There is only one Atonement in the New Testament. That is why I almost always capitalize it. Like the Creation, the Fall, the Incarnation, and the Parousia. Other terms have two or more shades of meaning, like salvation and forgiveness. Even redemption has two shades of meaning in the New Testament. Contrast the two uses of the term in Eph. 1:7 and Luke 21:28. The first verse is of a redemption already possessed by those Ephesians, the second of one that still awaited the saints at the Parousia.
But the Atonement happened at one point in time, not drawn out nor repeated nor finalized by some later action. Any attempt modify this pivotal, unique event with phrases like "complete atonement", or "full atonement", etc. takes away from the power of the message of the Gospel. It fatally compromises both the purpose and the power of the Cross.
Even though, depending on the version used, the word "Atonement" occurs only once in the New Testament, Romans 5:11, it is also presented under different terms like"justification", "propitiation", and "reconciliation".
A question comes up then. Why is "atonement" used over a hundred times in the Old Testament and only once in the New? This points to a very important truth: The Hebrew term on which it was based, KAPHAR ("to cover", "to put away"), was no longer adequate to describe Christ's saving accomplishment at Calvary. Sin was no longer covered (still present, but hidden). It was uncovered by the Holy Spirit and then destroyed by the precious blood of the Son of God. It was no longer put away (where someone, somehow, might find it). It was put out of existence, Christ having become all of that sin for us, 2 Cor. 5:21.
This is the Atonement. The foundation of the Gospel and "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints", Jude 1:3. It was a complete accomplishment when Christ died at the Cross. Don't let anyone mislead you with spurious expositions, drawing out for decades what was accomplished fully at Calvary. Don’t let anyone water down - to the point of uselessness – our precious Atonement.
But the Atonement happened at one point in time, not drawn out nor repeated nor finalized by some later action. Any attempt modify this pivotal, unique event with phrases like "complete atonement", or "full atonement", etc. takes away from the power of the message of the Gospel. It fatally compromises both the purpose and the power of the Cross.
Even though, depending on the version used, the word "Atonement" occurs only once in the New Testament, Romans 5:11, it is also presented under different terms like"justification", "propitiation", and "reconciliation".
A question comes up then. Why is "atonement" used over a hundred times in the Old Testament and only once in the New? This points to a very important truth: The Hebrew term on which it was based, KAPHAR ("to cover", "to put away"), was no longer adequate to describe Christ's saving accomplishment at Calvary. Sin was no longer covered (still present, but hidden). It was uncovered by the Holy Spirit and then destroyed by the precious blood of the Son of God. It was no longer put away (where someone, somehow, might find it). It was put out of existence, Christ having become all of that sin for us, 2 Cor. 5:21.
This is the Atonement. The foundation of the Gospel and "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints", Jude 1:3. It was a complete accomplishment when Christ died at the Cross. Don't let anyone mislead you with spurious expositions, drawing out for decades what was accomplished fully at Calvary. Don’t let anyone water down - to the point of uselessness – our precious Atonement.
