Do You Undertand Atonement?
If you can imagine the defeat of overwhelming forces and the long-hoped for freedom it brings, you understand the Christus Victor view of atonement. If you can imagine a slave market and being sold into slavery to the highest bidder, yet discovering that your buyer has paid for you only to set you free, you understand the redemption Jesus' death accomplished. If you can imagine a courtroom where you are standing trial for charges of which you are guilty, but the judge astonishingly rules you innocent because he has born the burden of your guilt and penalty himself and that you are free to go, you understand the penal substitutionary view of atonement. If you can imagine one who lived a life in such a charismatic and winsome way, even to the point of surrendering his life for yours, that the power of that way of life enables you to imagine and live a similar life, you understand the moral influence view of the atonement. If you can imagine someone willingly to die...