The Potter’s House: The Three Exchanges of True Biblical Atonement
We are inserting another interlude into our Romans series, the very important subject of atonement.
A clear definition of the word atonement, or at-onement, is critical to the discussion. The word primarily means to be reconciled as “onement” would imply. Unfortunately, atonement is often defined as “a covering” which is not the primary meaning of the word. “Covering” is not consistent with the idea of things separated becoming one. Mankind is at enmity with God and needs to be reconciled to Him.
It could be argued that covering is the result of reconciliation, but really, the result is an EXCHANGE. The exchange can be best summarized as an exchange of death for life. According to John J. Parsons, author of Hebrew 4 Christians .com, the English translation for the Jewish Day of Atonement is Yom Kippur which can mean “ransom,” “substitute,” or “redeem.” In Parson’s estimation, the overarching idea is an exchange of one life for another.
The idea of a covering for sin in the way you would cover something over to hide it is prevalent in the Old Testament. The word for covering something over appears in the Old Testament roughly 160 times, and about half of those pertain to a covering of sin. These are variations of kipur, kapar, kasa, and are usually translated in English as “cover” or “atonement.” The word atonement has a late etymology (16th century) and has religious implications. This shouldn’t surprise us because the Old Testament pointed to the eradication of sin on the cross while the Old Covenant covered, or held sin captive until Christ exchanged His life for ours:
Galatians 3:21 – Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
In the New Testament, the word atonement doesn’t appear. The KJV translates katallage as atonement, but elsewhere in Romans 5:10,11, 11:15, 1Cor 5:18, 7:11, 2Cor 5:19,20, the only other places the word appears, it is translated “reconciliation” or to be reconciled.
The word for “cover” in the New Testament (kalypto) appears four times; once for the admonishment to not use our freedom as a covering for sin (1Pet 2:16); twice in regard to love covering sin among Christians (1Pet 4:8, James 5:20), and one Old Testament reference to Psalm 32:1,2 in Romans 4:7. But the real test is in the Old Testament narratives which exemplify EXCHANGE. The first is the account of Abraham and Isaac:
Genesis 22:1 – After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
The angel of the Lord waited long enough to establish the fact that Isaac was as good as dead before stopping Abraham. The ram was then sacrificed in place of Isaac—this is an exchange of death for life. We learn from Hebrews that Abraham assumed God was going to raise Isaac from the dead, so Abraham may have understood far more about the coming Messiah than we would imagine (Heb 11:1-19).
The next example may be sanctified speculation, but I would like to enter it into the lesson:
Hebrews 11: 4 – By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Hebrews 12:24 – and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Genesis 4:1 – Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
God set a mark on Cain to preserve his life. This is the death of a righteous one that results in the preservation of one undeserving of life. Again, this may be speculative, but I offer it up for your consideration. Less speculative is the sacrifices demanded under the Old Testament law, particularly the Day of Atonement:
Leviticus 16:6 – “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel [scapegoat/goat of departure]. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
Leviticus 16:29 – “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. 30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever. 32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. 33 He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.
Leviticus 14:49 – To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. 51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall purify the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn. 53 Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.”
In addition, these sacrifices, especially the Day of Atonement, signified the taking away of sin rather than a mere covering:
Leviticus 16:21 – And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
When we believe in Christ, we are persuaded that He laid down His life for ours. We are persuaded that He bore all of our sins and paid the penalty of death for them. He also was resurrected as well. His death and resurrection resulted in three exchanges that mark the true gospel. These are three exchanges that exhibit true atonement.
1. An exchange of the old us for the new us. When we believed on Christ, the old us literally died with Christ, and the new us was resurrected with Him. This is the meaning of baptism; it pictures that transaction:
Romans 6:1 – What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
The denial of a literal spiritual death and resurrection resulting in a new person is NOT tantamount to the true gospel.
