Fundamentals of the Faith: Atonement

As we enter the final week of our Fundamentals of the Faith series, it is worth pausing for a moment to remember where we have been. We have spent time talking about forgiveness, about life and how we are all created by God, for his glory, and in his image, about salvation by grace through faith, and last week I talked about the divine inspiration of Scripture. Each of these truths stands strong on its own, but none of them was meant to stand alone. They are interconnected, each one supporting the other, forming together a foundation that holds up the Christian faith.

Today, we conclude with the one fundamental that ties all of those together: the atonement. This is the pillar that holds all the others together. Without atonement, forgiveness would have no grounding, salvation would have no power, and the promise of new life would be little more than an optimistic outlook. Even the Bible itself would lose its central purpose. The atonement is the thread that runs through the whole story of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, showing us how a holy God can dwell with sinful people.

So, before we begin, it would be helpful to define exactly what atonement is. At its core, atonement is God’s work on behalf of sinners to reconcile or reunite them to Himself. It is the divine work that confronts and resolves the problem of human sin so that people may enjoy full fellowship with a holy God, not only in this life but also in the life to come. Atonement is God stepping into our brokenness and doing what we could never do for ourselves. We are introduced to the doctrine of atonement in the book of Leviticus, and it describes five offerings God commanded Israel to make regularly. They are the ascension offering, the gift offering, the peace offering, the purification offering, and the guilt offering. Each of these offerings is about correcting a wrong committed by Israel and re-entering into a relationship with God in a stance of humility and surrender.

Today, we will look at John 1:29–43 and then take an overview of Genesis 22. Together, these passages will help us understand how atonement works and how God intended to use it for His glory and for our benefit.

John 1:29–34

In John 1:29, we read that the day after John the Baptist’s encounter with the religious leaders, he sees Jesus approaching and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” For most of us, that statement sounds familiar and even comforting. We have heard it in sermons, songs, and Scripture readings for most of our lives. Because we live on this side of the cross and resurrection, we immediately understand what John is saying. But for those who first heard those words, it would have been shocking and confusing.

The Jews were expecting a Messiah, but not this kind. They were looking for someone strong, charismatic, and powerful, someone who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel as God’s nation. They expected a conquering king, not a suffering servant. They never imagined that the Messiah would be humiliated, rejected, and ultimately killed like a criminal. The idea that God’s chosen one would be described as a lamb, a sacrificial lamb, would not have fit their expectations at all.

D. A. Carson writes that modern Christians are so familiar with this phrase that it takes effort to realize how unusual it would have sounded before the death of Jesus. “Lamb of God” was not an obvious or common messianic title. It was not what the people were waiting for, and yet it was exactly what they needed.

John knew that Jesus was the Messiah, not because of popular opinion, but because of divine confirmation. When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit descended on Him like a dove and remained on Him. That moment marked Jesus as God's chosen one. John publicly proclaims this truth, not only for the sake of the crowd, but as a declaration of God’s redemptive plan.

The Significance of Jesus as the Lamb
Now that we can look back with the full testimony of Scripture, we see how significant it is that Jesus is called the Lamb of God. This image is rooted in the Old Testament sacrificial system and is perfectly fulfilled in Christ. Here are several ways that Jesus, as the Lamb, points us to the truth of the atonement.

1. Jesus as the Daily Sacrifice
In Exodus 29:38 and Numbers 28:3-4, God commanded Israel to offer two lambs each day, one in the morning and one in the evening. These sacrifices were offered on behalf of the entire nation, reminding the people continually of their need for forgiveness and cleansing. Day after day, year after year, blood was shed as a reminder that sin brings separation from God.
Jesus fulfills this pattern. He is the final and perfect sacrifice. His death does not need to be repeated, because His blood accomplished what the daily sacrifices never could: it permanently dealt with sin once and for all.

2. Jesus as the Scapegoat
Leviticus 16:9 – 11, describes the Day of Atonement, the one day each year when the high priest made atonement for the sins of the nation. Two goats were chosen. One was sacrificed as a sin offering. The second, the scapegoat, had the people's sins symbolically placed upon it and was sent away into the wilderness, bearing the nation’s guilt far from the camp.
This powerful image is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus not only died for our sins, but He also carried them away. Through His sacrifice, our guilt is removed, and our relationship with God is restored.

3. Jesus as the Lamb in Genesis 22
Genesis 22 is one of the most challenging passages in the Bible. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It raises difficult-to-answer questions. Why would God ask this? Why test Abraham in such a painful way?
But when we look at the larger picture, we begin to see what God is revealing. This story is not only about Abraham’s obedience; it also foreshadows what God Himself would one day do. Isaac is a picture of Christ. He is the beloved son, the promised one, the bearer of hope for future generations.
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When Abraham lifts the knife, God provides a ram in Isaac’s place. Centuries later, God would not spare His own Son. Instead, He would provide Jesus as the sacrifice for all who believe.

4. Jesus as the Guilt Offering
Leviticus 4 and Numbers 6 describe offerings made when someone sinned unintentionally. A flawless animal would die in the place of the guilty person. Isaiah 53 later points forward to the Messiah, saying that He would be led like a lamb to the slaughter.
Jesus bore our guilt and paid the price we could never pay.

5. The Victorious Lamb
Revelation 7 and 17 show us a different picture of the Lamb, not one of suffering, but of victory. The Lamb who was slain is now reigning in glory. He is victorious over sin, death, and every power that stands against God.

In verses 30–34, John testifies that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. He explains that although Jesus came after him in time, He existed before him in eternity. John also recounts the moment of Jesus’ baptism, when the Spirit descended and remained on Him, confirming His divine calling.
John admits that before this, he did not fully understand who Jesus was, even though they were related. But God revealed the truth to him, and he now bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God.

Conclusion
The doctrine of the atonement is not meant to stay in our heads, it is meant to shape our hearts, our worship, and the way we live.

So, what can we take away from today’s message?

First and foremost, regardless of whether John the Baptist and those standing around him fully understood the weight of his words at the time, we can take great comfort in them today. We know what “Behold, the Lamb of God” truly means.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

He willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice in our place so that we would not have to face the punishment our sin deserves.

He was sacrificed not for one nation, not for one generation, but for the sins of the world.
In His sacrifice, His death became our atonement, making us “at one” with God again. His blood satisfied the righteous wrath of God and restored what sin had broken.

Through His death and resurrection, all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior are cleansed from all unrighteousness and welcomed into new life.

That is what we proclaim when we come to the table. Communion is not just a ritual, it is a declaration. It is a visible reminder of what Christ has done for us and a proclamation to the world that we belong to Him.

Before we close, I want to offer you a simple challenge for the week ahead. Over the next six days, take time to read the passages I referenced earlier that point to the significance of the Lamb. If you were not able to write them down, here they are again:

• Day 1: Exodus 29 and Numbers 28
• Day 2: Leviticus 16
• Day 3: Genesis 22
• Day 4: Leviticus 4 and Numbers 6
• Day 5: Isaiah 53
• Day 6: Revelation 7 and Revelation 17
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As you read through these Scriptures, reflect on how Jesus fulfills every one of these pictures and promises. And most of all, reflect on the incredible truth that we no longer have to live under the weight of endless sacrifices, guilt, and fear—because Jesus is the once-for-all sacrifice. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

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