“Rillera argues… that Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) is an unbiblical idea. This review considers seven key claims Rillera uses to support his arguments. It focuses on whether they successfully undercut the idea of PSA and provides positive support for seeing PSA as a biblical idea.” - Themelios
“His own approach to atonement is closest to the recapitulation understanding of Christ’s work that Irenaeus outlined, though many believe this view is compatible with PSA (see works by McNall and McKnight). Rillera doesn’t.” - TGC
“[P]enal substitution is not to be understood as the only aspect of Christ’s work, just as guilt is not the only aspect of our human plight…..
“The book of Hebrews addresses this issue directly. Examining this deep book helps us answer this important question and allows us to see how Jesus first identifies with us in our humanity, then takes the place of sinners on the cross, and ultimately pays the punishment for our sins through his sacrifice” - TGC
In this article, I’ll discuss two common questions that Christians have about Christ’s atonement. By “atonement,” I mean the means by which Christ’s sacrificial death removes our guilt for wrongdoing and therefore reconciles us to God.
Atonement is a key tenet of the Christian story:
“Three major themes weave together to create a beautiful picture of redemption in Leviticus. First, the identification of the sinner with a substitute through the laying on of hands. Second, the punitive death of the substitute who takes the sinner’s place. Third, the substitute’s blood applied to God’s altar, which results in atonement of the sinner.” - TGC
“In this video, Gavin Ortlund responds to recent comments by John Mark Comer suggesting that a new book may be the “final knockout blow” to penal substitutionary atonement (PSA). Gavin offers four reasons why PSA remains a vital part of Christian theology.” - Truth Unites
“In most people’s understanding, ransoms are paid by good people, but demanded by horrible people…. ‘the kidnappers demanded a ransom.’” - Randy Alcorn
“Despite characterizing itself as a defense of traditional Southern Baptist theology, the resolution expresses sentiments which actually conflict with the SBC’s long-standing confessional position.” - London Lyceum
“I gladly admit that I am simply bewildered whenever I meet someone who claims to be an evangelical Christianity but rejects substitutionary atonement as the latter is so intrinsically tied in with the former—historically and theologically.” - Roger Olson
