Sin and Atonement: A Thought

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I’m reading a very interesting book, below is an excerpt from it regarding Sin and Atonement that I found to be very enlightening. I thought I’d share.

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“The concept of sin and atonement is not new to the human race, nor are laws and regulations. We are all subject to them every day of our lives. Therefore, there are laws in both the natural and the spiritual by which humanity must abide. The failure to do so subjects the one who broke the law to some form of an unpleasant act or chore to make restitution for the law that has been transgressed.

There is a reason for this process, which we call “punishment” in the secular sense, and “atonement” in the spiritual sense. The purpose of atonement is not intended for God’s satisfaction, just as paying a fine for speeding is not meant to enrich the presiding judge. Parents understand quite well how the system works. They, too, set rules (laws and regulations) for their children to abide by, though they know eventually some of them will be broken.

The purpose of these rules, as we all know, is for the protection and benefit of the child. Perhaps today’s most common rules for children are not to talk to strangers, and not to get in a stranger’s car; a very serious concern which can have dire consequences.

Our Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Descends from Heaven as a Dove

The same principle applies to the laws of God. They were given to protect and for maintaining order among humans. It was Moses and Jesus who stipulated that the laws were made to serve man, for our benefit, not for God’s benefit. So, as an example, how is God affected when people break their marriage vows? He is not. Perhaps grieved but not affected. The innocent children are affected and devastated by the divorce that usually follows such an act. In addition, at least one of the parents, if not both, will be very hurt emotionally. When we break God’s laws, we subject ourselves, our loved ones, and others to suffering and pain.

It grieves God when mankind suffers. Why does He not do something about it, some might ask. He did. Because of Adam’s sin, we must pay the prescribed punishment. It is a law of God that sin cannot go unpunished. The next best thing is to send mankind a Redeemer that can reconcile us back to God and a Comforter to help us through our daily trials (referring to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, respectively).

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ

The laws of sin and penalty are similar on earth as they are in the kingdom of God. There is a predetermined penalty for someone who steals a car, or who deliberately kicks in his neighbor’s door, etc. Whoever breaks the law must pay the prescribed (pre-determined) punishment. After doing so, the offender is forgiven and re-admitted into society. Likewise, after a child breaks a rule of the household, he or she must pay a price of his or her own sake, to learn to avoid harmful behavior. Once the price is paid, normalcy returns to the home. The parents hug the child and vice versa.

The same theory applies to the Kingdom of God. If God did not expect a law to be broken, He would not have attached a predetermined penalty to it.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)
“For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)”