Attacking the atonement from the other side?

Last updated on: January 7, 2005 at 1:33 am by Adrian Warnock

Attacking the atonement from the other side? 2005-01-07T01:33:00+00:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wink over at Parableman seems to be keen to reject the notion of “substitution”. Unlike some neoliberals he does accept that there is a punishment element to the cross. However he emphasises the verses that speak of our union with Christ in his death.

Unfortunately attacking the notion of the atonement from this other side still has the same effect- ie the whole eddifice of evangelical doctrine comes tumbling down. You see he states “In Penal Union, it is true that we do not escape punishment”

Personally I cannot accept that there is any sense in which we share in Christs punishment- Jesus really did die for me and instead of me.

I do believe that we are united with Christ in his death, but we remain distinct from him. Thus our unity in being crucified with him is a reality but that reality extends to certain things and not others. Thus the bible is clear that there are other benefits to the cross than merely getting off the hook of punishment. Jesus reconciles us to God on the cross, and yes that is a valid aspect to what the atonement is all about and yest I would say we in some way participate in that for as we see the cross and identify with the Christ of the cross that very identification and mystical union with Christ is what grants us reconciliation.

Through the bond of unity certain things flow from us to Christ however without in fact any sense of us participating in that actively or having any real roll to play apart from to trust it has happened. Our sins are taken from us and pass through our bond of union to Christ who accepts them willingly to the point that he BECOMES sin. Then our sins are punished in his body on the cross.

Similarly from Christ to us flows his righteousness. We not only get let off the hook and are not punished, we actually become righteous in the same way Christ became sin. But do we earn that righteousness? Of course we don’t, and I do not believe we earn our right to be released from punishment either.

Look, let me put it this way. I do think Wink is onto something in wanting to emphasise our union with Christ in his death- and his quotes are clearly biblical. But going slightly beyond what the bible actually clearly says (but perhaps not too far and by way of an explanation this does seem reasonable) would it not be possible to state the following-

Although we are united with Christ in his death, we are united much in the same way a soldier would be with his armor. Christ acts as a perfect shield, hiding us from the wrath and punishment of God so that we do not feel a hint even of divine displeasure. Our sins are transferred to him and then in a way in which we do not in any sense participate.

Jesus bears my debts. He dies in my place like a broken shield that stopped an arrow killing its owner. At the same time amazingly I become united with him so all the positive benefits of the cross flow to me- I become “dead to sin” , reconciled with God and his righteousness flows along the same channel of unity back to me so that I become someone who is a partaker of God. In many ways this is the symbol of the Lords supper. I come hungry and thirsty with no more to offer than an empty cup and plate. Jesus comes and breaks bread sharing this with me and pours out his blood for me to take into myself and share and become more one with him than blood brothers will ever be.

I hope the above gives due justice to both the participatory AND substitutionary aspects to the atonement but I am sure there is more others could contribute!

I quoted Romans over at parableman as follows-

Romans 3 states “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

To me the key phrases here are “as a gift”- if we have in some way shared in Christs punishment how can it still be a gift? The word propitiation I have always understoon means turning away wrath which to my mind at least implies substitution. But most of all the condition of the receivers is described simply as one of faith not as those who also receive the punishment they deserve. If we share in Christs punishment just what gospel is left?

I am not 100% sure I fully understand Wink however (which was why I held off commenting). Still if I have misrepresented his position he can of course correct me. But I cannot understand how he could possibly avoid the following verses-

Is 53 also says-

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned every one to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

There is no doubt here in mind that substitution in terms of punishment is REQUIRED by these verses. Wink’s view (as I have understood it at least) would need the verse to read something like this-

Surely he has helped us to carry our griefs

and shared our sorrows;

yet we were stricken with him,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 We were wounded for our transgressions;

and crushed for our iniquities;

upon us both was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and becuase we also felt his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned every one to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him and us together

the iniquity of us all.

Atonement

Romans

Previous Post

January 7, 2005

More on the British Blasphemy Corporation

Next Post

January 7, 2005 Know your emergent leaders or Goodbye Dan, Hello Nancy and Hugh!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who wrote the most letters in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter James Paul John

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »