THE GROUND OF SALVATION | ATONEMENT

1. The ground of Salvation

a) God wanted to save man from the effects of sin. Man surely needed to be saved. But how could God do it?

b) In a word, God can save man only because of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

c) To understand better the importance of this event, we must think about four words: Propitiation, Substitution, Atonement, and Redemption. These words sum up a great deal of the teaching of the Bible on the meaning of Christ's death.

2. What is Atonement?

a) In the Old Testament "atonement" is often used to interpret the word "to cover".  No real atonement could be made until Christ died. But sins were "covered" or forgiven for that time by the sacrifices. God passed over sins, knowing that Christ was going to die for them, Romans 3:25. Hebrews 9:15.

b) The word "atone" is used by students of the Bible and means to cause enemies to become friends again, to settle a quarrel, or to pay for the harm that has been done.

c) What is the difference between atonement and reconciliation? Christ atoned for our sins on the cross. Reconciliation is the work of the Holy Spirit when the sinner believes. It means to restore to friendship and happy fellowship again.

i) "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son," Romans 5:10.

d) The Bible never speaks of God being reconciled. He has always loved man. But we need to be reconciled to God, that is to have fear and hatred of God taken away.

i) God reconciled us to Himself, 2 Corinthians 5:18.

ii) Reconciling the world to Himself, 2 Corinthians 5:19.

iii) Be reconciled to God, 2 Corinthians 5:20.