The atonement Flashcards
(26 cards)
Explain what the atonement is or does
- it is the action of making amends for a wrong or an injury
- it is the restoration of the relationship between God and mankind
what is the significance of Jesus’ death ?
- by jesus life and death, jesus brought salvation to humanity and made atonement for our sin
- This was necessary due to Adam’s sin in the Garden of eden resulting in original sin for all
explain ancient jewish practice regarding atoning for sin
- They offered an animal as sacrifice to atone for sin and restore the divine-human relationship
John 1:29
“Here is the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”
Who is the key scholar for the Christus victor model?
Gustav Aulen (1879-1977)
Who is the key scholar for the substitution model?
St Anselm of Canterbury(1033-1109)
Who is the key scholar for the moral example model?
Pater Abelard (1079-1142)
According to the christus victor model, how is God described?
A triumphant conqueror
According to the substitution model, how is God described?
A feudal lord reclaiming a debt
According to the moral example model , how is God described?
a martyr
summarise the christus victor model
- god fought a battle against sin and the devil
- Jesus’ resurrection shows a defeat over the devil and other forces of evil
- God triumphs by reconciling the world to himself
- sin and the devil no longer have power over humanity
- christ is conqueror and king
summarise the substitution model
- God gave Jesus in our place to repay the debt that we owed
- humanity sinned showing God dishonour and this needed satisfaction
- humanity doesn’t have the power to settle the debt themselves, only God (Jesus) can do this
- Christ’s obedience to death provided the merit needed to save us
summarise the moral example model
- god gave himself, in jesus, as a free gift to humanity
- the cross demonstrates the love of God
- seeing christ’s loving action on the cross causes shame in sinful humans
- christs example of love causes the need for repentance
- acceptance of christ’s gift is necessary for forgiveness
Penal substitution is a developement of the substitution model- summarise penal substitution
- sixteenth century
- justice shows laws set by God and violated by humans cannot go unpunished
- God paid the punishment for us in the form of Jesus
Enlightenement is a developement of the moral example model - summarise enlightenment
- seventeenth- eighteenth century
- Jesus is morally superior
- Jesus doesn’t have to be divine in the traditional sense
Irenaeus can be used in support of the christus victor model - what is his view?
- humans were in Gods debt having sinned
- jesus defeated the devil
- this cancelled out our debt
what were the two original models for the atonement?
- Ransom model
-Sacrifice model
-predate the three theories of CV, substitution, ME
what problems can we find with the christus victor model?
- less emphasis on human guilt and sinfulness
- humans are presented as victims who need a hero to save them
- there isn’t a lot of biblical evidence to support this model
what problems can we find with the substitution model?
- there is too much emphasis on honour or justice which is cultural not biblical
- there is no justice in punishing the innocent in place of guilt
- God is shown as a tyrant requiring his son’s torture and death - not very omnibenevolent
what problems can we find with the moral example model ?
- the crucifixion is not necessary to provide a moral example
- salvation is achieved through human effort not christ’s act
- there is no emphasis on the wrath of God in response to human sin
two arguments that show the theories of atonement to be contradictory
- the concept of a conqueror is about power not love
- christus victor contains no concept of justice, it is mindless victory over enemies
two arguments that show the three theories are compatible
- God’s power over evil and his loving act by sacrificing himself are compatible
- CV and substitution both show our dependence on God
two arguments showing that it doesn’t matter if the three models are contradictory
- all these theories are evident in scripture and therefore are revealed by God
- none of these theories are relevant in the 21st century anyway
two arguments that show these three models depict God to be cruel
- no God worthy of worship would encourage voluntary death as a moral example
- a God who acts as a feudal lord is not the God presented by Jesus in the Gospels
