How do we pay for or atone for sins?

In the major non-christian religions:

good deeds outweighing the bad or erasing them
acknowledging your wrong and not doing it again, and doing right
reciting a chant or prayer multiple times (penance)
fasting
washing
payment (money or goods usually)

How does this justify or undo a sin in an acceptable way?

In Christianity there is a completely different answer/solution as to how sin is paid for and it is the only manner in which a sin can truly be wiped away from our ledger.

The Wages of Sin

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

God Does Not Want Us to Die

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Jesus Christ as a God-Being

Before coming to Earth – He was not just an Angel or created being

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

His Value vs. Ours

More value than everything else put together

We are Less than Nothing and a Vapor

Isaiah 40:17 All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.

Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing….

Psalms 62:9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.

When compared to us, the substance of His being, is of far greater value than all mankind combined. As we will see later it there is a necessity for it to be of greater value than all the sins of all mankind.

He Came as Flesh and Blood

He was willing to divest Himself of His divine nature and become flesh and blood

Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

He was completely spirit before and now He was made of physical flesh and blood – now subject to death.

Life is in the Blood

Genesis 9:4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

These concepts and principals along with the sacrificial system that was given to the Israelites shortly after they exited from Egypt, all would play a significant part in what Christ came to do.

Sacrificial Blood Spilled for Sinfulness

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

The sacrificial law was a teacher to bring us to Christ. It foreshadowed what was to come and be fulfilled by Christ through His sacrifice.

These sacrifices served as a reminder of the people’s sins so that they as an unconverted nation could begin to appreciate the awesome purpose and meaning of Christ’s sacrifice in addition to how God looks at sin.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

The Blood of Goat and Bulls was Never Sufficient

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Typically these sacrifices were made in Old Testament times because they had done something wrong…it was a reminder not to do that it again, because a penalty would be incurred. The sacrifices never did away with the law or sin thereby making them “perfect” or righteous. If they sinned again as they/we are apt to do, we would need to have blood shed for us again.

Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.
Hebrews 10:6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE.
Hebrews 10:7 THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME [speaking of Christ].

God never wanted this sacrificial system to be imposed upon His people, but He implemented it as a teacher and tutor for them in the way that they should go UNTIL Christ was able to replace it – it pointed them towards Christ and the sacrifice that could take away sins since the sacrifice of animals could never do that.

Precursor to What Christ Would Do for Us

Sacrifice of animals could not take away sins, but served as a present reminder of the effect, gravity and consequence of sin. BUT, because it was not adequate, Christ came did what He was prophesied to do from before the creation of the world.

Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Symbolized His coming substitutionary sacrifice.

Jesus Became the Sacrificial Lamb

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Spotless / sinless

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Their Sacrifice for Us

They were both willing to do this for us:

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave…].

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Hebrews 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice [not every morning and evening] for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
Hebrews 10:13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

For Our Sins

Here is the answer to the sin question:

Hebrews 10:17 then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”
Hebrews 10:18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

There is no longer a need for the physical offering of the sacrificial system. Jesus Christ paid for it all at once.

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

It takes the valuable life giving blood to pay for sins. We have one life to give for one sin and that is it. The next sin that we commit is something that we cannot pay for or undo [once the sin is committed it cannot be undone by us].

It took the most precious blood of Jesus to remove the leprous sin in our lives.

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

It cleanses us, washes away and is no longer remembered. The death penalty is no longer hanging over our heads

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Christ, having been an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God-being sacrificed His sinless life and gave His blood of incalculable value, to cleanse us of our varied and manifold sins.

Hebrews 9:25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—
Hebrews 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

There was not a necessity for Him to do the many times, but just the once – and with His substitutionary sacrifice He was able to accomplish numerous plans during His time on Earth.

Ratified the New Covenant

Matthew 26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Blood is required for ratifying a covenant

Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Hebrews 9:17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
Hebrews 9:18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. [Exodus 24:3-8].
Hebrews 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
Hebrews 9:20 saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD HAS COMMANDED YOU.”

The New Covenant Brought Better Promises

Holy Spirit

Hebrews 10:16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS I WILL WRITE THEM,”

Written by the power of the holy spirit:

2 Corinthians 3:3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Forgiveness of Sins

I think most of the professing christian world know and understand this on some level

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Hebrews 10:17 then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

We have already seen a major difference between the old and new covenants. Cleansing from sin is no longer accomplished by the sacrifice of animals, but by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Access to God

Makes it possible for us to come before the very throne of God.

Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
Hebrews 9:7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;
Hebrews 9:8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
Hebrews 9:9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—
Hebrews 9:10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Now we can go before God “sinless.”

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Hebrews 10:21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,
Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Reconciled to God

Colossians 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Everlasting Inheritance

Kingdom and Family of God

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Positions of Rulership

Kingship and Priestly Functions

In addition to all of this, we will rule with Christ for one thousand years here on earth.

Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on
the earth.”

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to
them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and
for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received
his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for
a thousand years.

After that, then for all eternity:

Revelation 22:5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for
the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Eternal Life over Eternal Death

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

This is what the blood of Christ leads to, a chain of outcomes and unimaginable events which are the hope of Christianity…and these are the things that are symbolized by:

The Passover Wine

Passover is a renewal of this covenant every year when we partake of the wine.

John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

This is what Christ wants us to understand about His shed blood!

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

By drinking the wine at Passover each year, as a symbol of His shed blood, we should internalize the magnitude of His sacrifice for us.walked.