Penal Substitution is NOT a “Theory”

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Nehemiah6

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Jul 18, 2017
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#1
PART I

Christians will find many articles or writings which allege that Penal Substitution as applied to the finished work of Christ is a “theory”, and one among many. They will also allege that this is purely a Reformed doctrine, and that the Reformers came up with this teaching, rather than it being a Bible and Gospel truth, which all Bible-believing Christians accept (including Non-Calvinists). But Penal Substitution is not a theory. It is Gospel Truth. And we do not need to look at the writings of the Early Church Fathers (or any so-called scholars or theologians) to see if they had a correct understanding of Bible truth. Sometimes they did, and sometimes they did not. And they certainly did not write by Divine inspiration.

WHAT DOES PENAL SUBSTITUTION MEAN?
Theopedia provides us with a satisfactory summary of the meaning of penal substitution.

“Penal substitutionary atonement refers to the doctrine that Christ died on the cross as a substitute for sinners. God imputed the guilt of our sins to Christ, and he, in our place, bore the punishment that we deserve. This was a full payment for sins, which satisfied both the wrath and the righteousness of God, so that He could forgive sinners without compromising His own holy standard.”

The word “penal” is related to penalty, particularly crimes committed by criminals. But it is also applicable to sins committed by sinners. There is a penalty for every crime or infraction of the laws of the land. And there is also a divine penalty for every sin committed. We see divine penalties applied in the Flood of Noah’s day as well as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (among other cities and nations in the Bible).


The word “substitution” simply means that someone other than the criminal or the sinner has been punished for the crime or sin committed. It would be similar to having two brothers in a court of law where one of them has been convicted of being a murderer. The other brother would approach the judge and ask that the death penalty be applied to him, so that his guilty brother can go free. The penalty would not change, but the one who paid the penalty would have been substituted. And the demands of justice would have been met.

GOD IS THE ULTIMATE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE
God has many attributes and many offices. One of them is that God is the Divine Judge of all humanity. There are numerous Scriptures which proclaim that God is the Divine Judge, and that all His judgments are righteous.

And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is Judge Himself. Selah. (Ps 50:6) But God is the Judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Ps 75:7) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing. (2 Tim 4:8) Here Christ is the Judge, and indeed God the Father has handed over all judgment to Christ: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)

THE PENALTY FOR SINS AND WICKEDNESS IS DIVINE WRATH
Throughout Scripture we see that Christ was indeed the perfect and only substitute for all mankind. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3). Had there been no cross, every sinner (all humanity) would be judged as guilty of death. And that would include the first (or physical) death as well as the second (or spiritual and eternal) death, which is separation from God in the Lake of Fire, and which expresses the wrath of God against sin.


For those who do not understand (or believe) that it is wrath, we have these Scriptures: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness...Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them...But unto them that are contentious,and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. (Rom 1:18,32; 2:8,9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (Rev 14:9,10)

THE LAMB OF GOD TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE WRATH OF GOD
When Christians reflect upon the sufferings of Christ on the cross, they often focus on the physical pain and excruciating agony of that cross (the worst form of Roman punishment). But God would have us focus on the anguish within the soul of Christ while He bore the wrath of God within Himself. While the word “wrath” does not appear in the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion of Christ, we must be clear that that is what was applied to Christ. But it is indicated directly and indirectly in both the Old and New Testaments. And we have other Scriptures which present the agony within the soul and spirit of Christ while He hung on that cross.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#2
PART II

TOTAL DARKNESS PREVENTED MEN FROM SEEING THE AGONY OF CHRIST
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour...And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.(Mt 27:45; Lk 23:44,45) As many were astonied [astonished] at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men: (Isa 52:14)

THE FATHER TEMPORARILY FORSOOK THE SON IN HIS WRATH

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mt 27:46)
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Ps 22:1)


CHRIST’S HEART “MELTED LIKE WAX” IN INTENSE AGONY
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.[internal parts or organs] (Ps 22:14) Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Ps 69:20)

THE “TERRORS OF DEATH” FELL UPON CHRIST, HORROR OVERWHELMED HIM
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. (Ps 55:4,5) I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. (Ps 69:2) Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. (Ps 69:15) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (Ps 116:3)

CHRIST’S SOUL WAS PIERCED WITH “A SWORD”
(THE WRATH OF GOD)

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling [my precious life] from the power of the dog.[figurative for Gentile enemies] (Ps 22:20) For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. (Ps 102:9,10) Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the Man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zech 13:7)

CHRIST WAS SMITTEN BY GOD AND AFFLICTED

For they persecute Him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. (Ps 69:26) Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isa 53:4)

CHRIST BORE THE PUNISHMENT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR PEACE
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.(Isa 53:5)

CHRIST PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS AND OUR GUILT

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:6) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. (Isa 53:8)

CHRIST MADE HIS SOUL AN OFFERING FOR SIN

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isa 53:10-12)
 

