Atonement and Redemption

"Is Williams' redemption complete and sincere, or is it just a hollow promise?" Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings, there can be no redemption." - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Non-Christians are quick to reference Christ's forgiveness of the thief on the cross as a reason to spare the lives of condemned murderers.

There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23: 38-43)

The thief on the cross was killed for his crimes in accordance with Roman law, but he was pardoned spiritually according to the law of God. While his physical body was condemned, his soul was released from eternal damnation.

As usual, people unfamiliar with the Bible tend to quote, out of context, verses they once read or heard about. The text surrounding the quote is ignored or glossed over. In order for our sins to be forgiven, God requires us to atone for those sins. Salvation is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. God requires a blood sacrifice as atonement for sins. Before Christ, this was achieved by slaughtering an animal, usually an "innocent" lamb.

When Christ came, he became the sacrificial Lamb to take on the sins of those he came to save. The Old Testament ceremonial law was a sign pointing to the work of Christ. He is the "Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world," the Bible teaches.

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