The atonement of Christ, or the bringing about of our salvation by Jesus on the Cross, is a dividing issue for various theological traditions. The end goal of each theory is to conclude how Christ’s death brings salvation, and what exactly Christ’s death saved Christians from. Each view reaches their own conclusions as to what the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus accomplished. When comparing and contrasting the details of the Christus Victor and the Penal Substitution theories of the atonement a major difference at the heart of the debate is whether or not Christ needed to die primarily to be an expiation, the Christus Victor model, or a propitiation, the Penal Substitution model. In general, the expiation theory focuses on sin and death as the problem that Jesus comes to solve. In contrast, the propitiation model of atonement focuses on Jesus as the solution to God’s wrath and inability to forgive us for our sins. While the expiation and propitiation theories are two different ways of looking at the atonement, the Christus Victor and Penal Substitution views are held within those broader contextual categories. The expiation view of atonement states that the problem that plagues humanity is sin and death, rather than the view that forgiveness from sin is not available. In other words, the issue keeping Christians from God and from salvation is sin, death, and the devil, rather than God’s wrath. The view of expiation is one that is common among Eastern Orthodoxy,
The incarnation and atonement of Jesus Christ are the enduring elements of the Christian theology. Many theologians have spent their time discussing and developing these Christian doctrines on how they came about, and how relevant they might be. According to Anselm, incarnation is a central doctrine of Christianity, followed by atonement. In order to ponder on the relationship between atonement and incarnation focusing on Anselm’s idea of satisfaction, we are supposed to look at the meanings of atonement, as well as incarnation. However, the doctrines of incarnation and atonement are interrelated as elucidated by many theologians.
First. Through the atonement we receive forgiveness of sins. Second. We receive sanctification through the blood of Jesus. Third. Healing of our bodies. Sickness and disease are destroyed through the precious atonement of Jesus.
Dispensationalism maintains only one method of salvation through the dispensations, however, the dispensational idea that the content of faith changes, raises suspicions. The law was added in to grace and could not save (Ryrie, 2007). Thus, the law marked out the character of transgressions until Jesus Christ should come (Ryrie, 2007, p. 128). Without the law, there would no knowledge of God’s grace, and if righteousness could be gained through the law, grace would have no purpose (Gal. 2:21). Thus, the law’s purpose was to mark out grace, while grace fulfilled the law’s purpose (Rom. 10:4). Based on the characteristics of God’s immutability, this author believes that since God cannot change, neither can the content of faith, the measure of God’s grace, or the method and means of salvation. Dispensationalism does add value to Christendom; however, dispensationalism does create confusion over how one is saved. Thus, it is this author’s belief, that with a basic understanding of God’s characteristic of immutability, the church can eliminate any and all confusion concerning salvation and how one is saved.
• Writes about James, brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ. Stoned to death in A.D. 62. Pg.78
Anselm, sometimes thought of as the first philosopher of Christianity, practiced scholasticism, and in his writings he attempted harmonizing faith and reason. A piece of writing he is author of is called Meditation on Human Redemption. Anselm touches on a variety of topics in this writing. The three major points this document covers are the concept of why God the Father is not able to simply forgive all of humanity’s sins, how justice is to be brought about once humans sin, and how Jesus Christ paid the debts for humanity.
However, Christ’s resurrection ensures our regeneration. We have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peter explicitly connects Jesus’ resurrection with our regeneration or new birth (1 Peter 1:3-4). When Jesus rose from the dead, he had a new quality of life, a “resurrection life” in a human body and the human spirit that were perfectly suited for fellowship also obedience to God forever. In his resurrection, Jesus earned for us a new life. Notably, we do not receive all the new “resurrection life” when we become Christians, for our bodies remain as they were, still subject to weakness, aging, and death. But in our spirits, we are made alive with new resurrection power.
“Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27) is one of the most fundamental questions that Jesus asked his disciples. It is a question, from my personal viewpoint, that has a simple answer. Jesus is Lord! Needless to say, there is more to the identity of Jesus, but it is my belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is the promised Savior foretold in the Old Testament by the prophets. There is an endless list that gives Jesus titles such as Ruler and King, Master and Teacher, Savior and Christ, but in Acts 2:36 Luke writes, “God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Jesus is the one who went to the Cross to bring humankind forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.
Atonement is the "reunion of two alienated parties, in this case, God and humanity." Atonement is provided by Jesus' self-offering on the cross on behalf of humanity because JC represents all humanity and offers to God a sacrifice that reconciles humanity and God.
All humanity was justifiably condemned, but God declares Christ’s death to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for sin. Christ then stands in humanity’s place, having paid the penalty of death for sin. Pardon, deliverance and freedom are brought by Jesus’ sacrifice.
Bonhoeffer and Zizioulas offer interesting perspectives for conceptualizing the Christian theology regarding the atonement. Indeed, one of the outstanding elements of Christianity practices, which sets them apart from other religions, is atonement. In this case, atonement can be defined as the process of sin reparation or expiation. There are four models of atonement. These include Christus Victor, Satisfaction, Exemplar and Penal Substitution. A look at the differences between these two theologians reveals a clear difference regarding their perspectives towards atonement, in which Bonhoeffer tends to orient himself towards the model of Christus Victor, while
The author (2007) also points out the importance of the Roman Catholic views point about confession and penance has three significate merits to confession. The first significate merit is that consistent confession forces one to confront one’s sin, meaning that one will not merely overlook or diminish one’s transgressions; instead it will cause one to take their sin more earnestly (p 213). The second significate is that the act of penance, paying a price for sin, creates a mindfulness of the significance of sin, meaning that it will not allow one to have a carelessness understanding toward sin of thinking that one will always be simply forgiven; instead penance combats this predisposition by arresting consequences for one’s sin (p 213). The third Significate merit is that it lifts the burned of guilt by forgiveness being granted during the ritual of penance, which can be extremely redemptive for some individuals (p
It can be said that in God's eyes, Christians are only dirty glasses which are stained inside and out with their own sin. These glasses were once clean, not plagued with stains. Now the glasses bear with them these ugly stains, the stains of sin and wrongdoing. The dirty glasses had to accept their punishment for becoming dirty, and the punishment was being destroyed by a hammer. The hammer is God's instrument against sinners. As the hammer made its decent on the glass, a pan covered the glass and took the blow of the hammer to save the glass. This pan represents Jesus because Jesus sacrificed himself to God so that God would forgive us for our sins.
When discussing and proving the person of Christ, there are two basic laws that must be addressed and proven. First you must prove that Christ is one hundred percent human (humanity), then you must prove that at the same time Christ is one hundred percent God (deity).
Christianity is a faith based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Fisher, 1991) Christianity is a one God religion as presented in the New Testament. Today, Christianity and the church are culturally diverse, even in the aspects of race. It is even said that Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in the world. There is one central belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, all Christians can come to this conclusion. Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and that we are all under the judgment of God because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Other religions may often depict that it is only necessary to do some good when it comes to God in order to
During the eighth and ninth centuries A.D., a new emphasis began to develop within the religion of Islam. This emphasis was a reaction against the prevailing impersonal and formal nature of Islam. For many Muslims the shari‘a, while seen as necessary, failed to satisfy their deepest spiritual longings and desires. The search for deeper meaning began with a pietistic asceticism, which in turn led to the development of the popular mystical side of Islam - known as tasawwuf or Sufism.