Atonement and Repentance

Lisanya from South Africa asked if I would write and speak of the two concepts of atonement and repentance. What is the difference and what role do they play in our spiritual endeavor?

Drawing from two simple definitions, to atone is to make amends or reparation. To repent is to express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrong-doing or sin. Christian theology states that Jesus offered himself as “the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 2:2). It is interesting that this idea goes way back into the Old Testament book of Leviticus (16:20-22). The priest, Aaron, placed the sins of Israel on the head of a goat which was then released into the wilderness, freeing people from the burden and consequence of sin. This is where we get the term and the concept of scapegoat.

Repentance is tied to baptism which represents a fundamental change in consciousness. One goes into the water as one thing, a sinner, and comes out cleansed of sin. The simple meaning of the word is to change one’s mind.

Both terms involve a realignment of an individual’s consciousness with the truth of his or her being. When we sin, or fall short of our di-vine potential, that potential is not affected. The soul remains whole and complete. What changes is our attitude toward ourselves. If we feel we are miserable sinners, worms of the dust, we live a very compromised life. In truth, we are expressions of God. Nothing we do changes this. Neither does it change God’s attitude toward us. Both atonement and repentance are all about self-forgiveness.

For example, if you lock yourself in a dark cellar, the sun continues to shine. It does not condemn you for your action. You are, in a sense, condemned by your action. The moment you change your mind—repent—and come out of the cellar, the sun greets you with its light and warmth.

So it is with Spirit. No one can remove your sense of guilt or remorse (vicarious atonement). Only you can do this. And you do it by coming to know yourself as a complete soul, created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26).