Substitution and Satisfaction – The Atonement Involves Both

Last week, I posted a basic explanation of the atonement. In summary, the atonement references how sinners can be made right with God.

Earlier this week, I pointed out that in order that we might grasp both the problem sin creates, and the solution for how sinners can be right with God, the Bible describes sin using different pictures including debt, enmity, and crime. See here.

In his immensely accessible book, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C. Sproul stresses that the orthodox Christian understanding of the atonement has involves the ideas of both substitution and satisfaction.

Orthodox Christianity has insisted that the Atonement involves substitution and satisfaction. In taking God’s curse upon Himself, Jesus satisfied the demands of God’s holy justice. He received God’s wrath for us, saving us from the wrath that is to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

7 thoughts on “Substitution and Satisfaction – The Atonement Involves Both

  1. He took God’s wrath and he took the pentaly of sin, which is death. These often are not distinguished, but I think they are different and complimentary ideas.

    I also think some have over-cooked God’s wrath (in response to theological liberalism) by never mentioning that just as God’s wrath was vindicated, His love was equally vindicated, for it was his love, not his wrath, that motivated the atonement.

  2. Excellent thoughts Daniel – -and I like the verb “over-cooked” in this context.

    Hence, 1 John 4:10 is such an important verse!

  3. You influenced and improved my sermon prep this week! Move to SV – – start huddles all over Northern Illinois – – – and be a Brick.

  4. …from his love and goodness. If God is good and is love, he must judge that which is not good and not love.

  5. Ok, major post error on my part.

    Above the last post, it should read:

    God’s wrath and judgement…

  6. Your kind comments are super encouraging. Scot McKnight gets credit for the phrase “over-cooked.” I heard him use it first at a lecture on grace in Urbana.

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