When Paul speaks of Christ being presented as “a sacrifice of atonement” in Romans 3:25 he is alluding to the temple sacrifices that were well known to the Jews. ‘Atonement’ is the satisfaction of justice. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were presented for individuals to make atonement for them. An individual would bring the prescribed animal, say a young bull, to the temple. He would place his hand on the animal’s head as its throat was cut. The idea was that he was identifying with the animal. It was seen as having died in his place, as his substitute, to pay for his sin. God wanted the Israelites to enact this to show them how a holy God could accept a sinful people. The sacrifices were like an interactive lesson in salvation theology. The sacrifices of the temple system were of course just symbols pointing to Christ who is the ultimate and only sacrifice for sin. He is our substitute. Whenever I see portrayals of Christ’s suffering and death, whether in art or film, I can’t help but think, “That should have been me”. He suffered in my place and completely fulfilled the demands of justice against me. This means that it is wrong of me to wallow in feelings of guilt once I have confessed my sins to God and asked for forgiveness. To wallow in guilt would be an insult to God who has paid such a great price to make me innocent. Be conscious of this when you entertain feelings of guilt. How are you thereby responding to the price that God paid for you in Christ?
Receive God’s forgiveness for all your past sins.
Read Psalm 32 and Romans 3:25-26
