Atonement

Leviticus 1:4-5 – He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Exodus 32:30 – The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

Leviticus 17:11 – 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.

Exodus 29:19-20 – “You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram, and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar.

Hebrews 12:24 – But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

1 Peter 1:1-2 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Application:

• ·         Moses would make atonement for Israel’s sin by making urgent intercession before God, as the mediator God had appointed between Himself and Israel. Jesus Christ, the great Mediator, offered Himself on the cross to make atonement for His people.
• ·         The blood shed in the sacrifices was sacred. Since life was sacred, blood had to be treated with respect. Eating blood was therefore strictly forbidden. Practically every sacrifice included the sprinkling or smearing of blood on the altar or within the tabernacle, thus teaching that atonement involves the substitution of life for life. The blood of the Old Testament sacrifice pointed forward to the blood of the Lamb of God, who obtained for His people eternal redemption. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
• ·         Right ears were symbolizing sensitivity to God and His word. Right hands and right feet were symbolizing a life of service to others on God’s behalf.
• ·         Abel’s blood cried out for justice and retribution, whereas the blood of Jesus shed on the cross speaks of forgiveness and reconciliation.
• ·         The Spirit’s sanctifying leads to obedient saving faith and cleansing from sin.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV