journey
12 - 03/25 /15:13
“We are going to Jerusalem … the Son of Man will mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!”
— Matthew chapter 20
Peter Schmiechen writes in Saving Power that “Jesus gathered disciples, taught, did miracles, created a new covenant, was crucified and raised from the dead. Salvation results from these historic events.
“The crucifixion and resurrection are displays of power which, in and of themselves, are unintelligible. The meaning of neither event is self-evident—demonstrated by the apostles fear and confusion. Both the cross and the resurrection are terrifying and attractive. Both assume God was involved. Atonement theories attempt to make intelligible what was accomplished via the cross and resurrection.”
The New Testament identifies three systemic problems confront humanity. Sin—our disconnect from God and rejection of our role in creation. Disease and death. Demonic power.
According to the New Testament, Jesus provides a remedy for all three.
Atonement interprets what God did at the cross and resurrection. Atonement explains God’s solution for sin and death and the demonic. Atonement ought to be evangelistic—attractive to unbelievers.
From the New Testament, theologians have proposed four broad interpretations of precisely what God did via the cross and resurrection.
Christ died for us. He was sacrificed in our place. Rebellious humanity deserves punishment. At the Cross, Jesus took our punishment and miraculously gives believers His righteousness. Believers are justified by Christ’s death. (Proponent: John Calvin, see Galatians 3)
Christ liberated us. People held hostage by demonic forces need to be set free. The Cross miraculously liberates believers from sin and death. At the Cross evil powers holding creation hostage were defeated and bound by Christ. (Proponent: Irenaeus, see Mark 3)
Christ fulfilled God’s purpose. As heat and pressure forge iron ore into steel, believers have been refined by evil and miraculously redeemed by the Cross. Redeemed beings were the Creator’s goal from the beginning. (Proponent: Athanasius, see John 1)
Christ reconciles us. Humanity’s sin-problem is alienation from our Creator. Disconnection from God damaged and distorts us. The Cross is God’s miraculous solution, by which believers are reconciled with our heavenly Father. (Proponent: Anselm, see 2Corinthians 5)
There is mystery in precisely how Christ’s death and resurrection accomplishes salvation. Still, Scripture is clear. At the Cross and with the resurrection God has made salvation, liberation, fulfillment, and reconciliation available to all who believe. ~
Blessings,
Dan Nygaard