2. There must be a transaction of law. There must be a transfer of jurisdiction in regard to law. There must be an exchange of “under law” for “under grace.” It is an exchange of the law of sin and death that condemns for the law of liberty/law of the Spirit:
Galatians 4:21 – Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written…
Romans 3:21 – 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
We are justified apart from the law, but there is a law that bears witness to us. Unless we have a different relationship to the law than condemnation, there is no true gospel. A gospel that posits the idea that Christians are still under a law that can condemn us is a false one.
3. There must be a transaction of slavery. No unbeliever sins perfectly, and no believer obeys perfectly. Unbelievers are enslaved to unrighteousness and free to do good—believers are enslaved to righteousness and free to sin (Romans 6:20-23). Christ purchased us with His blood for service to His kingdom, and we were purchased from the slavery of the world (1Cor 7:23). Redemption is our resurrection when Christ takes full possession of us into His presence (Luke 21:28).
A true gospel must speak of these three transactions; you cannot have one without the other.
Sigh: Let’s Try This Again; THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS “LEGALISM”
Find the word, “legalism” in the Bible; not there. Find the concept; not there. Why? Because there is no such thing. Wrong application/interpretation of any kind is against the word of God. That’s only called one thing and one thing only: antinomianism. If that is too boring for you, Christ did call it one other thing: the traditions of men. Christ was very concerned with the traditions and teachings of men. Why? Because it produces ideas things like, “legalism.”
Legalism is a concept that supports the idea that Christians can unwittingly obey in a way that “builds fruits back into the instrument of justification” (John Piper). In other words, the idea is based on salvation of the justification sort being progressive instead of a finished work. Hence, how we obey in our Christian life becomes very tricky business. It also posits the following idea: thinking that we can please God through obedience is the root of all evil—it is the very fiber of our vile being to justify ourselves by law-keeping. However, such an attempt is impossible for a real Christian because they know that justification is a finished work that cannot be affected by anything we do.
So, as the theory goes, since it is impossible to obey the law, we look for “loopholes.” If we would just let go and let God, we wouldn’t sin as much because we know we can’t keep the law perfectly anyway. Notice that perfection in law-keeping is still the standard. What does that tell you? Right, the Christian is still, “under law” and that is a huge problem. “Under grace” does not mean that Jesus’ perfect obedience is imputed to us—it means that we now obey the “law of liberty” and are very able to do so. The legalism concept circumvents the law transaction that must be part of a true gospel. The law’s ability to condemn was ended by Christ; we now obey the law from the motive of love.
The Bible does address those under grace who have an unbiblically trained conscience that passes judgment on more mature Christians who have the liberty to partake in certain things. More mature Christians are not to persuade those who are convicted that the issue is sin, nor are they to practice the issue in front of the “weaker brother.” There is no “loophole” issue except in the legalism concept that is the traditions of men and that is what primarily concerned Christ.
No doubt, with the latest scandal concerning Bill Gothard, we must once again suffer a flurry of this nonsense, and worse yet, people are bringing these articles to my attention for the express purpose of annoying me.
I know not if Gothard is a Christian, but the Bible if VERY clear why people fall into this kind of sin; they obey sinful passions. Under law is synonymous with being enslaved to sinful passions, provoked by the law, and ultimately judged by the law, albeit free to do good (Romans 6:20). Under grace is synonymous with being enslaved to righteousness, provoked to do good by the law, and released from the condemnation of the law, albeit free to do evil. No unbeliever sins perfectly, and no believer obeys perfectly. It’s a direction dictated by an exchange of slavery and two different relationships to the law.
Hence, people love to annoy me with the following:
This is surely part of what Paul meant when he said, “The letter (the Law, the old covenant) kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The Law kills because it focuses (or it tends to be applied so as to focus) on external behaviors: how high is high, how good is good, how shiny is shiny.
But the Spirit, which changes us from the inside out, gives life.
No, this is “surely” NOT what Paul was talking about. The law is only death to those born “under the law” who we pray will be transformed and brought under the “law of liberty,” or the “law of the Spirit.” The law is the “law of sin and death” to unbelievers, not believers. The only man born into the world that was not under the curse of the law was Christ because He is able to be judged by it without condemnation. Yet, He bore its curse on the cross so that He could put an end to the law of sin and death for believers. This frees them to zealously pursue the law of liberty in order to please God without fear. Same law; different relationship.
