| − | The [[Bible]] teaches that Christ is our covering or atonement. The sin is washed white as snow, blotted out, not remembered any more, taken away, washed away, passed away, entirely cleansed, purified, purged, gone forever, in Christ Jesus through the atonement in his blood. The forgiven Christian is in him, and in him is no sin.
| + | In [[Protestantism|Protestant Christian]] doctrine, atonement is a cover or covering for sin (Hebrew ''kippur''; French ''coiffure''; English ''coffer'', ''cover''). The sinner cannot remove the blot themselves, it can only be covered or atoned for. This is clearly expressed in [[Martin Luther]]'s commentaries on [[Saint Paul]]'s Letters to the [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]]<ref>[http://messiahskingdom.com/resources/The-Gospel/luther-romans.pdf Preface to Romans by Martin Luther (1552), ''The Works of Martin Luther'', Volume VI (pp. 447–462), Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia]</ref> and the [[Galatians]],<ref>[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Luther%20Commentary%20on%20Galatians.pdf A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, by Martin Luther (ntslibrary.com)] pdf</ref> and in [[John Calvin]]'s ''Institutes of the Christian Religion''.<ref>[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Calvin%20Institutes%20of%20Christian%20Religion.pdf ''The Institutes of the Christian Religion'' by John Calvin (ntslibrary.com)] pdf</ref> See also [[Calvinism]]. |
| − | In [[Protestantism|Protestant Christian]] doctrine, atonement is a cover or covering for sin (Hebrew ''kippur''; French ''coiffure''; English ''coffer'', ''cover''). The sinner cannot remove the blot themselves, it can only be covered or atoned for. This is clearly expressed in [[Martin Luther]]'s commentaries on [[Saint Paul]]'s Letters to the [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]]<ref>[http://messiahskingdom.com/resources/The-Gospel/luther-romans.pdf Preface to Romans by Martin Luther (1552), ''The Works of Martin Luther'', Volume VI (pp. 447–462), Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia]</ref> and the [[Galatians]],<ref>[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Luther%20Commentary%20on%20Galatians.pdf A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, by Martin Luther (ntslibrary.com)] pdf</ref> and in [[John Calvin]]'s ''Institutes of the Christian Religion''.<ref>[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Calvin%20Institutes%20of%20Christian%20Religion.pdf ''The Institutes of the Christian Religion'' by John Calvin (ntslibrary.com)] pdf</ref> See also [[Calvinism]]. [[Roman Catholic]] doctrine teaches the sinner must undergo a final purging of their own sins themselves in [[Purgatory]] because the blood of Jesus is insufficient to purge all sin.<br>Compare the following verses (KJV, ''boldface emphasis added''):<br>[http://biblehub.com/psalms/103-12.htm Psalm 103:12] <br>—"As far as the east is from the west, ''so'' far hath he '''removed''' our transgressions from us." <br>[http://biblehub.com/isaiah/1-18.htm Isaiah 1:18] <br>—"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the L<small>ORD</small>: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be '''white as snow'''; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." <br>[http://biblehub.com/isaiah/35-9.htm Isaiah 35:9] <br>—"And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of '''holiness'''; the '''unclean shall not pass over it''';". <br>[http://biblehub.com/isaiah/43-25.htm Isaiah 43:25] <br>—"I, ''even'' I, ''am'' he that '''blotteth out''' thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will '''not remember''' thy sins." <br>[http://biblehub.com/john/1-29.htm John 1:29] <br>—"Behold the Lamb of God, which '''taketh away''' the sin of the world." <br>[http://biblehub.com/acts/22-16.htm Acts 22:16] <br>—"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and '''wash away''' thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." <br>[http://biblehub.com/romans/6-22.htm Romans 6:22] <br>—"But now being '''made free from sin''', and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto '''holiness''', and the end everlasting life." <br>[http://biblehub.com/romans/11-27.htm Romans 11:27] <br>—"For this ''is'' my covenant unto them, when I shall '''take away''' their sins." