Jesus' crucifixion and death was in atonement for the sins of mankind. Atonement, what Jesus did to reconcile human beings with God, has many aspects to it and this lesson introduces you to one facet of the extent and depth of His work on the cross.

1. Unlike all other gods, the God of the Bible does not behave whimsically by His mood or emotion; God works within a judicial framework. To begin understanding the concept of atonement, you must be aware of His judicial process. What do you observe about God's standard?

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen 2:16-17, ESV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23, ESV)

2. The word "atonement" is found only in the Old Testament. Use an online Bible dictionary to look up this word and write down the definition of atonement in your own words.

Go to: Studylight.org

At top menu click: Bible Study Tools

Select: Holman Bible Dictionary

Select the letter: A

Select: Page 8 at the bottom of the page

Select: Atonement and read the first two paragraphs

3. Blood is of particular significance to God. In Exodus 12, God instructed the Hebrews to sacrifice an unblemished male lamb and apply its blood to the sides and tops of the door frame of their homes (Ex 12:1-12). When God saw the blood, He passed over the homes of the Hebrews while striking down the first born throughout the land of Egypt. What do you observe in God's explanation of "atonement for your souls?"

"If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. (Lev 17:10-12, ESV)