Is God “bloodthirsty?”
Nov 5, 2009
The Case for Grace - part seven of a study of the book of Romans
Mike Gaudet
Imagine God frowning.
Now imagine Him smiling.
A “sacrifice of atonement” is the reason for the smile. It is the means by which God’s favor is restored.
“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:25-26
Jesus’ mission on this planet was to function as a “sacrifice of atonement.” Because of what He accomplished, God the Father smiles. His favor is restored.
If you know anything about sacrifices, this might raise some disturbing questions about God the Father. Animals used as sacrifices were slaughtered. Are we to conclude that God looks at an animal bleeding to death . . . and then smiles?
This question becomes even more disturbing when we plug Jesus Christ into the equation . . . when He becomes the “sacrifice of atonement!”
Did God the Father watch His Son die in order to exhaust His wrath against sin?
Did God the Father punish sin by punishing Jesus?
We read about God’s “forbearance” in the passage. Forbearance means self-restraint. It is the opposite of God “blowing His top.” Someone who demonstrates forbearance contains anger and wrath. The cross is not a place where God’s anger and wrath were unleashed. The cross is a demonstration of God’s “forbearance” . . . a place where God’s anger and wrath were restrained.
We read that “God had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” This translation (New International Version, NIV) suggests that God “saved up” the wrath that had been building because of prior human sin and poured it onto Christ.
However, another translation (New American Standard Bible, NASB) offers this translation, “in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.” This paints a completely different picture. It suggests that God “passed over” sins on the cross. It suggests that God demonstrated self-restraint at the cross. It suggests that . . .
. . . the cross is a place where sin went unpunished.
This image fits in better with Judaism, the religion from which Christianity was birthed.
In the Old Testament God declared “the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves upon the altar.” Leviticus 17:11 When we see blood we think of death. God sees life. God gave the blood in order to give life.
God did not vent His wrath on the animal that was sacrificed.
The life of the animal was not taken in anger.
The life of the animal was given in love.
The Day of Atonement is the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. On the Day of Atonement, the most important “sacrifice of atonement” was offered. Two goats were used. The second goat was called the “scapegoat.”
The high priest was instructed “to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites — all their sins — and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.” Leviticus 16:21-22
The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat. The scapegoat was released. It was not killed. It was not punished. The scapegoat walked away unharmed. God’s favor was restored.
God demonstrated the same forbearance on the day Jesus died.
“But what about the savage beating He took?” “What about the agonizing ordeal on the cross?” “What about His death?” “He certainly didn’t walk away from the cross unharmed!”
God the Father did not punish Jesus on the cross.
Sinful men did.
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
Jesus is our scapegoat.
His blood is not to be understood as life taken in anger.
His blood is to be understood as life given in love.