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Back by popular demand - An often unpopular view of the Atonement

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by JonC, Dec 1, 2018.

  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    In order to have God forgive a sinner and grant eternal life, they must not just repent from sinning, but must have never sinned! and how is their sin guilt from fall of Adam get dealt with then?
     
  2. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I replied. Maybe that was on the other thread....I'm getting them mixed up.

    I agreed with C.S. Lewis that "instead of us" should be "on our behalf" or "for" us. Christ died for us, not instead of us.

    Like Irenaeus said - His flesh for our flesh. Only a fool would think (reading Irenaeus' complete explanation on that point) that this was "instead of" (he goes into the necessity of Christ to each age, to Eve and Mary as representatives, etc.....which makes perfect sense when one understands "for" does NOT mean "instead of"...but simply "for").
     
  3. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    Brother,

    I noticed you did not quote Isaiah 53 from my quote.

    Saying Christ became 'sin' is quite the statement. Sin is an entity?

    When understanding written communication, we can apply a method of understanding called "intent"...what was the author's intent? Paul said that Christ, who knew know sin, became sin for us. It is obvious, especially because of Paul's previous two chapters, that he was speaking on the realities of the Law. So, when he said Christ, who has never sinned, became a sin offering...intent is easily identifiable.

    Let's try this exercise--Read: man let's play some ball, i can ball you up.

    My intent is for you to understand, Let's play some BASKET-ball, I can play a game better than you. I used One word that can have two different effects/meaning.
     
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  4. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    That is what advocates of the theory have to prove. If it can be proven via Scripture then all other theories would cease to exist and Penal Substitution would become "the doctrine of Penal Substitution".

    Anyway, you've hit the nail squarely on the head about the task before you. It's what the theory assumes, but what it can't prove.
     
  5. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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  6. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Well, why ignore God pleased to crush Jesus fir our own iniquities?
     
  7. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I am not. It was God's will to crush Him. Peter even preaches about this.

    Please reference a post where I claimed otherwise.

    (He was pleased to crush Him does not mean "God punished Jesus for our sins instead of punishing us to pay our sin debt so He could forgive us)
     
  8. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    It does indeed mean that though!
     
  9. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    That is my point. You cannot read those words without ascribing to them what you believe they mean. This is not interpretation but biblical illiteracy as you can't distinguish between your conclusions and God's Word as actually recorded in the text.
     
  10. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    @Yeshua1

    I am sure you realize other theories exist. And I'm sure you know each theory looks at the same Scriptures to address the same questions.

    You indicated that you could not see how other theories like Ransom Theory, Christus Victor, Moral Influence Theory, Recipitulation, and Ontological Substitution could see Christ's death as necessary. But we all know they did.

    Why do you think their reasoning escapes you?

    Can you really evaluate your interpretation if you can't see how other theories necessitates the Cross?
     
  11. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    "Word studies" can have problems, especially if they put too much emphasis on the etymology. Remember that "word studies" are not lexicons.

    With a word in the original languages that only occurs once (hapax legomenon), the etymology can be important in determining the meaning. However, with a word that occurs multiple times like this one, the etymology can even be irrelevant. Not one single usage of the 12 occurrences in the OT can be translated "foam at the mouth," so I'm mystified as to why it was even in the entry in your book. The word does not "literally mean 'foam at the mouth." (I realize the entry says "root," but it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.) To think of the meaning as "foam at the mouth" is misleading, IMO.
    In most of the 12 usages of the word in the OT, it looks to me like "fury" would be a good rendering. However, that rendering is impossible in Prov. 22:14 (abhorred) and Mic. 6:10 (abominable).
     
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  12. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    But φρίσσω in James 2:19 does literally mean "freak out".....right?

    (I remember that one from a Tim Keller sermon....it was a good sermon).
     
  13. Martin Marprelate

    Martin Marprelate Well-Known Member
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    Thanks again, John. Actually, I read about 'foam at the mouth in an article (can't remember where now :oops:) and looked it up to be sure. I take your points, but can we maybe agree that za'am doesn't mean 'a little bit cross,' which is all I'm really trying to say? I realise that God does not literally foam at the mouth!
     
