The death of Jesus was not an "Atoning Sacrifice"

“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (1 John 2:2).”

Atonement; A covering over something in order to preserve it; in order to enhance what it is. By enhancing something this means that whatever is covered has been memorialized or preserved and is not going away. It will be remembered. In the Old Testament when animals were sacrificed for the sins of the people, the blood actually would cover whatever it is was they were sacrificed on. It was a form of preserving sins. Some Christians don’t know this and I don’t believe that when they use phrases like, “the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ” they are thinking of this definition as they say it. However, how many who say this type of thing will continue to ask God to forgive their sins? How many people believe their past sins are forgiven, but not their future sins? I have even met people that believe that when they step into heaven that God will force them to sit and watch every sin they have ever committed. Unfortunately, some translations of the Bible will use the word atonement which only gives more validity to this belief. Now, my job is not to correct everybody who believes differently than I do. My hope is that some will look deeper into what they believe about forgiveness and perhaps be set free to pursue a deeper understanding of their God.  The next time you sin and your first inclination is to seek forgiveness from God through one of the numerous sacrifices Christianity has made available, ask God, “Am I missing something here, Lord?” Perhaps His answer will contain another word other than atonement; propitiation.

Propitiation means that your sins have been taken away, never to be remembered again. When Jesus died for our sins, He did so because now our sins will never again come between us and our God! Remember John the Baptist said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)!” He said takes away the sin of the world, not atones for the sin of the world. Jesus said, “It is finished (John 19:30).” He didn’t say, “I have more work to do.” Paul said, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19).” Paul didn’t say God was counting people’s sins against them. The author of Hebrews said, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary (Hebrews 10:17-18).” The author of Hebrews did not say God continues to remember our sins and that we need to keep performing sacrifices (asking forgiveness, answering altar calls, keeping short accounts, repeating the Lord’s Prayer, etc). All the sins you will ever commit in this life were taken away forever at the Cross; never to be remembered again. So, what do we do when we sin? We thank God because we recognize that our sin is so terrible that it deserved the death of God as payment. Next, we “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).” This is the only way we can get to know our God and have a relationship with Him; our sins are no longer separating us from Him. Think about it, if our sins are only covered (i.e. atoned for) then they can be uncovered as well. God loves you and love "keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5)." Atonement keeps record of wrongs. Propitiation does not keep record of wrongs. Which one is an act of love?