S
You cannot argue with Scripture. I quoted from Isaiah 53. In fact, you would have to ignore the entire animal sacrificial system in order to make your arguments.
Substitutionary atonement is the primary facet of the atonement, which has other facets. The Ransom theory may be a minor facet. However, to deny that substitutionary atonement is the major facet is a massive error and heresy.
As I said above, You'd need to ignore the entire sacrificial system, Isaiah 53 and much of the rest of the Bible to discount substitutionary atonement. A minor facet of the atonement may be related to the ransom theory but that definitely does not negate the massive primary facet related to substitutionary atonement. The fallacy involved in this is called fallacy of the single cause. That fallacy is the one you are committing. In fact, youre not only committing the fallacy of the single cause; you are selecting a rather minor cause and ignoring the massive one.
And, most importantly, you are negating God's justness by your assertion. God is just in that he punishes ALL sin. He is merciful in that he provided for Himself a sin offering in Jesus Christ. Christianity has a robust view of atonement compared to other world views due to this very reason. Your view of the atonement corresponds very closely to Islam, which is not surprising since Muslims are basically Pelagians.
Substitutionary atonement is the primary facet of the atonement, which has other facets. The Ransom theory may be a minor facet. However, to deny that substitutionary atonement is the major facet is a massive error and heresy.
As I said above, You'd need to ignore the entire sacrificial system, Isaiah 53 and much of the rest of the Bible to discount substitutionary atonement. A minor facet of the atonement may be related to the ransom theory but that definitely does not negate the massive primary facet related to substitutionary atonement. The fallacy involved in this is called fallacy of the single cause. That fallacy is the one you are committing. In fact, youre not only committing the fallacy of the single cause; you are selecting a rather minor cause and ignoring the massive one.
And, most importantly, you are negating God's justness by your assertion. God is just in that he punishes ALL sin. He is merciful in that he provided for Himself a sin offering in Jesus Christ. Christianity has a robust view of atonement compared to other world views due to this very reason. Your view of the atonement corresponds very closely to Islam, which is not surprising since Muslims are basically Pelagians.
Matt Slick is a 5 point Calvinist I believe. A very deceived individual who deceives many others. Sparkman obviously runs to him as an authority instead of using his own words to present a defence of what he believes. This is why so many are deceived, people read what others think and then buy into what sounds good instead of diligently digging for themselves.
Here is something I wrote on Ransom...
The Blood of Christ: "Ransom" NOT "Penal Substitution"
Jesus came to redeem us from ALL iniquity and make us pure.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Being redeemed means being ransomed.
G3084 - Redeem -lutroō
From G3083; to ransom (literally or figuratively): - redeem.
The Bible teaches that a Christian is both redeemed and forgiven. Redemption and forgiveness are two different aspects of salvation.
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
G629 - Redemption - apolutrōsis
From a compound of G575 and G3083; (the act) ransom in full, that is, (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation: - deliverance, redemption.
Jesus bought us with His blood. His blood was the price He paid to ransom us from all iniquity.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
A sinner is a slave to sin because they yield to sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Sinners have sold themselves into this state of bondage and their redemption is without money.
Isa_52:3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
The price paid was the blood of Jesus Christ.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
H1350 - Redeemed - gâ'al
A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), that is, to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow, etc.): - X in any wise, X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk (-man), purchase, ransom, redeem (-er), revenger.
It is Jesus Christ that makes us free indeed.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Set free by the blood and by the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This is why someone who has been TRULY redeemed does not sin. The bondage has been broken. They no longer yield to the passions and desires of their flesh and are thus no longer drawn into sin. They are the Lord's freemen...
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Previously being a servant of sin, now (having obeyed from the heart) a servant of righteousness.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
How does all this actually work?
It works through repentance and faith. One must first be broken on the rock of Christ (Mat 21:44) in order that the old master (Satan) be thrown off through the death of the old man (Rom 6:6) that we may go across to our new master whom is Jesus Christ. Thus we die (our old rebellious self serving man) with Christ that we may live unto God (Rom 14:8).
God sent Jesus to save us from our sins. Jesus did not come to save us in our sins. There is no salvation in sin, there is salvation from sin.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Redemption from all iniquity and being made pure is the purpose. This is to happen NOW, in this life.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
It is the pure in heart that will see God.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
It is through the purging of rebellion in repentance, by which we have put to death our former life of rebellion having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24), that we can approach God boldly in a new and living way with a true heart in full assurance of faith and have our hearts sprinkled by the blood of Christ.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The blood of Jesus Christ purges our consciences of dead works that we may serve God acceptably. Our conscience will no longer bear witness against us for we have been washed and made clean.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
The Pearl of Great Price: Death of Christ (Atonement)
Here is something I wrote on Ransom...
The Blood of Christ: "Ransom" NOT "Penal Substitution"
Jesus came to redeem us from ALL iniquity and make us pure.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Being redeemed means being ransomed.
G3084 - Redeem -lutroō
From G3083; to ransom (literally or figuratively): - redeem.
The Bible teaches that a Christian is both redeemed and forgiven. Redemption and forgiveness are two different aspects of salvation.
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
G629 - Redemption - apolutrōsis
From a compound of G575 and G3083; (the act) ransom in full, that is, (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation: - deliverance, redemption.
Jesus bought us with His blood. His blood was the price He paid to ransom us from all iniquity.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
A sinner is a slave to sin because they yield to sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Sinners have sold themselves into this state of bondage and their redemption is without money.
Isa_52:3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
The price paid was the blood of Jesus Christ.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
H1350 - Redeemed - gâ'al
A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), that is, to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow, etc.): - X in any wise, X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk (-man), purchase, ransom, redeem (-er), revenger.
It is Jesus Christ that makes us free indeed.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Set free by the blood and by the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This is why someone who has been TRULY redeemed does not sin. The bondage has been broken. They no longer yield to the passions and desires of their flesh and are thus no longer drawn into sin. They are the Lord's freemen...
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Previously being a servant of sin, now (having obeyed from the heart) a servant of righteousness.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
How does all this actually work?
It works through repentance and faith. One must first be broken on the rock of Christ (Mat 21:44) in order that the old master (Satan) be thrown off through the death of the old man (Rom 6:6) that we may go across to our new master whom is Jesus Christ. Thus we die (our old rebellious self serving man) with Christ that we may live unto God (Rom 14:8).
God sent Jesus to save us from our sins. Jesus did not come to save us in our sins. There is no salvation in sin, there is salvation from sin.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Redemption from all iniquity and being made pure is the purpose. This is to happen NOW, in this life.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
It is the pure in heart that will see God.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
It is through the purging of rebellion in repentance, by which we have put to death our former life of rebellion having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24), that we can approach God boldly in a new and living way with a true heart in full assurance of faith and have our hearts sprinkled by the blood of Christ.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The blood of Jesus Christ purges our consciences of dead works that we may serve God acceptably. Our conscience will no longer bear witness against us for we have been washed and made clean.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
The Pearl of Great Price: Death of Christ (Atonement)