Christus Victor, Moral Influence And The Penal Substitution
Why did Jesus die for us? Include in your answer three models of the atonement, their strengths and weaknesses and a statement of your own view.
Why did Jesus die? or what was the purpose of the Atonement? Are questions that have for centuries after the actual
event been the subject of a wide range of interpretations by theologians, church leaders and
missionaries alike. For centuries theologians have interpretated the atonement in light of and for
their particular day. In this essay, I have chosen to review three of the models of atonement. These
being: Christus Victor, Moral Influence and the Penal Substitution. I will be giving a brief over
view of each reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses. In the Bible, atonement usually
means …show more content…
The New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ
made atonement for our sins when He died on the cross. Because Jesus died to make up for our
sins, we can have peace with God. (Mears 1998, p. 688)
The Christus Victor model is the classic view of atonement and goes back to the time of Iraneus
(c120-200). The idea was that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, by eating from
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil they became separated from God. By succumbing to the
temptation set by Satan, they swapped their allegiance and relationship with God to another
authority. Satan now had an inroad and a subsequent influence over their lives. (Aulen 1950 p. 35)
The idea of Ransom and Liberty were central images in the days of the early church. Slaves were a
common part of every day life. They lived in bondage and could be redeemed for a price. We in
our disobedience were slaves to Satan and there was only one price that could be paid for our
freedom and that was the death of Jesus Christ.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.” (Mark
Why did Jesus die? or what was the purpose of the Atonement? Are questions that have for centuries after the actual
event been the subject of a wide range of interpretations by theologians, church leaders and
missionaries alike. For centuries theologians have interpretated the atonement in light of and for
their particular day. In this essay, I have chosen to review three of the models of atonement. These
being: Christus Victor, Moral Influence and the Penal Substitution. I will be giving a brief over
view of each reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses. In the Bible, atonement usually
means …show more content…
The New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ
made atonement for our sins when He died on the cross. Because Jesus died to make up for our
sins, we can have peace with God. (Mears 1998, p. 688)
The Christus Victor model is the classic view of atonement and goes back to the time of Iraneus
(c120-200). The idea was that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, by eating from
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil they became separated from God. By succumbing to the
temptation set by Satan, they swapped their allegiance and relationship with God to another
authority. Satan now had an inroad and a subsequent influence over their lives. (Aulen 1950 p. 35)
The idea of Ransom and Liberty were central images in the days of the early church. Slaves were a
common part of every day life. They lived in bondage and could be redeemed for a price. We in
our disobedience were slaves to Satan and there was only one price that could be paid for our
freedom and that was the death of Jesus Christ.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.” (Mark