Bible Word of the Day
Atonement (Reconciliation with God)
Meaning
Atonement refers to the removal of sin and reconciliation with God. Jesus Christ by His blood shed for us at the Cross of Calvary made atonement for our sins past, present and future for those who place their faith in Him. Atonement means that God Himself created a way for sinful man to restore a broken relationship with God. Every person who was ever born has a broken relationship with God, this is because of our sin nature. We are all dead in our trespasses and sins, we are all bound for Hell with no way to restore our relationship with God. The Bible tells us our good works and charity can never earn for us our way into heaven. There is nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven! This is because any sin in thought or deed, no matter how small means separation from God.
The reason for that is because God is just. And God cannot look the other way when we sin. Moreover, every sin no matter how small means death and eternity separated from God. Even martyrdom will not earn our way into heaven because how many times can a person die for each sin, committed in thought or deed? We have to understand good deeds and charity are what God considers normal everyday behavior, they do not earn us extra credit with God. Moreover, God looks at the heart not just our deeds. For example, if a man looks at a woman and lusts after her in his heart, even though he did nothing physically he is still guilty of adultery. Therefore, what is impossible for man is possible with God. And God provided atonement for us when He Himself stepped out of eternity and took on flesh in the incarnation of Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully man and He Himself made atonement for us that we through faith may have eternal life in Him. This is what Biblical atonement means.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Book of Romans 3:23-26)
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Gospel of Matthew 20:28)
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (Book of 1st John 2:1-2)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (Gospel of John 3:16-17)