Completed Atonement

Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings
Holy Days
Day of Atonement

Romans 3:21-26  The Message

God Has Set Things Right

^21-24 But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

^25-26 God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.

For Reflection 

We all can come up with a long list of sins.  Most stem from violations of the ten commandments.  Some are derived from parables.  Some are culturally derived.  But, I will be willing to bet, most if not all, are individual sins.

We may long for community but, rarely do we see a connection between our sinning and the effect those sins have on the community.  Individuals spread sin like an infectious disease.  Hurtful words spoken by one yield hurtful words spoken by those who have been hurt.  What happens when we engage in gossip? Or unethical behavior in business? Or a government mired in divisiveness? Or a Christian group turns destructively in on itself?

Sin not only affects the sinner, but also, the community and who we are as a people of God, Christians.  Sin contaminates the sanctuary of God and threatens God's presence on Earth!

Will God ever leave because of our wanton disobedience?  God promises not to abandon us.  But, we sure make God's promise difficult to keep!

Pray

that you will be more aware of the sins you commit.  Pray that you will take special care in reducing your sins of omission. Pray that you will repent of your sin and strive for a righteous life.