What is The Atonement?

Having just gotten through Leviticus and half of Numbers being read on a dramatized CD (forgive my own faulty faith biases) I’m eager to offer feedback on this sensitive topic:OT sacrifices seemed a ”covering’ for *minor* sin(s); death for *major* sins (see below).The land of Canaan was full of major sins (e.g., adultery, witchcraft, murder, *profaning*, bestiality, incest, rape, burning of children, etc.). Essentially, the “land would spew them out” if *repentance* and/or *holiness* was not attained.There were sin-offerings, whole-burnt offerings, wave-offerings, trespass-offerings, wave-offerings, scape-goats, atonement(s), etc., and extremely complex ordinances pertaining to a “very holy”, “pure and holy”, and “most holy” God and people.Many sincere Christians that I know eat this stuff up: They perceive God-looking-at-Jesus Christ’s *full sacrificial atonement* instead of the *hell-fire we deserve*. Hence, every sacrifice typifies a *bloody* Christ. (Ziporah, Mose’s wife, called Moses “a bloody man”).Now (as an aspiring theist), how am I supposed to approach a very holy God with nothing but my *bloody* sinful nature and unholy works?Seems it behooves my conscience to grab an *eternal sacrifice* as a *peace-offering* if at all possible, as I come face-to-face with the Holy One. Hence, while I care about Christ’s example of life as most excellent . His Passover-sacrifice and Resurrection on High seems:
1) More reliable hell-fire-insurance.
2) More self-sacrificing example of love.
3) More parsimonious a mechanism to face my “pure and holy” Maker

Seems there is no *divine* loving-forgiveness (in scriptures) SANS sacrifice.

Ouch, I should have known that was coming.I strongly speculate (by my personal experience only), that:
Loving-forgiveness in humans is patient, longsuffering, sacrificial (in cheerfulness), looking at Christ's vicarious sacrifice as exemplary (or something), and/or a suffering-event per se.Of course you can cite natural affections preside in local/family offenses; I won't disagree. When my kid sins, he/she's easy to excuse.But *sin* (which seems to be against God only (Psalm 51)) I can't logically forgive (without appeal to Christ's *holy* all-redeeming sacrifice).

Alright, I detect you're ready to concede (Rom 9.9-12) that Christ arose and ascended on high as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.Then would you say His sacrifice need be remembered as much as His resurrection and/or His ascension unto the Majesty on high? (1Cor15.1-3 and Heb 1)In other words, I puke at movies (like the Passion) which hypocrytically show *the whipping boy* with virtually no eternal power whatsoever. The *resurrection* seemed an incidental add-on to the seemingly arbitrary event portrayed by this movie and most evangelicals I know.Yet scriptures are clear to me (Rom 9.10, 1Cor 15) that Christ's gospel and/or forgiveness require resurrection power, rebirth and/or ascension into Holy places (by a Holy spirit), NOT JUST ATONEMENT (pardon the caps)

Actually, Jano, 'tis your feedback (and *firm footing*) in the gospel of *Christ's vicarious sufferings for our sins* vs. *resurrection of Christ* I had hoped to inquire upon (without getting off topic).Essentially, I strongly *suspect* that my believing/professing Christ's Atonement is fallacious without being *born into Christ's resurrection/ascension*. And the gospel MUST proclaim Christ’s Resurrection emphatically (I COR 15).I agree that Christ's Atonement is the raw-mechanism of all sacrificial-forgiveness and brotherly love, but *vibrant-faith* in that Atonement seems impossible without the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. See below:Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.1Pe 1:3 . begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:Likewise Sadducees and Devil(s) might perhaps believe in the Atonement for sin(s), but without benefit.

Thank you much for your feedback.

Regarding Ezekial's detailed vision of atonement sacrifices, extreme symmetries of measurements within the temple, precise parallel divisions of land inheritances for the 12 tribes of Israel, etc., and other levital excellencies . . Many *3-D* Christians perceive that vision was a legalistic *type* of the Apocalyptic Christ ruling and reigning the earth, and was valid for persons under Levitical dispensation(s), and, like the Law of Moses, was fulfilled in Christ and *done away with*.The Book of Revelation (and the entire NT for that matter) seems to portray the Lamb of God without any other sacrifices commemorating Christ. I realize psalms and prophets (Old Testament) state nations shall bring gifts and sacrifices to Jerusalem and offer bullocks upon the altar (similar to Ezekial’s verbatim).Seeing Christ’s eternal sacrifice was *bloody* enough for all ages, and that the *millennial reign of Christ ruling and reigning with a rod of iron* seems a Levitical dispensation of sorts, I can’t dogmatically refute your *commemorative sacrifices*.But I perceive there will be enough *grace* for many millennial inhabitants to *obey and believe* on the *Lamb of God*/Immanuel. At that time, all prior ages with their visionary sacrifices, may seem dreamy and metaphorical.One glance of the Lamb might be worth a thousand thousand bullock atonements, don’t you think?This message has been edited by Philip, 10-24-2005 11:43 AM