04.11. APPENDIX.
APPENDIX. The following words, with their significations and use, are all intimately connected with the sacrifice of Christ.
Atonement. THE English word ATONEMENT signifies “at-one ment,” setting AT ONE, or reconciliation, as in Acts 7:26. It occurs once in the New Testament (Romans 5:11). In Hebrew the root of the word means to COVER OVER; we get the same signification in Genesis 6:14, “PITCH it within and without with PITCH.” It also means RECONCILIATION, as in Daniel 9:24. The word rendered MERCYSEAT or PROPITIATORY is from the same root. It was the COVERING lid of the Ark of the Covenant, containing the two unbroken tables of the law. Propitiation. This signifies RECONCILIATION. In Romans 3:25, and Hebrews 9:5, it means the mercy-seat or propitiatory. In 1 John 2:2, and 1 John 4:10, it is “a propitiatory offering,” or sacrifice for sin. In Luke 18:13, “God be merciful” should be “God be propitious,” on the ground of reconciliation made, as in Hebrews 2:17, “To make reconciliation [propitiation] for the sins of the people.”
Substitution.
We have a beautiful example of SUBSTITUTION in Genesis 22:13, where we read, “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for an ascending offering IN THE STEAD OF his son.” In Leviticus 1:4, in the case of the burnt or ascending offering, we have the promise, “And it shall be accepted for him, to make atonement for him.”
Sin-bearing. In the Scriptures SIN is looked at in three aspects.
First, as INIQUITY; sin the nature, or bud.
Second, as SIN which in both Hebrew and Greek signifies “missing the mark,” or “coming short” of God’s requirements - the omission of righteousness. Third, TRANSGRESSION, the breach of a positive commandment, for “where no law is, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). First the bud, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.
Thus we read in Psalms 32:1-2; Psalms 32:5, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” See also Exodus 34:7. In Isaiah 53:5-6, the Lord Jesus is presented as bearing and putting away sin. “He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquity; . . and Jehovah laid on Him the iniquity of us all”
Righteousness. This means rectitude of character or conduct; what is right, just, and proper. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3); that is, God reckoned him righteous -”through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus”; for on the ground of His atoning sacrifice God is just, while He “justifieth the ungodly” (Romans 3:21-26; Romans 4:5).
Holiness. In the Hebrew holiness signifies SEPARATION, especially separation from evil to God, as was expressed on the golden plate of the mitre of the high priest, “Holiness to Jehovah.” In the Greek it means “NOT OF THE WORLD.” This is beautifully shown in what is said of Christ. He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).
Sanctification. Sanctification means “a setting apart” from that which is evil and worldly for the service and glory of the God of heaven. This may be best accomplished practically -First, by living, thinking, acting in the presence of God. The holiest human life on record is that of Enoch, whose name signified DEDICATED and INITIATED, of whom it is said, “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).
Second, by abiding in Christ, for he that “abideth in Him sinneth not” (1 John 3:6), and he who abideth in Christ, and Christ in him, the same “bringeth forth much fruit” (John 15:5). Third, by living and walking in the Spirit, for the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
Covenant and Testament. The Hebrew word “Berith” is COVENANT. The Greek word “Diatheke” is TESTAMENT, or WILL.
Hence in Hebrews 9:15-20, the words may have a double sense. Words or titles must always be considered in the connection where they are found.
Many more synonymous words and titles, with their meanings, will be found in “The Companion to the Englishman’s Bible,” by Thomas Newberry. THE END