I'm looking at taking a service at my UU fellowship in the next couple months. It will be another "Four Elements" topic and I find myself leaning towards Fire. Earth should be next but Fire is calling out to me. It's the most energetic and exciting of the bunch with a very rich set of myths and images to explore. You might say I'm burning with the desire to do this topic.

So, in short the atonement theory is that Jesus died for our sins in place of us who deserved to die.  Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth only to die so that we could go to Heaven.  He was the sacrificial lamb.  The last one we need.  Jesus committed no sin so He was qualified to die in everyone's place.