SEMESTER 3
234 – Atonement – By Definition
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY III LESSON # 34
ATONEMENT BY DEFINITION
INTRODUCTION:
1. What a wonderful word is atonement. Even secular usages realize it implies peace.
2. As I have said, it is the theme of all scripture and ultimately the answer to all of creation's misery.
3. The term atonement is more theological than biblical as far as the New Testament is concerned, yet the doctrine is everywhere in scripture.
4. If then it is so important, let us be sure we know what we mean by the term.
5. Often apparent disagreements are merely a difference of terminology, i.e., we do not mean the same thing by the same words.
III: The Mormon notion of blood atonement.
III: I frequently have said, basically everyone believes in a limited atonement
I. SOME THINGS WE DO NOT MEAN BY ATONEMENT (IN THE SENSE OF ITS DEFINITION)
1. It is not relevant to the universalism of evangelistic offer.
2. It is not relevant to the genuine nature of God’s call to sinners.
3. It is not relevant to the righteousness of the condemnation of those who do not come.
III: Would the “foreseen faith” men accept atonement according to “foreseen faith?”
II. THE ANALYTICAL DEFINITION
1. The word appears 67 times in the Old Testament – 8 times (kippur), 59 times (kaphar).
i. It is noteworthy that every effect of Old Testament atonement is a “limited one.”
2. The word appears only one time in the New Testament, (Rom.5:11
) and comes from the Greek word katallage.
3. The Hebrew word kaphar is translated 2 times – reconcile, 4 times – reconciliation, and 1 time – reconciling.
4. The Greek word katallage is translated 3 times – reconciliation, and 1 time – reconciling.
5. This alone should tell us something about this word atonement, it is analytically reconciliation.
6. Never speak on behalf of a “universal atonement,” unless you believe that everyone is reconciled to God.
III. THE PRACTICAL DEFINITION OF THE WORD
This differentiation is not to imply conflict between the technical and the practical, but simply to show that the practical definition permits enlargement.
1. The definition of at-one-ment has been forwarded, i.e. in unity.
2. It means the removal of sin’s guilt judicially.
3. It means that a sufficient, i.e. an equal or superior payment is made.
4. It means that an acceptable payment is made for sin.
5. Moreover, it means the payment is made vicariously; that is, substitutionally.
6. But moreover, and above all, it means the substitutionary payment is accepted, i.e. reconciliation is made.
IV. SOME RELEVANT BIBLICAL WORDS
Several biblical words are used in reference to the work of atonement, which teach us more of what the Bible means by atonement. By this I mean other things the Bible states that He did for us by the shedding of His blood.
1. He washed us from our sins. (Rev. 1:5)
2. He is a propitiation for our sins. (I Jn. 2:2, I Jn. 4:10)
3. He purchased us with His blood. (Acts 20:28)
4. We are made nigh, by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13)
5. We are redeemed, by His blood. (I Pet. 1:18, Rev. 5:9)
Concluding Question: Does the Bible mean, by these terms, the mere making available of washing, propitiation, purchase, access, redemption, etc., or the actual effecting of them?