Friday, January 04, 2008

SOLUS CHRISTUS (Christ Alone)

SOLUS CHRISTUS (Christ Alone)

Salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.

We deny that the gospel is preached if Christ's substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited.

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There is no argument in this statement except that I think often people miss that "substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father" may include more than "substitutionary atonement". Scripture is clear that Jesus was the substitution for us at the Cross, but few understand that as He indwells us we are the substitution of Him on earth.



Also, it is in His sufferings He learned obedience, that we also learn fro our sufferings His love for us. I see that Christus Victor also fits well within the understanding of Substitutionary Atonement.... yet... it is not just an atonement, but a "propitiation". If one does not understand what propitiation is, they will come away with only a partial view of the Cross.

J.L Packer states this in his book Knowing God about propitiation:

“Has the word propitiation any place in your Christianity? In the faith of the New Testament it is central. The love of God, the taking of human form by the Son, the meaning of the cross, Christ’s heavenly intercession, the way of salvation–all are to be explained in terms of it…and any explanation from which the thought of propitiation is missing will be incomplete, and indeed actually misleading, by New Testament standards” (181).

Be blessed,
iggy

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