What is the difference between atonement, repenting and forgiveness?

[full_of_faith]

I'm sorry if my question sounds stupid, but I am curious, since I was looking through some of the debate forums and other forums and I now that I am trying to be a true Christian in the true sense of the word, I would like to understand what this means.

I've always thought of myself as a Christian, but that is because I went to church. Until I came here, I never really understood what the real definition of a Christian is.

 

[Adstar]

I'm sorry if my question sounds stupid, but I am curious, since I was looking through some of the debate forums and other forums and I now that I am trying to be a true Christian in the true sense of the word, I would like to understand what this means.

I've always thought of myself as a Christian, but that is because I went to church. Until I came here, I never really understood what the real definition of a Christian is.

Atonement: paying the price for sin, the compensation, the fine, then penalty. Atonement clears wrong and wins Forgiveness: taking away of any desire for revenge, acceptance back into a good relationship.

Repentance: Ones open acknowledgment that they are guilty of a wrong doing, fessing up, coming clean. Also must include a genuine desire to avoid wrongdoing again. Of course being human we will fall down again but the desire must be there to resist re-offending.



All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[full_of_faith]

Thank you for explaining forgiveness and repentance. So what is the atonement for our sins? Jesus dying on the cross?

 

[ephraimanesti]

I'm sorry if my question sounds stupid, but I am curious, since I was looking through some of the debate forums and other forums and I now that I am trying to be a true Christian in the true sense of the word, I would like to understand what this means.

I've always thought of myself as a Christian, but that is because I went to church. Until I came here, I never really understood what the real definition of a Christian is.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Just brief definitions in line with the shortness of my understanding: ATONEMENT--AT ONE MENT: What our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ accomplished on our behalf by His Cross, death, and resurrection--His humility and obedience to the will of God the Father. Basically, our Lord undid the damage done to the human race by Adam's prideful sin and restored to us the possibility of uniting ourselves with the life of the Trinity. (This is the key to Salvation! If you are interested check out http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0565/5f00.0565.c.htm for a free download of Andrew Murray wonderous book "HUMILITY." Every Christian should read it!)
REPENTANCE: Is the process of our expressing sorrow for our sins and struggling throughout life to overcome--with the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit--the passions which cause them--primarily our pride, vainglory, and vanity. Repentance allows us to avail ourselves of the fruits of Jesus' Atonement.
FORGIVENESS: Based on Jesus' Atonement and our Repentance, we are forgive our sins, healed of our sinfulness, and restored to a Father/son relationship with God.
The above is real simple because i am also. Hope it helped a little.

MUCH LOVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

P.S. i would strongly suggest you say well clear of the "Debate Forums" as they tend to shed more heat than light! MAY YOU BE BLESSED IN YOUR SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH!

 

[full_of_faith]

Thank you ephraimesti for your reply. Your comments were helpful!

 

[LilLamb219]

The atonement was Jesus' death on the cross. God had told Adam that if he ate of the forbidden fruit he would surely die. Adam did and someone had to die. But God is a compassionate God who gave the prophecy of a Savior and Adam believed (had faith--trust--and was saved). The Savior is Jesus who died on the cross in our substitute.

Repentance is a gift actually from God. He uses the Law to convict us of our sin and help show us that we can NEVER live up to His standards of Holiness. Repentance consists of two parts; contrition and faith. Contrition comes from the Law and Faith comes from the Gospel.

Forgiveness isn't much different than atonement actually. At the cross, our sins were forgiven; all of them, past, present and future. Christians trust in this forgiveness instead of looking to their own works.

Edited to add that Repentance means to turn around or a change of the mind/heart...God turns us toward Him

 

[Adstar]

Thank you for explaining forgiveness and repentance. So what is the atonement for our sins? Jesus dying on the cross?

That is the atonement that all Christians have through Belief in Jesus. We are forgiven our sins and are made clean by His act of atonement.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[The Virginian]

I'm sorry if my question sounds stupid, but I am curious, since I was looking through some of the debate forums and other forums and I now that I am trying to be a true Christian in the true sense of the word, I would like to understand what this means.

I've always thought of myself as a Christian, but that is because I went to church. Until I came here, I never really understood what the real definition of a Christian is.

Atonement: This is the payment made for the wrongs/sins which have been committed. Christ in His body on the cross, made atonement for the sins of the whole world.

Repenting/repentance: This is when the person is sorry for the sins which they have committed. It's complete 180 turn from the sinful lifestyle, and towards Christ.

Forgiveness: The best word picture I can offer is that of the Lord upon the cross saying, "...Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Forgiveness is the injuried party not holding the wrong against the person who wronged them. Forgiveness is possible because God has forgiven us the sins which we committed against Him, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Calminian]

Hi FoF. Good question, not stupid. These are important distinctions theologians have been hammering out for quite a while. There are some subtle nuances I hope I can articulate.

Atonement is payment for sin. For Christians it refers to the blood sacrifice of Christ on our behalf for our sins. That's been adequately answered by others.

Forgiveness is pretty straight forward and has also been adequately answered.

Repentance has some subtle nuances you should be award of, though. It literally mean's 'to turn around' or 'a change of mind.' In context of how it's often used in the N.T. it usually has to do with turning from sin. It's often said to be on the same coin as faith. Faith, on the one side, is changing one's mind about God (turning to God), while repentance, on the other, is changing one's mind about sin (turning away from sin). Can one happen without the other? Impossible. One cannot change his mind about God without changing his mind about sin. One cannot turn to God without turning from sin. How could he? God and sin are polar opposites. If you're facing one you cannot be facing the other. Faith and repentance are inseparable.

It's also important to note that repentance is not a work, in and of itself, but rather a decision—just as faith is a decision. But decisions that are genuine have consequences. One cannot decide to follow God yet not decide to turn from sin. This is what James was speaking to.

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ...17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ...20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Hope that helps!

 

[heron]

It's big of you to admit that the forum is bringing more information and activity into your spiritual life! I love it here. Except the debate area!!! (-;

The Hebrew word used for atonement is defined as:

1. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva] to cover over, pacify, propitiate [/FONT]
2. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva] to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for [/FONT]
3. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva] to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites[/FONT]