Atonement and the Cross

Atonement means dealing with the barrier that sin creates between humans and God, and restoring the relationship. Christians believe Jesus achieved this on the cross — not by setting aside God's justice, but by satisfying it, so that forgiveness could be genuine and complete.

The cross saves because Jesus — sinless and fully God — took the full weight of human sin and its consequence (death and separation from God) upon himself, so that anyone who trusts him receives forgiveness and reconciliation as a gift. The resurrection confirms that the price was accepted and the transaction complete.