Yes—atonement means being made 'at one' with God, and through the shed blood of Christ, believers are reconciled to Him and brought into full fellowship.
Les Feldick teaches that atonement is literally 'at-one-ment' — becoming one with God through the finished work of the cross. Old Testament animal sacrifices could only cover sin, but Christ's shed blood fulfilled the atoning work and made reconciliation possible for all believers.
Romans 5:11 — This verse directly names the atonement and connects it to joying in God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:10-11 says: 'For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.' Psalm 32:1 pronounces a blessing on the one whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered. Romans 3:25 says that God set Christ forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness. Second Corinthians 5:18 states that God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
Les Feldick explains that the word atonement means 'at-one-ment' — becoming one with God — but no one could become one with God until the finished work of the cross and resurrection power had been accomplished (Clip 2). In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated 'atonement' was kaphar, meaning 'to cover' (Clip 2). Therefore, the Day of Atonement did not remove Israel's sins; animal blood could only cover them until Christ's true atoning work took place (Clips 2, 3, 4). Once Christ's blood was shed, the sins of Old Testament saints were fully atoned for, and those who had been waiting could enter glory (Clip 3). For believers under Paul's gospel, atonement means they are 'bought with a price' — the blood of Christ — and are now to glorify God in their bodies (Clip 1). Paul describes this as reconciliation: God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (Clips 5, 7). Because of this at-one-ment, believers also experience joy in God through the Lord Jesus Christ, a spiritual joy that is not dependent on outward circumstances (Clip 0).
Les Feldick points out that 'atonement' is 'at-one-ment' — the idea of being made one with God. However, he emphasizes that no person can become one with God until he has experienced the resurrection power and the finished work of the cross. That had not yet happened in the Old Testament era.
According to Les, the Hebrew word translated 'atonement' was kaphar, which meant 'to cover.' So the Day of Atonement was not a day of removing Israel's sin; it was a covering. The blood of animals could not take away sin — it could only cover it, much like sweeping sin under the rug. Old Testament believers therefore had to wait for the true atoning work of the cross, and after that supreme sacrifice, their sins were fully atoned for.
Paul tells us that God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Les compares reconciliation to redemption: a person who has been separated by disagreement is brought back into full fellowship. Because atonement has been accomplished, believers are not only reconciled but also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Joy in God Through Atonement
Les explains that after atonement believers have a spiritual joy in God through Jesus Christ, which is different from mere worldly happiness.
The Blood of Christ Fulfills Atonement
Les teaches that there is no forgiveness without shed blood and that animal sacrifices never accomplished true atonement — only the blood of Christ could do that.
Atonement Means At-One-Ment
Les defines atonement as 'at-one-ment,' showing that a person cannot become one with God until the finished work of the cross and resurrection are applied.
Old Testament Atonement Was Only a Covering
Les explains that the Day of Atonement only covered sin and did not remove it, which is why Old Testament believers had to wait for the true atoning work of the cross.
Sins Swept Under the Rug Until the Cross
Les describes God's patience in the Old Testament as 'sweeping sin under the rug' until the true atonement of Christ's shed blood was accomplished.
Reconciliation and the Ministry of Reconciliation
Les teaches that God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and, as a result, gave believers the ministry of reconciliation.
Propitiation and the Day of Atonement
Les shows that everything pictured in the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement was accomplished by Christ's shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection.
Reconciliation Brings Full Fellowship
Les compares reconciliation to mending a broken relationship, explaining that God brings believers back into full fellowship with Himself.
Romans 5:11: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
This verse directly ties receiving the atonement to rejoicing in God through Jesus Christ.
Psalm 32:1: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
This Old Testament verse describes sin as covered, which corresponds to the covering nature of the Day of Atonement.
Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Paul explains that Christ's blood is the ground of propitiation and righteousness for sins previously committed.
2 Corinthians 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
This verse shows that reconciliation is God's work through Christ and that believers are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.
Les Feldick explains that atonement is literally 'at-one-ment' — the idea of a person becoming one with God. He emphasizes that this oneness requires the finished work of the cross and the resurrection.
No. Les teaches that the Hebrew word kaphar means 'to cover,' so the Day of Atonement only covered sin until Christ's blood was shed. After the cross, those covered sins were fully atoned for.
By believing the gospel and placing faith in the shed blood of Christ, a person is reconciled to God, bought with a price, and has now received the atonement.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Adam's Sin Affect All of Us? Romans 5:10-14