Substitutions for Penal Substitution?

[Cole]

Okay Kate I’ve been reading and doing some thinking on this. The Christus Victor model says Christ was showing His love for us in overcoming sin, Satan, and death. In the new book by Richard Beck, “The Slavery Of Death”, it states:

Love is possible only when we’ve been set free from our slavery to the fear of death. - page 91

I would agree. The fear of hell and death causes my defects to pop up. When my future is disturbed, I cannot live in the now. Jesus said “Believe in God” but “Believe in me also”. Faith can look back and believe that Christ died for our sins and look out and trust the person of Christ. It can also look forward and be assured about a promise. But when faith embraces this past reality of Christus Victor, it’s essence includes embracing the implications of that reality for the present and the future. When we repent and embrace Christ in His death and resurrection we are guaranteed His future blood bought promises. When my future is in the hands of an all-powerful, all-wise, all-loving God who promises to work all my circumstances together for my good, anxiety and frustrations are broken and I experience loving assurance and hope in the now. Faith -> Hope -> Love.

[corpselight]

:lol: Yeah but even Baalam’s ass could speak the truth!
I get it, I know what you’re saying. I’m just saying he was a mix of traits, just like we are, and wrote a considerable amount of excellent material, apart from the good works he did at his chalet. He certainly had his warts, though, I agree.

Those are excellent points!

[Melchizedek]

While it’s not written primarily to address atonement theory; I am finding some helpful insights in Michael Hardin’s The Jesus Driven Life.

[Cole]

Kate,

Here’s a better version that I re-wrote:

The Eastern Orthodox stress the idea that the fear of death causes sin. I find this to be true in my life. The fear of hell and death causes my defects to pop up. It’s not only the fear of death, but when my future is disturbed, I cannot live in the now. Jesus said “Believe in God” but “Believe in me also”. Faith can look back and believe that Christ died for our sins. It can also look forward and be assured about a promise. But when faith embraces this past reality of Christus Victor, it’s essence includes embracing the implications of that reality for the present and the future. Christus Victor is the view that Christ shows His love for us by overcoming sin, Satan, and death. When we repent, confess our sins, and embrace Christ in His death and resurrection we die to the old self and find our value and worth in Him. We are guaranteed His future blood bought promises. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. When I trust that my future is in the hands of an all-powerful, all-wise, all-loving God who promises to work all my circumstances together for my good, anxiety and frustrations are broken and I experience loving assurance and hope in the now. Faith -> Hope -> Love