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-11.htm 1 Corinthians 6:11] <br>—"And such were some of you: but ye are '''washed''', but ye are '''[[Holy|sanctified]]''', but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." <br>[http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-17.htm 2 Corinthians 5:17] <br>—"Therefore if any man ''be'' in Christ, ''he is'' a '''new''' creature: old things are '''passed away'''; behold, all things are become new." <br>[http://biblehub.com/ephesians/1-4.htm Ephesians 1:4] <br>—"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be '''holy''' and '''without blame''' before him in love:". <br>[http://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-25.htm Ephesians 5:25]; [http://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-26.htm 5:26]; [http://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-27.htm 5:27] <br>—"Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might [[Holy|sanctify]] and '''cleanse''' it with the '''washing''' of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, '''not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing'''; but that it should be '''holy''' and '''without blemish'''." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-5.htm 1 Timothy 1:5] <br>—"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a '''pure''' heart, and ''of'' a good conscience, and ''of'' faith unfeigned:". <br>[http://biblehub.com/titus/2-14.htm Titus 2:14] <br>—[Jesus Christ] "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and '''purify''' unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." <br>[http://biblehub.com/titus/3-5.htm Titus 3:5] <br>—"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the '''washing''' of regeneration, and '''renewing''' of the Holy Ghost;". <br>[http://biblehub.com/hebrews/9-14.htm Hebrews 9:14] <br>—"but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to '''put away sin''' by the sacrifice of himself." <br>[http://biblehub.com/hebrews/9-26.htm Hebrews 9:26] <br>—"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, '''purge''' your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" <br>[http://biblehub.com/2_peter/1-9.htm 2 Peter 1:9] <br>—"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was '''purged''' from his old sins." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/1-7.htm 1 John 1:7] <br>—"and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son '''cleanseth''' us from all sin." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/1-9.htm 1 John 1:9] <br>—"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us ''our'' sins, and to '''cleanse''' us from all unrighteousness." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/3-5.htm 1 John 3:5] <br>—"And ye know that he was manifested to '''take away''' our sins; and '''in him is no sin'''". <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/4-13.htm 1 John 4:13] <br>—"Hereby know we that we dwell '''in him''', and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/5-20.htm 1 John 5:20] <br>—"and we are '''in him''' that is true, ''even'' '''in''' his Son Jesus Christ." <ref>1 John 3:5; 4:13; 5:20. If in him is no sin, and the sin or blot remains in Christians covered over and '''''never''''' removed, then Christians can '''''never''''' be in him, because "in him is no sin". But according to these verses in '''1 John''' Christians are "in him", and therefore no sin remains in them, because they are in him, and in him is no sin, because he has taken their sins away.</ref> <br>[http://biblehub.com/revelation/1-5.htm Revelation 1:5] <br>—"Unto him that loved us, and '''washed us from our sins''' in his own blood." <br>[http://biblehub.com/revelation/7-14.htm Revelation 7:14] <br>—"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have '''washed''' their robes, and made them '''white''' in the blood of the Lamb."
