The Meal That Heals

The Revelation Of The Atonement

THE REVELATION OF THE ATONEMENT “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:11 If I were to ask you what Jesus Christ accomplished for us through His sufferings, I would probably receive one answer: Christ died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. This answer would be correct but incomplete. According to the New Testament, Christ’s death on the cross was atonement for our sins, in the pattern of Old Testament sacrifices (Exodus 32:30). In fact, the word atonement is mentioned eighty-one times in the Bible, eighty of which are found in the Old Testament, and it alludes to the various animal offerings that would atone for man’s sins. Clearly, sin was the central outcome of man’s fall, but other consequences followed. Both sin and sickness became a reality after Adam was expelled from the garden. For this reason, early in Scripture the Almighty God revealed Himself as a healer to those who would trust Him. Abraham prayed for Abimelech so that his wife and maidservants

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