Furthermore, the Spirit does NOT change us from the “inside out.” That’s a bunch of stinking boloney. Christians are called on to change behavior and thinking both. It’s not from the inside out only—IT’S BOTH. Sometimes obedience brings internal blessings (Phil 4:9), and sometimes a change of thinking results in different behavior—it’s both, not either/or.
End rant.
paul
The Pitiless Mean Streets of American Christianity
“Beware of any verbiage that implies that healing comes forth by ignoring the blood that cries out from the ground. This verbiage comes from the heart of the tyrant himself, or those who carry water for him.”
“Yes, we live in a day when the American church separates justice from love, and accepts the bribe of fellowship in exchange for justice. In the same way that we offer prayer in place of supplying need, we offer condolences in place of justice. And we side with the many in our silence.”
Here in Dayton, Ohio one roams the inner-city streets at their own risk. It’s a risk that you accept if you want to go there for some reason. Likewise, people still want to go to the institutional American church for some reason, and do so at their own risk. But there is one difference: if you get mugged downtown, you might get justice, it’s a consolation prize.
Per the usual, something in my life provokes a post like this, and this post is no different. I don’t get into conspiratorial topics in my writings for two reasons: it’s hard enough getting Christians to believe the obvious and we should at least start there, and why talk about UFOs when identifiable fiendish opulence is dancing in the aisles and on the altars?
Nevertheless, if you do the research that I do, one thing becomes apparent: the New Calvinist movement that is crossing denominational lines and taking over the American church is not about the gospel, it’s about power, money, and politics. Frankly, the global aspirations of Al Mohler and many other Southern Baptist leaders are not unapparent, especially if you are well versed in Plato’s Republic. Yesterday, I was searching through information sent to me by others that a friend requested, and found myself in dark contemplation.
I keep a picture of the Jonestown aftermath in my office, the one where two adult women are embracing a toddler as they died the foretold “painless” death by spiked Kool-Aid. It’s an apt reminder for my sluggish heart that gravitates towards thinking well of those who look good and speak well. Yes, it was a protest because the US was going to take away their right to live in a socialist utopia because Jim Jones murdered a US Senator. While searching for the information, I also stumbled upon a clip about Chinese public executions that are commonplace in that culture. The story was good news that the “Peoples Supreme Court” is going to start reviewing the executions and the present rate of about ten executions a day may slow down.
Don’t you know, it’s always about the “people.” Jim Jones’ “People’s Temple” and the Chinese “People’s Supreme Court,” and by the way, your local Reformed elder “wuvs you.” Bad results are always beside the point because people are stubborn and constantly want to think for themselves. If everyone would just obey for a change, all would see that elitists know what they are talking about in regard to the “collective good.” You see, all of the slaughter is for you, you are wuved. And John Calvin wuved you. He wuved you soooo much that he wrote a weally big letter to the king of France called the Calvin Institutes calling for the execution of all who disagreed with him, because like all Platonists, he knows about the “collective good.” Yes, no wonder John Piper went to Geneva and announced his world vision for Calvin’s “Post Tenebras Lux.” Piper calls it a “wonder.” Yes indeed. You are wuved.
And in the midst of all this, I received an email from someone of my past who still wuvs me soooo much. He is concerned because I am, yawn, and here we go again, “bitter.” And why am I bitter? Well, that’s just too rich, but let me do a little prerequisite. In regard to the elitists that want to rule the world, premise is out and authority is in. Little brats that ask mommy why are the best picture: “Why?” ‘Because I said so.’” In this picture, you’re the brat and John Calvin is the mommy. It’s about the collective good; it’s about things you can’t comprehend.
