gospel – Page 2 – Sons of Issachar

Mike Parsons

Penal substitutionary atonement refers to the doctrine that Christ died on the cross as a substitute for sinners. God imputed the guilt of our sins to Christ, and he, in our place, bore the punishment that we deserve (Theopedia).

Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) Theory faces a significant challenge when we consider it in the light of Jesus’ life and teachings. There is a stark disparity between PSA and the person of Jesus, who is the incarnation of God and the very image of the Father. PSA appears to align with the Old Testament perception of God from a Hebrew standpoint rather than embracing the New Testament revelation embodied by Jesus.

PSA’s assertion that God cannot be in the presence of sin (due to His holiness) may resonate with evangelical doctrine. But in that case, none of us could be in God’s presence and He would not be able to even look at us. The idea that God turns His back on the world is nonsensical. And if God could not be in the presence of sin, then surely Jesus could not be either? And yet He spent time around prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners!

PSA also says that God cannot forgive sin without some form of punishment, contradicting Jesus’ consistent demonstration of unconditional forgiveness. Even on the cross, when He was undergoing punishment (by men, not by God) Jesus forgave without demanding punishment for anyone: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” PSA argues that God’s standard of justice is higher than ours and demands payment. In reality, it is we who demand payment, in the religious systems we have created.

Jesus challenged prevailing Hebrew notions of justice rooted in violence and retribution. He urged a shift from an “eye for an eye” mentality to a radical perspective of love, turning the other cheek and extending kindness to enemies. Genuine forgiveness harbours no resentment against enemies; and God, in His mercy, holds nothing against mankind. Let us allow the discrepancy between PSA and Jesus’ person and teachings to prompt a critical re-evaluation of our theological perspectives, to ensure we are aligning with the profound love and forgiveness exemplified by Jesus, even if this challenges the preconceived notions deeply ingrained in our theological traditions.

To be continued…
This is intended to be an occasional series on PSA theory.
The video above is taken from a longer one already available on YouTube:
Discover the Chariot of Ascension | Unconditional Love (18)

H/T Bryan Finley

Key takeaway

Love and forgiveness: God, in His mercy, holds nothing against us – and never has. Let’s ensure we are aligning with His profound love and forgiveness as exemplified by Jesus, even if this challenges our preconceived religious notions.

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Mike Parsons

When Jesus came, at that point all were spiritually dead in Adam. He represented not only the Jewish people but all mankind, taking away the sins of the world (Greek kosmos) through His death and resurrection. When He went into the grave, we went with him, as He overcame sin (lost identity) and death. In John 14 Jesus speaks of ‘preparing a place’ which refers to preparation for a marriage relationship (and is not about going to heaven to build mansions for us) so that we can be in Him and He in us.

“On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20).

The cross and the resurrection, coupled with the Holy Spirit’s coming, marked the birth from above for all mankind: the new creation – the one new man in Christ, where there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. The gospel is announcing that Jesus, through His death, overcame sin (our lost identity) and death, bringing life and immortality. The good news is the reconciliation of the entire cosmos to God, where all sins are forgiven and death loses its sting. This reconciliation, described in Colossians, encompasses all things through the blood of the cross.

…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20).

Top takeaway:

Cosmic Redemption Through the Cross: Colossians 1:20 reveals the cosmic significance of Christ’s finished work. All things were created through Him and for Him, and reconciliation has been achieved for all creation through the blood of the cross.