2C The Atonement

Definition of Atonement (4)

Definition = unity

In Christianity = restoration of right relationship with God

Through death of Jesus

The atonement theories say this was done in 2 ways:

1. Expiation: removing guilt by paying a penalty

2. Propiation: turning away wrath by making an offering

Why was Atonement necessary (4)

God is loving (so wouldn’t want to eternally punish his own creation)

God is just (must deal with human sin)

Humans were created to be in a right relationship with God but our sinful nature has real consequences so God must atone for human sin to allow relationship between God and humanity to be restored

We are saved by grace (unmerited gift) through faith

Necessity of atonement biblical support: (4)

God is loving: John 4:8 - “God is love”

God is just: Deuteronomy 32:4 - “all his ways are just”

Humans were created to be in a right relationship with God: genesis 1 and 2

Sinful nature: Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Different types of atonement theory (2)

Objective: consequences happen outside of us, Christ achieves the way of salvation e.g. Ransom theory - Jesus freed us from captivity to sin

Subjective: consequences are inside of us e.g. Jesus encourages us to be better people in Christ as a Moral Example

List of theories (3+3)

Sacrifice theory

Ransom theory

Christus Victor

Satisfaction

Moral Example

Penal Substitution

Sacrifice Theory (3 points and 4 biblical support)

1st Century

OT - sacrifice common to restore broken relationships between us and God

1. Leviticus 16:20 describes a priest laying sins of community upon a goat which was then cast out into wilderness

NT - emphasises Jesus’ role as a sacrifice

1. John the Baptist said Jesus was the ‘lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

2. Hebrews states through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, human sin was taken away ‘once and for all’

Early Church Fathers e.g. Augustine support - humans had nothing sufficient to sacrifice to God for their sins so God provided the sacrifice for them

1. Like he did with Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:8)

Ransom theory (5 + 3 bible)

Gregory of Nyssa

Variant of the sacrificial model

Jesus’ death was a ransom payment to redeem men and women from sin

1. Matthew 20:28 “the son of man came… to give his life as a ransom”

2. 1 Timothy 2 “gave himself as a ransom for all”

Origen says that Jesus’ death was ransom payment to Satan to free humankind who’d been enslaved after the Fall

Satan was unaware Jesus was God so was deceived into killing Jesus and suffered a final defeat when Jesus was resurrected (which he couldn’t foresee

1. St Augustine: Christ “deceived the deceiver” and the Lord’s Cross was the devil’s “mousetrap”

Christus Victor (5 + 1 bible)

1934 Aulén

Built on Ransom Model

Humans bound by hostile powers of death and the devil

Christ’s death and resurrection defeated the powers of sin, death and the devil

Ransom model is a passion story about God conquering these powers and liberating humans

Colossians 2:15 - “triumphing over them by the cross” (cross brings liberation)

Satisfaction (10)

Anselm 11th C - Cur Deus Homo (Why did God become man?)

Modified Ransom Model

Means reparation

Human sin offended God’s honour so he could only be satisfied by death of Jesus

Just punishment = eternity in hell but God is loving so allowed us to repay debt

The human debt to God is greater than we are able to pay - we are sinful so can’t honour him with a sinless life (and even if we were sinless we would only be returning to God what is due to him, wouldn’t honour him)

Therefore God paid the debt himself (as a God-man as a human has to repay the debt otherwise wouldn’t redeem humans)

Jesus lived life of obedience on behalf of humanity

Jesus’ death brought infinite honour to God and gained a ‘supererogation of merit’ (supererogation = doing more than duty requires)

Reward of reconciliation with God passed onto those who believed in him (Jesus did not need the reward, he was sinless)

Moral Example (6 + 2 bible)

Peter Abelard 12th C

Reaction to Anselm

Jesus’ death was no to appease/placate God

Shows humans depth of God’s love for mankind

1. John 3:16

Lead people to repentance and moral improvement

1. Matthew 16:24 “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”

Jesus didn’t defeat sin and death in a literal sense, only inspired through example

Penal Substitution (5 + 2 bible)

Luther and Calvin 16th C

Influenced by Anselm

Jesus set humans free from being punished for their sins by takinf that punishment upon himself on the cross

Satisfies God’s justice (not satisfying God’s honour as Anselm’s Satisfaction suggests)

Biblical basis:

1. Suffering servant songs in Isaiah which contain descriptions of suffering

2. Paul’s epistles: Galations 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us”

Charles Hodge 19th C - God who is holy cannot associate with humans unless their is punishment for our sins