DB7

Junior Member
Dec 29, 2014
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#3
THE PENALTY FOR SINS AND WICKEDNESS IS DIVINE WRATH
Throughout Scripture we see that Christ was indeed the perfect and only substitute for all mankind. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3). Had there been no cross, every sinner (all humanity) would be judged as guilty of death. And that would include the first (or physical) death as well as the second (or spiritual and eternal) death, which is separation from God in the Lake of Fire, and which expresses the wrath of God against sin.
I don't know N6, my contention with Penal Substitution (PS) is that Jesus evidently, did not suffer the punishment that was inevitably required for sin, i.e. eternal death. I've heard other PS theorists try to claim that the agony that he suffered during his passion was commensurate to the full measure of eternal, torment and estrangement from God. Just by definition alone, this is not possible (the agony of knowing that you will never be in the Kingdom of God, as opposed to knowing that one day you will, can never be equated).
But the crux of the issue is this, that punitive measures are not necessary to propitiate God, the eradication of sin is. The emancipation from the Law was the purpose behind the sacrifice, for where there is no Law, there is no sin. This is what Christ succeeded in doing, ending the yoke and condemnation of the Law. For if bulls and goats could accomplish this on a temporal level, than Christ, the only man who loved God with all his heart, mind and soul (perfect and holy), invariably could achieve it to a permanent degree.
And by doing so, this allowed God to abrogate the Old law, in order to institute the New Law, that of faith and love, and reverence to God's first born of all creation, Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
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#4
Hello @DB7, I believe the reason that those outside of Christ face eternal torment/punishment for their sins is because their deaths can never pay the price that the Lord requires to atone for their sins. What is needed is a spotless lamb, but none of us are, spotless, that is (neither innocent or righteous) ... but Jesus is both.

~Deut
 

DB7

Junior Member
Dec 29, 2014
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#5
Hello @DB7, I believe the reason that those outside of Christ face eternal torment/punishment for their sins is because their deaths can never pay the price that the Lord requires to atone for their sins. What is needed is a spotless lamb, but none of us are, spotless, that is (neither innocent or righteous) ... but Jesus is both.

~Deut
Hello D, sorry, not quite sure that I understood your point. But, if I did, it appears that you are defining God's wrath as a punitive form of payment, as in your statement 'never pay the price for sin'? I disagree, in that God is not desiring a price to be paid in order to satisfy or propitiate his wrath, but rather, the ostracization that the guilty suffer, is simply the consequence. In order to liberate man from his condemnation, the Law had to end with blood, this is the 'payment', if you will, of what took place on the cross. It was not a compensatory measure in order to equalize the damage that was done. God demands obedience and love, and one cannot rectify defiance to these criterion by any form of payment, except obedience. Christ was obedient, and thus, satisfied the Law, he was therefore qualified to end it, so that man does not perish. The consequence is not the payment, but the wrath, whereas the annulment of the Law is where the absolution lies.
 

dodgingstones

Active member
Nov 20, 2019
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#6
All of the Gospel holds that the purpose Jesus took upon Himself the form of man, came to earth and gave His life on the cross was to be the required sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Disputing this would prove a person to NOT be a christian.

That this death was horror beyond description is shown in the various accounts in Scripture.

All of this is God's Master Plan.
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
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#7
...you are defining God's wrath as a punitive form of payment
Hello again @DB7, before I comment further, I'm wondering if you would help me get a better understanding of what you said here. How can God's wrath, which Jesus satisfied for us, be considered a payment of some kind? A "payment" for what exactly :unsure:

Thanks!

~Deut
 

dodgingstones

Active member
Nov 20, 2019
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#8
What I don't see is the need to call it anything other than what it is, and that's God's Salvation Plan for mankind.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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The bible is full of these truths....

He that knew no sin became sin for us

The righteousness of Christ imputed with the deeds/works of the law

It is finished <-- paid in full

Justified by faith without the deeds of the law

The Passover and Christ as the passover

The innocent son of David taking his place in death under the law when David murdered Uriah and took his wife Bathsheba

God reconciling the world unto himself before he even created the word

Being redeemed under the law

Christ the atoning sacrifice foe humanity

God so loving the KOSMOS that he GAVE his only Son

Etc........
 

Nehemiah6

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Jul 18, 2017
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#10
I don't know N6, my contention with Penal Substitution (PS) is that Jesus evidently, did not suffer the punishment that was inevitably required for sin, i.e. eternal death.
How can you say that in the face of all the Scriptures presented? What do you think happened when Christ made His soul an offering for sin, and suffered all the agonies of Hell in His own holy soul? Kindly read all the Scriptures posted and BELIEVE IT!

Since the Second Death is a Bible FACT, and those who do not believe on Christ are subject to wrath (John 3:36) it follows that when Christ bore the wrath of God on the cross, and was temporarily forsaken of the Father, that was indeed the suffering of the Second Death. The Second Death is eternal SEPARATION from God and Christ in the Lake of Fire. And Christ suffered for our sins, not just physically, but in body, soul, and spirit.
 

