One of the top areas of deception in religion that is related to atonement has to do with how one goes about getting right with God. Or, how a person is justified before God. The enemy seeks to make the formula Christ plus something else; Or, Christ minus something else. It matters not what the something else is. Why? Because whatever the something else is will nullify the Blood Covenant.

Additionally, if the enemy can add something to or subtract something away from the sufficiency of Christ, then he can gain a foothold in which to ensnare and ultimately control the subject. Isn’t it interesting that nowhere in the New Testament are sinners told that they must clean up their life before they can receive forgiveness for sins? The woman at the well who was living with a man wasn’t told this, Cornelius the Roman army officer wasn’t told this, and neither was the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery told this. Why this is the case will become clearer to you under the section on Sanctification.

The truth of the matter is that the rules of the Pope can’t make you right with God; the rules of the Southern Baptist Convention can’t make you right with God, the rules of the Watchtower can’t make you right with God, the do-gooder programs in your church can’t save you, even God’s own rules condemn you because you cannot keep them. Your own rules can’t save you either. Even many atheists, who claim there is no God, seek ethical rules like not lying, not committing adultery, and not stealing. Judgment Day will determine whether or not if atheists have lived by the rules that they have required of others.

Anything more than Christ or less than Christ can only condemn you. Why? God set the terms of the Blood Covenant. Jesus is the one that the believer exchanges his life with, and nothing else and nothing less. You must believe in Him only:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Heb. 11:6

So, according to this scripture, you must first of all believe that he exists, and secondly that he is a man of his word when he guaranteed by his own blood that he would reward those that seek him. You must seek an agreement with Christ and no other to be right with God. “He is God manifest in the flesh.” Why would anyone want less than that? What else is there that is more than that?

Some bible versions omit and alter verses to allow for salvation through works instead of justification by faith. Many versions delete "by himself" in Hebrews 1:3 to permit faith in another mediator, such as Mary or the Pope, or the “Faithful and Discreet Slave” doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The omission of "on me" in John 6:47 leaves room for belief in any number or kinds of mediators.