Leviticus 14-16 Atonement & Propitiation

At the time of the OT in the wilderness, God gave instructions for the cleansing of those who were found ill or diseased. Live animals gave their lives for this purpose and the priest was the one following this ritual for the person found in sin or in some way diseased. The priest offered not only live animals but also their blood sprinkled on them. When Christ offered His body on the cross for our sins and it completed that by His blood. In the OT the word atonement was used, but in the NT it is propitiation. The difference between two words explains this ritual. Atonement is a broader, man-focused term for covering, forgiving, or cleansing sin to reconcile humanity with God. Propitiation is a more specific, God-focused term meaning to satisfy or appease divine justice/wrath, thereby removing that wrath. 

The NET Bible explains it this way: In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. Rom 3. 1 John 2.

Today stop and consider the price paid for your sins through the blood sacrifice of Christ our Lord.