Closely related to faith is the doctrine of repentance (see Acts
20:21). To repent means to change one’s mind—to reconsider. It means to turn
from sin and follow Christ (see Acts 3:19). When we experience true heart-felt
faith in Christ, we change from following the ways of Satan to following the
ways of Christ.
3. Atonement
Soteriology includes the doctrine of atonement. In Christian
theology, atonement refers to the reconciliation of the broken fellowship
between God and man. This reconciliation was accomplished through the life and
death of Jesus.14 We can remember this concept of atonement by breaking the
word into parts: “at one ment.” We are made “at one” with God when we trust in
the sacrifice of Christ.
Under the Old Covenant of Law (Old Testament), the Hebrews
sacrificed animals to “atone” for their sins or “cover” their sins (see Lev.
16). Such sacrifices did not take away sins, but only prefigured the one
perfect sacrifice to come—Jesus Christ—the Lamb of
God, who takes away the sin of the world (see John 1:29). Under
the Old Covenant of Law, once each year, on the Day of Atonement, the High
Priest sacrificed animals to cover the sins of the Israelites. Christ, our High
Priest, made permanent atonement for our sins (see Hebrews 10:12). Christ did
not merely cover our sins; he removed them. So Christ is the mediator of the
New Covenant of Grace (New Testament). See Hebrews 8:6-13.
a. Propitiation
Propitiation means to satisfy God by providing an appropriate
sacrifice. So atonement means “reconciliation” and propitiation means
“satisfaction.” In order to satisfy God without compromising his justice, the
Israelite high priest sprinkled the blood of animals on the mercy seat (the top
of the Ark of the Covenant) on the Day of Atonement. The mercy seat was the
place where God met with the high priest. Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, is
the propitiation for our sins (see 1 John 4:10 KJV).
b. Priesthood of the Believer
Under the Old Covenant of Law, only the high priest could enter
the presence of God, in the Most Holy place of the Temple. And the high priest
could do so only once per year—on the Day of Atonement. When Christ died on the
cross, the veil in the Temple separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy
Place was torn in two from the top to the bottom (see Matt. 27:50,51). The
tearing of the veil symbolized that believers are now like priests, having
access directly to God. So we hold to the doctrine of the priesthood of the
believer. Jesus is our High Priest in heaven, so we do not need a priest on
earth to pray for us. We can come boldly before the throne of God’s grace (see
Hebrews 10:19-22 KJV). (For
details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)
