ATONEMENT = LIVING LOVE

VIRGINIA STOPFEL

AFTER STUDYING this week's Bible Lesson, "Doctrine of Atonement," I noticed the recurring Biblical theme of reconciliation. This is a consistent message in both Testaments of the Bible. How does God reconcile us? Through love! You could say that living love is living the doctrine of atonement.

Reconciliation suggests that two parties have become separated and need to be brought together. People in the Bible who recognized God's gift of life and love, and knew how He wanted them to live in relationship with Him and His children, also knew that when relationships failed, they had to change the way they lived—atonement was necessary. Some of the meanings of the Hebrew word kippur, translated "atone," are "to purge," "to purify," "to cancel," and "to cover."

This Lesson's opening Golden Text catches this concept of relationships in telling us to "walk in love," and the following Responsive Reading eloquently shows how to do it. It clarifies the difference between "talking the talk" and "walking the walk" of love.