Atonement

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants For this eason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

-Hebrews 2:14-18

The sermon in church was over temptation and how Satan thinks that he can get us into a mindset of fear and doubt over what happens when this earthly body dies. I've found myself often feeling doubtful and a little voice in my head would say "remember that time?" "remember when you said this?" "remember when you did that? How could someone like God forgive you?" I'd really get worried, and worked up about it until He'd speak to me, and tell me that everything that had been planted in my mind by Satan was really just a scare tactic, because he thinks he's got me. In reality, he doesn't. My sins have been atoned for by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus; sure I'll make mistakes along the way in life, but who doesn't sin and fall short of God's glory? Even by looking at the word 'atonement,' one could see the words 'at one.' To me it means that if my sins are atoned for, I'm at one, i.e. at peace in knowing that I have been saved from sin by Jesus Christ.