The Atonement: Explained

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. …

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

…that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

…who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.