Gustaf Aulén, Christus Victor

John Webster, Ph.D.Dean, H.M.S. Richards Divinity School,

Professor of Theology & History of ChristianityLa Sierra University

Useful to Distinguish between:

Faith --- Doctrine --- TheologyExistential Guarding Putting pieces experience boundaries together

John 3:16

Barmen Declaration, 1934

Friedrich Schleiermacher, 1799; 1830/1

Romans 5:6-11: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

What did Jesus come to do?

Die for our sins Show us the love of God Overcome the Devil Satisfy the wrath of God Liberate us from Evil

‘Classic’ or Dramatic Model Early Church Fathers: Irenaeus, Origin, Augustine So-called “Ransom Theory”

‘Latin’ or Objective Model Anselm (11th Century) So-called “Satisfaction Theory”

‘Love’ or Subjective Model Abelard (12th Century) So-called “Moral Influence Theory”

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) Cur Deus Homo? (Why the God-Man?) ‘Latin’ --- Feudal system & Penance -God’s honor demands Satisfaction/Punishment -Humans cannot provide satisfaction, thus die -Satisfaction made by the death of the God-Man Later: Reformers, Justice & Penal Substitution Why ‘Objective’? In Christ, not in us. Discontinuous Divine Action: Father--Son

Jesus came to die for our sins, take our place, and suffer our punishment (God’s wrath);

So that we can receive his merit and be treat-ed as he deserved

Cross needed for God to forgive & be just

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2 Rom 3:24-25 Heb 2:17

Peter Abelard (1079-1142) Commentary Epistle to the Romans Jesus came to Demonstrate the Love of God Sin put Jesus on the Cross not God God forgives without needing ‘payment’ Salvation happens in us, through Christ’s life Why ‘Subjective’? Moral Influence theory Continuous Divine action; discontinuous salv.

Jesus came to show us how much God loves us; even to the Cross

God forgives us because that is what God is like

Salvation happens when we respond to the love of God; and love takes root in us

For God so loved the World . . .

John 3:16 Rom 8 Phil 2

Early Church: Irenaeus, Origin, (Augustine) First four centuries; Greek speaking Why “Ransom Theory”? Dramatic Model; Cosmic Conflict; Narrative Christ overcomes the principalities and

powers of Evil, Death and the Devil. Liberates us from the bondage of evil &

death Continuous Divine Action; Objective salvation Still the major view of Eastern Orthodoxy

In Christ, God fights and overcomes the principalities and powers that have taken us into bondage

In the Resurrection Evil & death is defeated

Humanity is now freed to respond to God in praise and thankfulness

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities , against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12

Rom 8 Phil 2