  14. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Absolutely and obviously correct! :Laugh
     
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  15. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    :Laugh I had to read that part twice. That's a new one for me.

    If I understand you correctly, what you are saying is that you have encountered some who believe God is slightly annoyed at sin. Kinda makes our argument calm. You believe God's anger could only be remedied by God punishing Jesus to pay our sin debt. I believe God's wrath against sin so much eternally greater than punishment would cure so we had to be "re-created", that we had to die to sin and be made into new creations.

    But where I believe your view weak on divine wrath and sin, it's nothing compared to the idea of divine annoyance.
     
  16. Martin Marprelate

    Martin Marprelate Well-Known Member
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    I remembered the other place where I saw za'am described as 'foam at the mouth. It is in Spurgeon's Treasury of David in a quotation from a chap called Richard Mant. 'The original expression here is very forcible. The true idea of it appears to be to 'froth' or 'foam at the mouth' with indignation.'

    But you continue to misunderstand my position. I believe that God is furious with sin, and must punish it if He is to be righteous. But He does not 'punish Jesus to pay our sin debt.' He punishes sin in Jesus, which is not the same thing. Christ was made sin for us, and bore our sins in His body on the tree.

    Who does not believe that 'unless one is born again ['re-created'] he cannot enter the kingdom of God'? I certainly do. But if that is what is needed for God to forgive guilty sinners, then there was no need for Christ to die.
     
  17. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I understand what you are saying. I once held (and taught) your position. I remember preaching a sermon insisting that God never turned His back on the cross but looked Jesus straight on as if He were the chief of sinners and poured His wrath reserved for our sins upon His Son. I was young....er and dumb....er back then.

    We all believe we must be born again just as we all believe Christ bore our sins. But Penal Substitution Theory is humanistic and as such holds God's justice is satisfied by the punishment of human sin.

    I think this is a weaker view of God's justice (and by virtue, of His wrath). No one can remedy man's condition by being punished in his place to satisfy "sin debt". For one, this us not just. But more than that it creates a feeble view of God who is just as much Subject as He is Sovereign and a higher view of man who merely needs someone who can withstand God's wrath in their place.

    But I understand the Theory you believe (if you doubt it - just ask) because it was once mine. By your own admission you don't understand mine (you can't see how my belief....or the other theories we discussed, for that matter...necessitates the cross or deals with God's justice). And that, brother, is what I have been trying to help you understand.
     
  18. Martin Marprelate

    Martin Marprelate Well-Known Member
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    Perhaps you did. I haven't seen it though.
    That Christ died on our behalf is unquestionably true, but what does it mean? Let's look at 1 Peter 2:24. 'He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.....' Now for sure He bore our sins on our behalf, but do we still have to bear them? Yes or no? No! Therefore He bore them instead of us. It's not rocket science.
    So what does it mean that, as Irenaeus says, 'The Lord redeemed us by His blood'? What does it mean that the redemption was 'His life for our life, His flesh for our flesh'? It means that He gave His life in exchange for our life; He died instead of us. He suffered in His flesh so that we should not suffer in ours. that is the meaning of 'redemption.' A price is paid in exchange for something. As for the rest of Irenaeus' explanation, you are still thinking 'either....or' when you should be thinking 'both....and.' Until you get that right you will never understand.

    BTW, I found a very similar quote in Clement of Rome.'Because of the love He had towards us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God, His flesh for our flesh, His life for our life' (Epistle to the Corinthians, xlix). It looks as if Irenaeus was quoting him!
     
  19. Martin Marprelate

    Martin Marprelate Well-Known Member
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    I'm not sure if you were dumber, but you were certainly dumb. The Scriptures are very clear that God forsook Christ on the cross until the ninth hour.
    No one says anyone can. The new birth is absolutely essential, but again it's 'both....and' rather than 'either.....or.'
    BTW, you may look all through my posts and you will never find me referring to a 'sin debt.'
     
  20. Martin Marprelate

    Martin Marprelate Well-Known Member
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    So you keep telling me, but as I read your posts, I rather doubt it.
     
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