Page 16 - January 2023 - Truth & Tidings

he word “atonement” occurs only Why the Atonement?
once in the English New Testament The answer is in the events of Genesis 3,
T(Rom 5:11), and a more accurate as explained in Romans 5:12: “By one man
word there would be “reconciliation” sin entered into the world, and death by
(JND, ESV). The atonement refers to the sin; and so death passed upon all men.”
1
sacrificial death of Christ upon the cross Adam’s sin plunged the world into sin,
that provides God with a means to offer death and condemnation; that is the
forgiveness and salvation to guilty sin- plight of all his descendants. Humanity is
ners. condemned before God, with an inherited
It would be impossible to overstate the sin nature that inevitably results in sin,
importance of the atonement by Christ; it and from those sinful actions comes the
is inextricably linked with the other truths penalty of death and judgment. Romans
discussed in this issue of the magazine. 5 describes the situation: “By one man’s
The virgin birth, incarnation, deity and offence death reigned by one” (v17), and
perfectly sinless character of our Lord “by one man’s disobedience many were
Jesus Christ provide the atonement with made sinners” (v19).
its essential properties and incalculable The affront to God’s throne by Adam’s
value. The resurrection and ascension transgression resulted in mankind’s sepa-
are founded upon the atonement and ration from God. Having sinned, Adam
give it heaven’s validation. The present could do nothing to effect reconciliation
and future ministries of Christ would be between himself and God, who is holy
valueless, indeed non-existent, without and righteous. In that hopeless situation,
the atonement. God provided the remedy: coats of skins
When considering the atonement, it is to clothe Adam and Eve in their fallen
important to differentiate between the state. It was gracious and loving of God
fact and theories of the atonement. The to provide a remedy, but does that suggest
fact of the atonement is a singular truth His love, mercy and grace took precedence
presented by God; men’s theories about over His holiness, justice and righteous-
it are many. The fact of the atonement is, ness? Not at all. Every attribute of God
indeed, right at the heart of divine truth. worked in divine harmony in the garden
An inaccurate grasp of its truth will im- in a way that foreshadows the greater
pact, in corresponding measure, every provision which He, in mercy and grace,
other truth regarding the person of Christ. would righteously make by the death of
It would be impossible to fully explain the His Son. Mercy and grace did not oppose
atonement in a single article, so we will the requirements of justice, nor did justice
examine the main points of the doctrine ¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the
under a number of questions. KJV.

16 TRUTH kTidings January 2023