Governmental theory of atonement

This is a hard concept to understand, especially if you’re only 5 years old. The governmental theory of atonement is a way of explaining how God can forgive our sins and saves us. It is based on the idea that God is like a king who loves you, but also needs to keep laws in order for His kingdom to stay safe. The theory of atonement says that when we break one of His laws (sin) we are punished and have to pay a price. God Himself paid this price by sending His son, Jesus, to die for us. Because Jesus suffered and died for us, we can be forgiven for our sins and be welcomed back into God's kingdom. This is called atonement.