For those of us who are Christians, there is no doubt that the cross is central to our life and faith. However, what actually happened on the cross and what was actually accomplished there is a hotly debated issue in theology. One particular way of explaining what happened on the cross is a theory of the atonement called Penal Substitution, where Jesus functioned as a representative for all those who would place faith in him, bearing the punishment for their sin in their place. This is the most popular American evangelical teaching on the atonement, but is it true?

In this episode, Ben and Greg seek to tackle this issue by asking the questions, "Does God love us because of Jesus' work on the Christ?" or "Does God's love for us motivate Jesus to go to the cross?" As they discuss these questions, they seek to untangle many of the caricatures surrounding this teaching while holding forth the beauty of what Jesus did accomplish for us on the cross. 

Resources

The Cross of Christ by John Stott

The Atonement by Leon Morris

The Pursuing God by Joshua Ryan Butler

"The Beauty of the Cross" by Derek Rishmawy

The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge

Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd

Executing God by Sharon Baker