Discrepancies of Interpretation
The Atonement Doctrine
This writing is about the doctrine that is the mainstay of Christian beliefs, which is that Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins and that the shedding of his blood on the cross was for the remission of our sins. That being washed in the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
This belief is so totally erroneous it’s hard to know where to start, so I will start with some original scriptural verses to set up the narrative.
KJV John 1:29 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Leviticus 4 32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
Notice: In John 1:29 John the Baptist is referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Jesus’ ministry had not yet started at this point.
This sin sacrifice referred to in Leviticus 4:34-35 is the priests slaying the perfect without blemish sacrificial lamb and sprinkling its blood about the alter to make an atonement for sin and for the forgiveness of sin.
KJV Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
This verse in particular is referring to the Levitical sin offering (by the law) blood sacrifice of a perfect lamb without blemish for the remission of sin.
Sometime after Jesus’ departure, the ones writing the gospels in reference to his crucifixion rationalized that the perfect “Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world”, that John declared at Jesus’ baptism was the one and the same sin offering sacrifice.
Though Jesus had told his apostles on several occasions that the Jewish Sanhedrin authorities were going to put him to death, he never said anything at any time that it was his death that was going to be a sin offering sacrifice.
KJV Mark 10:45
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
ransom /răn′səm/
noun
- The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price.
- The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
- A redemption from sin and its consequences
This verse has been interpreted by Christianity to mean that to give his life meant to die, whereas Jesus’ statement actually meant that he would live his life fully for the salvation of sinners through his ministry to the whole world. This is doing his Fathers Will and fulfilling his life’s mission.
Only later after his crucifixion was the idea of the sacrificial lamb for the remission of sin attached to his death on the cross, and his bleeding the blood sacrifice of Levitical tradition was thought to be the saving blood of salvation that he supposedly said he would shed for our redemption.
Jesus’ life and teaching is for a life of living service and obedience to his commandments, as he lived and showed in his lifetime one that is pleasing to his Father by following his commandments, and we can also live a life that is pleasing to our heavenly Creator Father by believing in, trusting, and obeying his commandments.
In reference to the Atonement doctrine I would share another distortion that has been spread throughout Christianity. And that is in referring to the cup of the remembrance during the Last Supper, the cup of WINE in KJV Mat 26: 28 “For this (cup of wine) is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Again, first: this is a reference to the Levitical sin offering where the priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial lamb over the alter and this would make an atonement and a forgiveness of sin. The Wine is representing the blood.
Second, in the next verse, 29, its stated and shows that it is the wine that is representing the blood of the new testament. “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”
So again, the reference is to the Wine being the symbol for the blood, NOT Jesus’ actual blood from dying on the cross.