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Critical analytical essay on atonement
A report about the crucifixion of Jesus
Critical analytical essay on atonement
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It can be said that in God's eyes, Christians are only dirty glasses which are stained inside and out with their own sin. These glasses were once clean, not plagued with stains. Now the glasses bear with them these ugly stains, the stains of sin and wrongdoing. The dirty glasses had to accept their punishment for becoming dirty, and the punishment was being destroyed by a hammer. The hammer is God's instrument against sinners. As the hammer made its decent on the glass, a pan covered the glass and took the blow of the hammer to save the glass. This pan represents Jesus because Jesus sacrificed himself to God so that God would forgive us for our sins.
Atonement is the action of putting things right between us and God. This story illustrates a very simplified version of one Atonement theory. Jesus, the "Pan," accomplished Atonement by sacrificing himself for mercy and forgiveness. He died for us so God would forgive our sins.
The Atonement theories themselves are different explanations to help interpret what God actually did to save us. In each of the four Atonement theories Jesus is the bridge that connects humanity and God and helps us connect to each other. We have multiple Atonement theories because there is no single, simple answer to solve the many questions of Jesus' death. One theory doesn't provide enough information and doesn't cover everything that needs to be said. Each Atonement theory is acceptable because there are multiple answers within them and all are correct. Since there are so
many different answers they give, they tend to overlap and sometimes run into each other but they do this to cover every aspect and question that is presented in the theories.
Since there are multiple Atonement theories, all Christians are going to have different opinions on which theory best fits Jesus' accomplishments. The personal opinion on the Atonement theories depends on how Christians look at Christianity and which model they think contributed more towards putting things right. A certain Christian's opinion on the theories show us how Jesus has influenced their lives, through either Jesus as teacher, Jesus as savior, Jesus as victor, or Jesus as presence.
Jesus as teacher tells us to be good, follow him, and live ethical lives. In this model, Jesus is saving us from our own ignorance because we do not know right from wrong. He wants us to change our uncaring behavior by him educating and inspiring each of us through his teachings and examples of love and knowledge.
But if the Gospels are thoroughly researched in depth, it becomes evident that the two writers were targeting different readers. Matthew writes for a Jewish audience, while John directs his book to all Christ-believers around the world. Another evident difference is the central theme that each Gospel relates to. Matthew’s major theme is Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy. While John continuously writes about belief in Jesus is required for salvation, making this his central theme. The last difference seen between both Gospels are the perspective of Jesus that is portrayed throughout the book. Matthew presents Jesus as a Messiah but John describes Jesus as the Son of God. With just knowledge from two Gospels on Jesus, they provide one clear message that Jesus is one, true Son of
Nicholas Wolterstorff debated God could not be “The One” charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging their wrongs (Lev. 25:48, 49; Num. 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Ps. 19:14; 78:35, etc.). This title was given to The Only One named Jesus Christ, The Saviour of mankind, Who sacrificed His own life to redeem mankind from the bondage and guilt of their sins, Who redeemed Israel from Babylonian where He was exiled, Isa 41:14. The “Redeemer” is a quality that is distinctive of a particular person, a title given to The Only Begotten Son of God in the second part of Isaiah, because He must be able to make or become different.
If Christ had made atonement for all, then he would pray for them but he does not. What grace we have received, we are saved, thank God.
Jesus could be seen as a teacher, and in the same way as a teacher
The story of Jesus’ crucifixion is a very complicated topic and has been told by many people over time. This can lead to the similarities and differences that we see between the four Canonical Gospels. But even with all the differences the four Canonical Gospels agree on the major point that Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. So I believe that it doesn’t matter which Gospel you study, be it Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, you will still end up with the same big picture. However, it does help to see a conflated version of the Gospels to see the little details as one larger piece of
Jesus is the eternal son of God. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. Jesus took on flesh so that he could be one of our mankind, but he is not just man; he is God in flesh, the second person in the Trinity. “The son is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation for in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-16). Jesus is also the Lamb of God, as there has always been the image of Jesus as lamb being sactificial which represents that Jesus being the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Martens,
Jesus worked tirelessly to teach humanity about the love of God instead of the fear of God that was not compatible with the true nature of God (book of Luke). Jesus was opposed to the concept of atonement to appease an angry God. Atonement is the belief in the sacrifice of an innocent life as reparation for
Jesus is God's solution for our salvation. In Genesis God spoke for the first time about Messiah, who will rebuild the relation between God and man. Messiah came and died, carries out the God's plan of salvation. Jesus suffered for our sins and died in our place.
Many subjects have been spoken of over the history human beings. For some time it may have a world war, at other times a great recession, in another day it would have been a very fast athlete, at others the final match of Champions League and many more. Yet in all these occurrences that grip the human mind for some time there is no occurrence more spoken than the crucifixion of a man called Jesus Christ (Zugibe 33). His crucifixion has even been a study for the entire lifetime of many people. Institutions have been built primarily for the purpose of studying this crucifixion. Some have said this crucifixion has changed their lives. Others have retorted that it has lifted off their worries. It is widely known and embraced. However, aside from all this, with all the goodness this man Jesus Christ is preached to have, many wonder why he would be killed on a cross.
was essentially because of the love and justice of God that the atonement was necessary.
Through his death Christ gained forgiveness of sins for all who follow him (see "baptism"). Titus 3:13,14 says "our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity".
Jesus’ death for all of mankind’s sin was not a small sacrifice. Because of the huge sacrifice Jesus made, He can be considered a hero - a person who is admired for something He has done. In this case, Jesus is admired for taking all of mankind’s sin upon Himself. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down His life for His friends.” Jesus did just that. He loved every person who ever lived and has yet to live so much that He laid down His life for them. All they have to do is believe with their hearts and minds that what the Bible says He did is true. There are many people who have been harassed, beaten, or even killed for believing this. Every year, it is estimated that 186,000 people are killed for believing in Jesus as their Savior and for refusing to deny their faith in Him. This reveals just how great a hero Jesus is.
Jesus’ crucifixion is a remarkable story in the Christian light. The story tells of how Jesus Christ was accused of blasphemy, then taken to Pontius Pilate for a ruling to be killed. Pilate found him innocent, but in attempt to find a reason to kill him, he let the crowd decide Jesus’ fate. Stirred by the Jewish chief priests, the crowds shouted, "Crucify him!"
A crown of thorns. Arms spread. Hands pierced. Jesus spent the last six hours of his time on earth demonstrating his perfect love to the world. He died a public death in front of his accusers, his followers, his executioners, even his family. This was not a death that men would consider noble or honorable, for this is how murderers and thieves suffered for their transgressions (Athanasius, On the Incarnation, 4.17). However, Jesus hung from a cross as one who never sinned in order that those who have sinned may be free from the judgment of death. Jesus’ story did not end here, however, and it certainly did not begin here, either. He entered this world as a child of a virgin mother. He grew up as a normal child with a mother and father, with
John Mark’s literary account of the life of Jesus summarizes the multiple motives behind the existence of the Living God. Jesus of Nazareth was the crucified Messiah, the risen King over Israel. He came to a damaged Earth to deliver the fallen from the evils of Satan, and he sacrificed himself on the cross to be the deliverer of sins and the ransom for