Atonement – Shameless Popery

Did Christ Die for All?

As we commemorate Good Friday, it’s a good time to ask: did Christ die on the Cross for all of us, or just for some?

What Does it Mean to Say That Jesus “Became Sin”?

Sandro Botticelli, Holy Trinity with Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist and Tobias and the Angel (1493)

St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 has an odd expression, in which he says that God the Father made Christ, who knew no sin, “to be sin.” What on earth does THAT mean?

Good Friday: A Superabundant Atonement (Part II)

This is Part II of guest blogger Matt Nagle’s response to Michael Taylor on the nature of the Atonement. You can find Part I here: —- III. Hell Hans Memling, Hell (1845) The real Achilles heel of penal substitution, however, is hell. Why? Well if hell is ultimately the just punishment that man deserves for sin,… Continue reading Good Friday: A Superabundant Atonement (Part II)

Good Friday: A Superabundant Atonement (Part I)

Guest author Matthew Nagle How does Christ’s death on the Cross save us from our sins?Several months ago, I wrote a piece arguing for the Catholic “satisfaction” understanding of the Atonement (in which Christ lovingly pays for our debt) and argued against the Calvinist “penal substitution” model (in which the Father pours out His wrath… Continue reading Good Friday: A Superabundant Atonement (Part I)

How Does Good Friday Work, Exactly?

Today, Christians celebrate Good Friday, recalling the Death of Christ on the Cross for our sins. Virtually all Christians agree that Christ’s Death is an atoning Sacrifice for our sins. But Catholics and Reformed Protestants understand the nature of that Sacrifice very differently. Is Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross the outpouring of the Father’s wrath… Continue reading How Does Good Friday *Work*, Exactly?

Did Christ Die for “All,” or Just “Many”?

Five-point Calvinists claim that Jesus’ Death on the Cross was not for the whole world, but only for those few who are saved. For the rest, Calvinists claim, Christ didn’t die for them, and no amount of faith or virtue could ever save them. Catholics rightly reject this as contrary to both Scripture and even a… Continue reading Did Christ Die for “All,” or Just “Many”?