Atonement for Sins

One of the basic truths of the Bible is that we cannot do anything to forgive our own sins. We can't be good enough to have God forgive them. We can't do religious works, so that our sins will be forgiven. Sins are only forgiven by a sacrifice that involves shedding of blood. We call this making atonement for those sins. 

Aaron and his sons were the priests in the Old Covenant. They were the ones to offer the sacrifices for the people to atone for sins. However, first they had to have someone make atonement for their sins. That is what Moses did. (Leviticus 8:34) Moses told them that the Lord had commanded them to do the things they had done that day to make atonement on their behalf. Then, they were clean, so their sacrifices would be accepted by God.

Of course, today we do not have to make animal sacrifices or grain offerings to the Lord. All of those sacrifices pointed to the one sacrifice for all of the sins of the world. Jesus came and made that sacrifice, so all of us could be at-one with God. His blood was shed to atone for our sins. Without the blood of Jesus, we would have no hope of salvation.

The great fact about this atonement is that Jesus paid it all. We can't work for it or earn it in any way. All we do is surrender to Him in faith as Lord of our life, turning from our sins, and He gives us the gift of salvation. He can do that because He paid for all of the sins of the world with His perfect blood. Then, we are made at-one with God forever.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 9-11.