Christ's atonement as a sacrifice

[cih1355]

There are some terms that describe the nature of Christ's atonement such as sacrifice, propitiation, redemption, and reconciliation. What concept is expressed by the word, "sacrifice", that isn't expressed by the words, "propitiation", "redemption", or "reconciliation"?

 

[Spinningplates2]

Christ was so much more then a sacrifice. When the Bible speaks of the Lord as a Sacrifice it draws unpon all the Bible history to prove Christ is the focus of all history. Our thousands of years the worls waited for what was spoken of in the first book of the bible, a perfect sacrifice. Christ as Sacrifice fulfills all the Law as being Perfect.

That' is only a small part of what sacrifice means to me.

 

[Oecolampadius]

What concept is expressed by the word, "sacrifice", that isn't expressed by the words, "propitiation", "redemption", or "reconciliation"?

Answer: Fulfillment or Antitype

Hebrews 10:11-14 states

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

The types found in the OT which are the sacrifices that were made by the priest in behalf of God's people would all be meaningless ritual if not for their antitype: Christ's ultimate "once for all" perfect sacrifice.

 

[Peairtach]

There are some terms that describe the nature of Christ's atonement such as sacrifice, propitiation, redemption, and reconciliation. What concept is expressed by the word, "sacrifice", that isn't expressed by the words, "propitiation", "redemption", or "reconciliation"?

All of these words describe different aspects or facets of Christ's work.

Propitiation has the sense of the satisfaction of God's justice and turning away His wrath.

Redemption has the idea of buying someone back from slavery by means of paying a ransom.

Reconciliation is bringing two parties together in peace and harmony. Since God rather than Man was the offended party in the case of Man's sin, Christ's work had reference first to reconciling God to Man, rather than Man to God.

See a good Bible Dictionary, as here:-

Blue Letter Bible - Study Tools

It's good for one's spiritual education to know what such "technical" Bible words mean.

In the OT sacrifices weren't always to do with removing sin and guilt, but some were thanks- giving offerings and some didn't immediately involve the shedding of blood. In the NT we also - as believers are God's priests - offer up thank-offerings to God, through Christ's sacrifice. E.g. good works, gift offerings and singing of psalms of praise. None of these merit salvation as Jesus has merited all by His whole burnt offering (holocaust) for sin on the Cross.