Strong Words About the Atonement From Both Sides

Today I am teaching my students in the historical theology class about the Atonement. I wanted to find some different opinions surrounding the doctrine of the Atonement. I found a few, and I will warn you, these are some pretty strong words. I chose clips that purposefully conflict with each other.

Some of the things said by a few of these guys are really bad. Bishop Spong is certainly the worse out of this group. I would not consider his views "Christian" by any standard. Certainly not historic Christianity. My favorite clip is the last one. Like Jeremy Treat, I teach a combined view of the Atonement in which all the models are used to explain different aspects of the Atonement. I think it is really obvious that the early Church employed a multi-metaphor view of explaining atonement themes.

In a future video I will demonstrate the way the Early Church used a multi-metaphor view of explaining atonement themes

[trevorturner]

While NT Wright can often times be vague and perhaps overstated in regards to positions held by others, I found these clips well stated. I also find it interesting that John MacArthur calls NT Wright's statements convoluted and accuses his theology as a recipe for "loss of the fear of God" resulting in loose living. Reformed theology and it's unconditional "alien justification" is the epitome of convolution and the primary cause of loose living in "Christians". Liberal and prosperity gospels are the stepchild of a theology that separates Jesus's commands from justification/salvation. You also see the high exaltation of Luther by MacArthur in this clip similar to other recent reformers such as Sproul. Either these men are not careful in handling history, are willfully ignorant or being deceitful in making known the fruits of Luther. But if we so easily disregard Jesus' commands then why would we give heed to his warnings.

So then, you will know them by their fruits. - Mathew 7:20

[leighgarrett]

...And John MacArthur says this on a huge STAGE, at a Podium standing ABOVE the people...and on the home front, he lives in an extremely expensive house...

[brandonstahl]

Good video Dean! made me think of Jesus’s words. Luke 24:25-26 KJV
[25] Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [26] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

[MikeAtnip]

More strong words about the atonement: "Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life, " said the one who shed his blood for the jubilee of sins! :-)

[brothernick]

Jesus did not shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins. The gk word is aphesis. Releasing and synonymous with cleansing. The Father has always forgave sin debt freely out of compassion on anyone who would brokenly commit to stop sin and make up for their past sin debt. Matt 18 That defines repentance and forgiveness. If forgiveness isn't out of compassion, mercy and grace it's not forgiveness.

Heb 9 "Everything had to be CLEANSED with blood. In fact without the shedding of blood there can be no no cleansing."

The sins the father forgives freely at the moment of repentance still has to be cleansed from our conscience. Sin guilt on our conscience will cause recommiting of the sin.

Each year people had to keep coming back because their sin guilt could never be completely cleansed from their conscience. "For if it had people wouldn't still feel guilty for their sin.". This happened on the day of reconciliation (AtOneMent)
The repented had to prove his sincerity as alway by a work of repentance. The repented sinner forgiven by God out of grace, compassion would sacrifice (give up) his most valued critter showing his giving up. The priest took the blood, handed it to the father who turned and cleansed the conscience of the forgiven sinner making him clean and able to be in the presence of and AT-ONE with God again. This is the ministry of reconciliation. Lev 16.
The problem was critter blood could never completely wash (cleanse) the sins and they would keep coming back year after year. Jesus came as a human being if flesh to be the reconciling mediating High Priest and BLOOD so He could offer His own blood to the Father on the mercy seat to wash the forgiven sin and guilt from the repented sinner setting them FREE FROM SIN so they can lead a righteous (right-doing) and Holy life need to enter the Kingdom of heaven.