The person who contacted me summarily dismissed seven years of research and informed me of my reality. He understands none of it, but this he does understand: we can’t understand, and my “glory story” is not in touch with Luther’s “cross story.” Now listen up, this is the tie that binds the American church with every murdering tyrant that ever breathed air on the earth:
“I am truly very sorry for the difficult things that have happened in your life. This is why it is difficult to offer correction. We will always be disappointed with people in the end, but thank God, if we keep our focus on Him, he is a faithful anchor of peace for our souls. What happens to us is not nearly as important as how we respond to it. I fear your response is not healing, but rather further hurtful to you and others around you. Again, I speak in gentleness, but if you place me in a position to have to speak uncomfortable truths to you, please do not assume I am answering you in a hateful tone.”
Yes, we will always be “disappointed” with the Calvinesque of the world. Calvin probably did not have to slaughter nearly as many as he did for our sake. Luther could have hated the Jews a little less, and Zwingli could have drowned fewer Anabaptists. The execution mode mocked their audacity to refute Luther and Calvin’s position on water baptism. And we are “disappointed” with Reformed elders in this country who merely improvise in their persecutions, but we must remember that it is all for us.
Beware of any verbiage that accuses Christ of not being concerned with justice in the here and now. Beware of any verbiage that implies that Christ does not hold us accountable for justice. Beware of any verbiage that implies that healing comes forth by ignoring the blood that cries out from the ground. This verbiage comes from the heart of the tyrant himself, or those who carry water for him.
And the words of a heartless tyrant ALWAYS come dressed in the garb of “love,” and in the political realm, it is always the “people’s” guillotine. The one built for them, and for their sake, adorned with the finest and sharpest blade available—only the finest for the people.
Exodus 22:15-17
You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,
Exodus 23:6
“You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit.
Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 16:18
“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
Deuteronomy 16:19
You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.
Deuteronomy 27:19
“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Yes, we live in a day when the American church separates justice from love, and accepts the bribe of fellowship in exchange for justice. In the same way that we offer prayer in place of supplying need, we offer condolences in place of justice. And we side with the many in our silence.
As I looked for the data, and perused the many pictures of beautiful Chinese damsels who had half their heads blown off with an AK-47 for some trivial offence, I wondered why God ever allowed sin to come into the world. I plunged into a dark pit of doubt and darkness. I found myself in utter despair and began to attempt to climb my way out with my thoughts. I prayed to the God I doubted to save me with reason. As I clawed desperately for hope, I reasoned that perhaps I do not even understand the basic premises of metaphysics that I assume. As I looked at those pictures, I knew that at times trust can be a bitch. And then the thought came…
For whatever reason God allowed sin to come into the world, He gave His only Son to heal it. And when He was on earth, His devotion to the Father never wavered. The Father listened as His Son cried out to Him in the passion. Christ Himself wept over Jerusalem. These thoughts brought light into my mind and the dark spirit fled—my prayers were answered. God despises sin more than I ever have or will, and has given more than anyone because of it. In allowing sin into the world, His solution was a burden that only God Himself could bear. So, I still do not know why, but the only way of hope is clear.
But this I do know: God cares just as much about what happens to us as our response. The silent lamb will return as a roaring Lion who will shake the earth. It is our duty to do all we can for justice in the here and now to obtain justice for the wronged. We are to be like Christ in the here and now. Be sure of this: justice, either now or future is a down payment for healing. Let those who separate justice from love be accursed. The repentance of our persecutors is the most efficacious to the healing process, and this is also being denied victims wholesale in the American church. The victims are offended, no one is held accountable, and justice is withheld, but the gospel has much to say about repentance and justice, and it is said to EVERYONE including those who think they speak for God.
It all comes from the same anti-Christ logic. It is the collective good over the one in 99. Today’s Reformed “shepherd” doesn’t understand that one life has already been given for the collective good, and their ignorance is predicated on the fact that they do not know Christ or anything of His justice. This is their kinship with the worst of any murdering mystic depot, and the very reason that they adore John Calvin.
To those who have joined hands with TANC, find a good picture of the Chinese damsels and put it in your wallet or purse with the pictures of your loved ones. It is a reminder that we must never stop fighting against tyranny in the church. It is a reminder that we must cry out in the wilderness if we have to. Tyranny in the church is the same logic that pulls the trigger on an AK-47.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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