The Atonement

Question 1

Sacrifice

Answer 1

The Epistle of Hebrews states that through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, human sin was taken away

Question 2

Genesis 22:8

Answer 2

Human beings have nothing of sufficient value to sacrifice so God himself had provided the sacrifice for them

Question 3

Examples of Sacrifice in the Old Testament:

Answer 3

Exodus 12:24 - Commands the Jews to slaughter a lamb to remember their deliverance from Egypt
Leviticus 16:20 - Describes the process by which the priest lays all the sins of the community upon a goat

Question 4

Issues with the Sacrifice Model

Answer 4

1. Makes God sound like an angry tyrant
2. No loving God would offer his only son to satisfy his own sense of justice
3. Questions God’s omnibenevolent

Question 5

Ransom

Answer 5

Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Satan

Freed humans from original sin

Question 6

Matthew 20:28

Answer 6

‘The Son of Man came to give his life as ransom for money’

Question 7

Issues with the Ransom Model

Answer 7

1. Gives Satan more power than he has

2. Makes God a debtor and deceiver

Question 8

Satisfaction

Answer 8

God had to pay the debt himself. God became himself in Jesus so He could repay the debt. In reward, Jesus become sinless and anyone who follows him is also sinless.

Question 9

Satisfaction Model (Anselm)

Answer 9

Anselm maintained that human sin has offended God’s honour that the only thing that would bring Him satisfaction is Jesus’ death.

Question 10

Anselm’s book (1097)

Answer 10

Cur Deus Homo

Question 11

Issues with the Satisfaction Model

Answer 11

1. Based on the concept of honour
2. Depends on an unbiblical model
3. Depicts a God who’s more concerned about his hurt pride than his Son

Question 12

Penal Substitution

Answer 12

Jesus set humans free from God’s punishment for sins by taking the punishment upon himself

Question 13

Galatians 3:13

Answer 13

‘Christ redeemed us from the curse by becoming the curse’

Question 14

Issues with the Penal Substitution Model

Answer 14

1. Based on a criminal justice system - wouldn’t punish the innocent
2. Rooted in violence
3. Incompatible with a Christian God
4. Separates the Father and Son

Question 15

Moral Example

Answer 15

Proposes that Jesus died to show human beings the depth of God’s love for them, hoped to lead people to repentance

Question 16

Who formulated the Moral Example Model?

Answer 16

First formulated by Augustine and then restated by Peter Abelard

Question 17

Issues with the Moral Example Model

Answer 17

1. Teaches humans can earn salvation through moral efforts
2. Belittles God’s anger against sin
3. Doesn’t explain the crucifixion

Question 18

Christus Victor

Answer 18

Saw the atonement as humans being liberated of sin by Jesus’ incarnation

Question 19

Gustaf Aulen’s thoughts on Christus Victor

Answer 19

Argued that human beings had been bound by death and evil

Question 20

Issues with the Christus Victor

Answer 20

1. Plays down human guilt and sin

2. Similar to Irenaeus’ Recapitulation Model

Question 21

Atonement

Answer 21

The process by which men and women are reconciled through Jesus’ death
Necessary because everyone sins

Question 22

Original Sin

Answer 22

Genesis 3 (Adam and Eve being tempted by Satan)

Question 23

How are the Sacrificial and Penal Substitution Model similar?

Answer 23

1. Both teach that salvation can be achieved only through Jesus’ death
2. Both supported by New Testament

Question 24

What was John RW Stott’s book called and what did it propose?

Answer 24

The Cross of Christ (1986) - The Moral Example Theory can be seen as part of the Penal Substitution Model

Question 25

The extent to which the three images of the atonement are contradictory

Answer 25

1. The 3 images aren’t contradictory or mutually exclusive

2. They all help bring out different aspects of the atonement

Question 26

The extent to with the 3 images suggest that the Christian God is cruel

Answer 26

1. Despite serious accusations of cruelty against the Christian God, these can only be upheld when focusing on parts of the picture