Nehemiah6

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Jul 18, 2017
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#11
He that knew no sin became sin for us
Yes. This is a critical and oft-neglected truth. Christ was literally made S-I-N for us. The holy Lamb of God was deemed to be the sum and substance of all the sin, evil, and wickedness of humanity (past, present, and future). How can we possibly understand this divine transaction? And this was so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. No man will ever know what transpired within the heart and soul of Christ for those three dark hours, when He was forsaken by God the Father, and bore all God's wrath against sin within His own soul.
 
Nov 16, 2019
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#12
But the crux of the issue is this, that punitive measures are not necessary to propitiate God, the eradication of sin is. The emancipation from the Law was the purpose behind the sacrifice, for where there is no Law, there is no sin.
Good post.

@Nehemiah6
You will find this very interesting.


You may not realize it but the penal model of redemption is opposed to the forgiveness model of redemption. Watch the video with the intent of simply understanding the alternate (original) argument for the atonement. It may change your view about this subject. It's profound.

Forgiveness vs. penal justice
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#13
Forgiveness vs. penal justice
Well the bottom line is that there could be no forgiveness of sins until and unless all our sins had been atoned for. So it is not forgiveness vs justice, but forgiveness FOLLOWS justice. The Bible is crystal clear that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Christ shed His blood for our redemption AND AT THE SAME TIME He made His soul an offering for sin. It is all clearly spelled out in the Bible.
 
Nov 16, 2019
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#14
Well the bottom line is that there could be no forgiveness of sins until and unless all our sins had been atoned for. So it is not forgiveness vs justice, but forgiveness FOLLOWS justice. The Bible is crystal clear that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Christ shed His blood for our redemption AND AT THE SAME TIME He made His soul an offering for sin. It is all clearly spelled out in the Bible.
Forgiveness IS the atonement.

I don't like when people post links to material to make their arguments, but the video is truly profound and I'm only just now becoming acquainted with this original way redemption was understood and can't articulate it well yet. But I will in time. :)
 
Nov 16, 2019
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#15
If I'm understanding the penal vs. forgiveness argument correctly, it isn't 'I'm paying the just penalty for sin so I can forgive you' (forgiveness would not be necessary for sin that is no longer outstanding because it had been justly paid for). It's 'I'm forgiving your sin so you don't have any sin to punish'.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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#16
Christ began the work of the Father and Son suffering unto death but not dying. God cannot die. The father working with the Son poured out his Spirit life keeping the body from corrupting. Three times that work of suffering the pangs of hell was repeated . A work of the two working as one is revealed. Never one of its own.

Just as with Jonas a living suffering (hell) . No dead sacrifices. .an abomination .

The penal was established with Cain in the beginning. A life long suffering which was more than Cain could bear as that which Christ alone with the father did bear.

The pangs of hell with no rest from Christ. The mark of the beast as restless wanderer..

Its when men invent a way for hell to be unending that problems arise. God is not without mercy. Hell as the wrath of God is being revealed . The dead know nothing, feel nothing, believe nothing . There false hopes die with them never to rise to new spirit life..
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#17
Forgiveness IS the atonement.
You seem to be completely missing the meaning of the finished work of Christ. Sins were being punished when Christ was nailed to that cross. And sins COULD NOT BE FORGIVEN until His blood was shed.

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, That is clear from Genesis to Revelation. For about 1500 years the blood of clean sacrificial animals COVERED sin. That is what "atonement" means -- a covering. Thus animals sacrifices were repeated daily and also annually.

But the Lamb of God -- Jesus of Nazareth -- TOOK AWAY SINS by the one sacrifice of Himself. Therefore He is the Propitiation for all our sins. And it is His shed blood which cleanses us from all sin.

But it is only AFTER that that sins are forgiven when there is repentance: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19)
 

GHClarkII

Active member
Mar 20, 2019
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#18
it is painful to see Tim's who do not accept the substitution in the atonement. Christ is so often described as paying a debt and making a propitious offering that seeing people deny that makes me scratch my head. thanks you to all those defending and expounding this beautiful truth of the gospel.
 

TooFastTurtle

Active member
Apr 10, 2019
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#19
Forgiveness IS the atonement.
Forgiveness is not the atonement. That is calvinistic type of reasoning where once the atonement is made, salvation automatically follows.

The biblical model is that atonement is made, yet we are only reconciled and the atonement is applied to us once we have faith.
 

DB7

Junior Member
Dec 29, 2014
283
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#20
Hello again @DB7, before I comment further, I'm wondering if you would help me get a better understanding of what you said here. How can God's wrath, which Jesus satisfied for us, be considered a payment of some kind? A "payment" for what exactly :unsure:

Thanks!

~Deut
Hi D, well then I may have misunderstood you, I thought that you were saying that the consequence of sin i.e. death, was in fact the payment? And I was attempting to refute that by saying that death is solely the consequence, and that propitiation only comes by the ending of the Law which was effectuated by the death of Christ, which annulled the covenantal obligation to live under the Law.
Hope this clarifies?
Thanks!