Non member question: What does Atonement mean?

[NaphtaliPress]

A person who does not meet the membership requirements to join asked the following and I'm posting it in this open forum so he may read the responses.

I actually only have a simple question that I would like to get feedback from this more thoughtful community.

My question - What exactly does "Atonement" mean?

Do I correctly understand that "atonement" is synonymous with "reconciliation"?

Thus inferring that there is for some reason a "disconnection" - that somehow is resolved - and a "connection" (reconciliation) is effected.

I have no pony in the race - I would simply like to be representative in my use of this term so I can both think and discuss this matter clearly.

Thanks,

 

[MW]

Atonement is one of those words that carries a lot of theological weight, but its basic meaning is actually very straightforward. In English, the word originally meant "at‑one‑ment" -- the making of two estranged parties one again. So atonement is closely related to reconciliation. But there is an important nuance. Reconciliation describes the result: two parties restored to fellowship. Atonement describes the means by which that reconciliation becomes possible.

In Scripture, the idea behind atonement includes covering sin, removing guilt, satisfying justice, honouring the law, restoring fellowship, and reconciling God and sinners. So atonement is more related to the work God does to deal with sin and restore fellowship whereas reconciliation is the restored relationship that results from that work. They are related, but not identical. Atonement is the cause; reconciliation is the effect.

 

[SeanPatrickCornell]

Atonement simply put is giving the appropriate satisfaction for offenses.

In the context of Christianity, Alan Cairns in his Dictionary of Theological Terms defines it thus:

"The satisfaction* of divine justice by the Lord Jesus Christ in His active and passive obedience (i.e., His life and death), which procures for His people a perfect salvation."

"Satisfaction" defined thusly:

"A full, valuable compensation, made to the justice of God, for all the sins of all those for whom [Christ] made satisfaction, by undergoing the same punishment which, by reason of the obligation that was upon them, they themselves were bound to undergo." (John Owen, the Death of Death in the Death of Christ)

 

[SolaScriptura]

Atonement is one of those words that carries a lot of theological weight, but its basic meaning is actually very straightforward. In English, the word originally meant "at‑one‑ment" -- the making of two estranged parties one again. So atonement is closely related to reconciliation. But there is an important nuance. Reconciliation describes the result: two parties restored to fellowship. Atonement describes the means by which that reconciliation becomes possible.

In Scripture, the idea behind atonement includes covering sin, removing guilt, satisfying justice, honouring the law, restoring fellowship, and reconciling God and sinners. So atonement is more related to the work God does to deal with sin and restore fellowship whereas reconciliation is the restored relationship that results from that work. They are related, but not identical. Atonement is the cause; reconciliation is the effect.

Glad you jumped right on that! The moment I saw the title of the thread my mind immediately went to "at-one-ment" and I'm thrilled it was in the very first response.