The doctrine of the Atonement is one of the central teachings of the Christian faith. The Atonement is the work of Christ by which He reconciled mankind with God. Scripture throughout both the Old and New Testaments speaks to this fundamental truth of the Atonement. In Isaiah 53:5-6 we read, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Colossians 2:13-14, states; “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Atonement is the doctrine of how Jesus’ death and resurrection reconciled mankind to God, restoring the broken relationship between God and man. It is through the atoning work of Christ that we are redeemed from sin and granted eternal life. The Atonement refers to the redemption of mankind from sin through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. The term atonement is derived from the Old English words “at-one-ment”, meaning “to make one”. It is through the atoning work of Christ that we are reconciled to God and made one with Him.
Theologians have long recognized the all-encompassing nature of the Atonement. It is not limited to a single aspect of salvation, but rather encompasses all facets of redemption, including justification, sanctification, and glorification. It works to restore the broken relationship between God and man, and to reconcile us to Him. The Atonement brings about redemption from the power of sin and death, and brings us into fellowship with God.
The Apostle Paul taught on the Atonement in his letter to the Romans. In Romans 5:9-11, he writes, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
The Atonement is a beautiful and profound truth of the Christian faith. It is the work of Christ by which we are reconciled to God and made one with Him. Through the Atonement, we have been redeemed from the power of sin and death, and are brought into fellowship with God. The Atonement is the centerpiece of the Christian faith, and is the foundation upon which our hope and salvation rest. May we never forget the power of the Atonement, and the grace and mercy it brings. May we always remember and give thanks to God for the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Atonement is the essential truth of the Christian faith, and the hope of all believers. Ephesians 1:7 – “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Through the Atonement, we have been redeemed from sin, reconciled to God, and brought into fellowship with Him. It is through the Atonement that we have hope and salvation. May we never forget the power of the Atonement and give thanks to God for His grace and mercy.
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