Atonement refers to what Christ does to restore our "at-one-ment" relationship with God.
There are several atonement theories, but we'll focus on substitution/satisfaction and Christus Victor.
Substitution and Satisfaction
Closely related ideas, commonly emphasized in evangelical circles.
Jesus takes our place, paying the price for our sins.
Wages of Sin
Genesis 3 establishes that the consequence of sin is death.
Jesus takes the place of all sinners, paying the price we cannot pay.
He satisfies the requirements of the law.
Brokenness and Redemption
Sin causes brokenness that we cannot undo on our own.
Jesus, as God, pays the price and satisfies the law.
Old Testament Sacrifices
The Old Testament prescribed repeated sacrifices for atonement.
Jesus' sacrifice fulfills the law completely, making further sacrifices unnecessary.
Biblical Support
Isaiah 53
Depicts the Messiah bearing our infirmities and being wounded for our transgressions.
Upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Hebrews 9:13-15
Compares the blood of goats and bulls to the blood of Christ.
The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God.
Jesus mediates a new covenant, redeeming transgressions under the first covenant.
Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15)
God makes a covenant with Abram (later Abraham), promising blessings and faithfulness.
The covenant ritual involved cutting animals in half and walking between the halves.
This symbolized: "If I break my side of this covenant, you can do to me what we have done to these animals."
God's Unilateral Action
Abram falls asleep, and God alone passes between the animal carcasses in the form of a pillar of smoke.
God takes on both sides of the covenant, including the punishment for unfaithfulness.
Old Testament Context
The Old Testament recounts the people's repeated falling away from God.
In the crucifixion, God makes good on the covenant by suffering the punishment for their unfaithfulness in Jesus Christ.
Christus Victor
Focuses on Christ conquering the power of sin and death, winning the war against evil.
1 Corinthians 15
Supports this idea with the concept of death being swallowed up in victory.
Healing of Alienation
Substitution/satisfaction primarily addresses alienation between humans and God.
Christus Victor heals alienation between humans and ourselves, each other, and the created world.
Passover Parallel
The Exodus story, where God frees the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, parallels Christ freeing us from enslavement to sin.
Just as the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Jesus leads us out of slavery to sin into the Promised Land, which we anticipate in the consummation of the Kingdom of God.
Conclusion
These theories are not mutually exclusive and can be believed together.
The vastness of Christ's accomplishment on the cross cannot be limited to one theory.
Substitution/satisfaction and Christus Victor help us understand the greatness of the atonement.