On Wednesday Night, April 12^th , we will discuss “The Atonement.” Every Easter we are confronted with the same question “Why was Jesus on the Cross?” We know the Biblical Story – Jesus was crucified on false charges of sedition and rebellion against the Roman government. But theologically speaking, “WHY was Jesus on the Cross?”

Attempts to answer this question are called “Theories of the Atonement.” Atonement means “at-one-ment.” This is the state of being “at one” or reconciled with God. Because of the Original Sin and Fall of Adam and Eve, there has been a great gulf or separation between Holy God and Sinful Human Beings. 1John 4:10(NIV) “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are God’s plan of salvation to reconcile sinners back into a relationship with God.  The plan of salvation or reconciliation is called “The Atonement.” There have been numerous attempts through the years to try to explain The Atonement. Listed below are a few examples of the various Theories of Atonement.

-The Ransom Theory – The devil cheated and stole mankind away from God. At the Cross, Jesus was paying the ransom to rescue man back from the Devil to God

-The Satisfaction Theory – When man sinned, it offended the honor of God and God’s honor demanded satisfaction. The payment to satisfy God’s honor was too high for man to pay. At the Cross, God became man in the person of Jesus Christ to pay our debt.

-The Moral Influence Theory – At the Cross, Christ was demonstrating God’s Love for man. When man looks at the depth of love and passion that God has for us, it fills us with sympathy and love for God which is our salvation.

-The Example Theory – At the Cross, Christ was giving mankind a picture of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. The Cross was a call for man to follow “in His steps.”

-The Substitution Theory – Sin separated man from a holy God. At the Cross, Jesus Christ the Son of God became a substitute for Man. He took our place and suffered our punishment so that we could believe  in Christ and be saved.

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