In the Christian Science Bible Lesson October 8, 2012 Issue

Drawing close to God

For the lesson titled "Doctrine of Atonement" from October 8 - 14, 2012

Kathleen Collins—Godfrey, Illinois

This week’s Bible Lesson,   titled “Doctrine of Atonement,” shows us the way to “draw nigh unto God” (Golden Text, Hebrews 7:19). How? Not through rituals and creeds, but through “our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:11, citation 16). The Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, defines atonement as “the exemplification of man’s unity with God …” (p. 18, cit. 5) and highlights the original meaning of the word, at-one-ment (see pp. 19, 45, and 21, cits. 14, 26, and 29). Being “at one” is being in harmony with God. 

Atonement is an integral element of both Jewish and Christian theology, having its roots in the Mosaic Law. According to Leviticus 16, once a year the high priest was to go within the veil (a curtain concealing and protecting the sacred inner sanctuary) to “make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins” (verse 34, cit. 1). Animal sacrifices were used and the laws and rituals associated with this day were intended to renew a right relationship of the people with God and to absolve them from their sins.

This annual Day of Atonement, perhaps better known to us by its Hebrew name, “Yom Kippur,” is still the holiest day of the Jewish faith, a day of spiritual refreshment, spent in prayer and fasting. The ancient sacrificial rites associated with it ended long ago when the center of priestly activity, the temple in Jerusalem, was destroyed in 70 ad. Even much earlier, the prophet Samuel had declared that obedience to God was better than animal sacrifice (see I Samuel 15:22, cit. 2). As Science and Health explains, “To seek Truth through belief in a human doctrine is not to understand the infinite. … spiritual understanding is better than all burnt offerings” (p. 286, cit. 3).