After the act, God gave Aron the instruction on how he was to offer the sacrifice. The bathing ritual he was to follow, the clothes he was to wear, and the type of animals Aron was to sacrifice during the ritual. This atonement was to save the sinful religion, which had run away from God. Aron was used as a tool that would bring people back to the Lord.

In the New Testament, there is the ransom saying in the book of Mark (10:45), which is parallel to that of (Matt 20:28) that religious content is flawless. There is an argument with the apostles on which of them is most celebrated. Jesus narrates his task to two things; helping everyone and offering his life as a redemption for all. Similarly to most of his teaching, the saying intensely spreads the answer to an immediate problem or question (of the arrogance of the disciples and selflessness). The teaching related to the death of Jesus to the allegory of helping the people, by giving his life showed a great example of servanthood to the Christians that can be fictional. The fact the death of the Son of God was a ransom it associated with the clue of atonement which is in the eminent servant melody of (Isaiah 53). Jesus wanted to sacrifice himself to save humanity from their sins.

Secondly, the script relating to atonement is found in the Eucharistic words used by Jesus in all Gospels. In the book of (John 22: 19-20), Jesus declares that equally the wine and the bread signify the fact that his death would be for the people. He claimed that his blood would be poured for many in both Mark and Matthew. The sacrificial nature term of Jesus is the element that connects the Gospels to the atonement. The lamb blood used in the sacrifice in Leviticus 16 is the same blood Jesus would pour during his crucifixion (Matt 26:28) for the forgiveness of humankind's sins.

Paul being one of the earliest writers in the New Testament wrote on the extent of atonement in his apostolic teachings. He used Jesus as an image as a victor of death, demons, wrath, and sin, and also used the sketch of the law courtyard. According to him, the atoning resurrection and death of Jesus went past the simple human magnitudes of redemption to include the world of spirits of the environment in its travail and groaning (Rom. 8:19-23). He explains in his texts that God does what humankind cannot do and uses Christ as an example. Jesus had educated people on love; he associated with sinners even being the son of God until he was crucified. Paul, from his teachings, relates the death of Christ as a way the ransom of Christian’s sins was paid. In any way, the scripture arises in a pure context of God’s honorable, enraged judgment against the sins of humanity and declares the Lord’s kind act of atonement for his people (Rom 1:18-).

References

Kilcrease, J. D. (2018). The Doctrine of Atonement: From Luther to Forde. Wipf and Stock Publishers.