¹Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. ²Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants - what is good, pleasing, and perfect. ³Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.  Romans 12:1-3

Our example in all matters is our Lord Jesus. Forgiveness Jesus has modeled for our view, and His example does not even remotely resemble what we offer to each other that we call forgiveness.

Forgiveness always involves atonement. Always without exception that is true.

The word atonement, which is almost the only theological term of English origin, has a curious history. The verb “atone”, from the adverbial phrase “at one”, at first meant to reconcile, or make “at one”; from this it came to denote the action by which such reconciliation was effected; satisfaction for all offense or an injury. Hence, in Christian theology, the Atonement is the Satisfaction of Christ, whereby God and the world are reconciled or made to be at one. “For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.” The Christian doctrine on this subject has shown the insufficiency of Nature, and of the Mosaic Law to accomplish this Atonement. You will find also that mere intellectual assent of forgiveness is woefully lacking and not at all able to reconcile or make “at one”.

This word is often used in the Old Testament. However, it only occurs once in the New Testament in the King James Bible, Rom. 5:11, where other versions use the word “reconciliation.”

The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment; the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus, it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ.

The means by which it is covered is vicarious satisfaction, and the result of its being covered is atonement or reconciliation. To make atonement is to do that by virtue of which alienation ceases and reconciliation is brought about in all ways.

Jesus' work on the cross and His sufferings are the grounds or efficient cause of the atonement and complete reconciliation with God. They rectify all of the disturbed relations between God and man, taking away the obstacles interposed by sin to their fellowship. The reconciliation is mutual; it is not only that of sinners toward God, but also and preeminently that of God toward sinners, effected by the sin-offering that He Himself provided, so that consistently with the other attributes of His Character His Love might flow forth in all its fullness of blessing to all of mankind.

The primary idea presented to us in different forms throughout the Scripture is that the death of Christ is a satisfaction of infinite worth rendered to the law and justice of God, and accepted by Him in place of the very penalty that mankind had incurred.

It must also be constantly kept in mind that the atonement is not the cause but the consequence of God's love for guilty men (John 3:16; Rom. 3:24,25; Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:9; 4:9).

It must be said that our Father God requires of us that we forgive each other in like fashion. The innocent becomes the only one able to provide atonement when sin occurs and forgiveness is paramount. He tells us to “forgive as we have been forgiven.” He says that “if you forgive you will be forgiven.” How often? Seven times? No...Seventy times Seven!!! In other words on and on with no end. That is the example that He gives, and that is what He requires of you, now.

You may feel inadequate for the task at hand and indeed on your own you are. But, the Good News is that you are not on your own!!! The Holy Spirit lives in you full-time right now. He is greater than all others and through Him you can begin right now to truly forgive. He knows that you require His Power in order to ever walk in His Will, and He desperately desires to give that Power to you. So just ask.

Atonement is the key. It was the key for your relationship with The Father, and it is the key to your relationship here and now. “He who knew no sin, became sin for you, that you might become the Righteousness of God.” He was purely innocent in all ways, yet He atoned for your sin.

Please forgive. And remember that forgiveness always involves atonement.