| + | Atonement is most often used to mean the reconciliation of [[God]] and [[man]] through the death of [[Jesus Christ]]. Christ died once for all (Hebrews 6:10, 1 Peter 3:18) to atone for sin. To reject this [[axiom]] is to leave a myriad of sins, both personally, and collectively of a society, unaccounted for and exposed. (Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:28-31; 2 Peter 1:9.) [[Roman Catholic]] doctrine teaches the sinner must undergo a final purging of their own sins themselves in [[Purgatory]] because the blood of Jesus is insufficient to purge all sin.<br>Compare the following verses (KJV, ''boldface emphasis added''):<br>[http://biblehub.com/psalms/103-12.htm Psalm 103:12] <br>—"As far as the east is from the west, ''so'' far hath he '''removed''' our transgressions from us." <br>[http://biblehub.com/isaiah/1-18.htm Isaiah 1:18] <br>—"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the L<small>ORD</small>: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be '''white as snow'''; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." <br>[http://biblehub.com/isaiah/35-9.htm Isaiah 35:9] <br>—"And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of '''holiness'''; the '''unclean shall not pass over it''';". <br>[http://biblehub.com/isaiah/43-25.htm Isaiah 43:25] <br>—"I, ''even'' I, ''am'' he that '''blotteth out''' thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will '''not remember''' thy sins." <br>[http://biblehub.com/john/1-29.htm John 1:29] <br>—"Behold the Lamb of God, which '''taketh away''' the sin of the world." <br>[http://biblehub.com/acts/22-16.htm Acts 22:16] <br>—"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and '''wash away''' thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." <br>[http://biblehub.com/romans/6-22.htm Romans 6:22] <br>—"But now being '''made free from sin''', and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto '''holiness''', and the end everlasting life." <br>[http://biblehub.com/romans/11-27.htm Romans 11:27] <br>—"For this ''is'' my covenant unto them, when I shall '''take away''' their sins." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-11.htm 1 Corinthians 6:11] <br>—"And such were some of you: but ye are '''washed''', but ye are '''[[Holy|sanctified]]''', but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." <br>[http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-17.htm 2 Corinthians 5:17] <br>—"Therefore if any man ''be'' in Christ, ''he is'' a '''new''' creature: old things are '''passed away'''; behold, all things are become new." <br>[http://biblehub.com/ephesians/1-4.htm Ephesians 1:4] <br>—"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be '''holy''' and '''without blame''' before him in love:". <br>[http://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-25.htm Ephesians 5:25]; [http://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-26.htm 5:26]; [http://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-27.htm 5:27] <br>—"Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might [[Holy|sanctify]] and '''cleanse''' it with the '''washing''' of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, '''not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing'''; but that it should be '''holy''' and '''without blemish'''." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-5.htm 1 Timothy 1:5] <br>—"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a '''pure''' heart, and ''of'' a good conscience, and ''of'' faith unfeigned:". <br>[http://biblehub.com/titus/2-14.htm Titus 2:14] <br>—[Jesus Christ] "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and '''purify''' unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." <br>[http://biblehub.com/titus/3-5.htm Titus 3:5] <br>—"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the '''washing''' of regeneration, and '''renewing''' of the Holy Ghost;". <br>[http://biblehub.com/hebrews/9-14.htm Hebrews 9:14] <br>—"but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to '''put away sin''' by the sacrifice of himself." <br>[http://biblehub.com/hebrews/9-26.htm Hebrews 9:26] <br>—"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, '''purge''' your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" <br>[http://biblehub.com/2_peter/1-9.htm 2 Peter 1:9] <br>—"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was '''purged''' from his old sins." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/1-7.htm 1 John 1:7] <br>—"and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son '''cleanseth''' us from all sin." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/1-9.htm 1 John 1:9] <br>—"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us ''our'' sins, and to '''cleanse''' us from all unrighteousness." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/3-5.htm 1 John 3:5] <br>—"And ye know that he was manifested to '''take away''' our sins; and '''in him is no sin'''". <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/4-13.htm 1 John 4:13] <br>—"Hereby know we that we dwell '''in him''', and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." <br>[http://biblehub.com/1_john/5-20.htm 1 John 5:20] <br>—"and we are '''in him''' that is true, ''even'' '''in''' his Son Jesus Christ." <ref>1 John 3:5; 4:13; 5:20. If in him is no sin, and the sin or blot remains in Christians covered over and '''''never''''' removed, then Christians can '''''never''''' be in him, because "in him is no sin". But according to these verses in '''1 John''' Christians are "in him", and therefore no sin remains in them, because they are in him, and in him is no sin, because he has taken their sins away.</ref> <br>[http://biblehub.com/revelation/1-5.htm Revelation 1:5] <br>—"Unto him that loved us, and '''washed us from our sins''' in his own blood." <br>[http://biblehub.com/revelation/7-14.htm Revelation 7:14] <br>—"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have '''washed''' their robes, and made them '''white''' in the blood of the Lamb." |