We Believe In Jesus: The PriestSample

Priestly Atonement: Numbers 25:11-13

When atoning offerings were performed on behalf of faithful believers, they produced at least two important results, both of which relied on the future sacrifice of Christ for their effectiveness. The first result we’ll mention is expiation.

Expiation refers to the effect of the offering on the worshiper. It’s the removal of the guilt of sin from worshippers. This protects them from the wrath that God would otherwise pour out on them. Through expiation, the punishment for the worshippers’ sin is laid on the substitute, so that they are protected from the Lord’s judgment. 

Expiation is mentioned in places where sin is spoken of as being “covered” or “hidden,” such as Job 14:17, and Psalm 32:1, 5. It’s also apparent in passages that speak of sin or guilt being “removed,” such as Leviticus 10:17, Psalm 25:18, and Isaiah 6:7; and we see it in passages that speak of sin being “transferred” to a substitute, such as Isaiah 53:6.

A second result atoning offerings produced for believers was propitiation. Propitiation refers to the effect the offering has on God. Propitiation is the satisfaction of God’s justice and wrath against sin. Propitiation indicates that God’s wrath has found a place of expression and has been satisfied. Because of it, God is able to express kindness and love toward the worshipper without bypassing his justice.

Propitiation is indicated by passages that speak of God’s anger being satisfied or turned aside, such as Numbers 25:11-13 and Deuteronomy 13:16-17. 

The Old Testament sacrificial system is a great demonstration of a whole number of truths about God, but especially his mercy. We think of it often in terms of the provision of the animals as substitutes for the people in order to satisfy God's displeasure, his condemnation, his wrath. But we have to also remember that the entire motivation of this is driven by his love, his mercy — when we think of mercy, his pity towards us — tied to even his grace where we have that which we do not deserve. Leviticus 17:11 is very, very important here where the sacrificial system should not be viewed as the nation of Israel sort of making up this system in order to keep God on their side. No, this is God taking the initiative, in love, so that there would be a means by which he would be able to dwell with the nation. They would be able to dwell in his presence. They would be his people; he would be their God. All of that is demonstration of his mercy, of his love, of his grace. And all of it eventually points forward to his provision in Jesus Christ who is the fulfillment of this. So that in him what these sacrifices typified now have come to reality so that we now know God in a New Covenant sense. We now have direct access to him through our great sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ. – Dr. Stephen Wellum