Participation and Atonement - An Analytic and Constructive Account

The atonement is a key Christian doctrine that affects our participation in God's life and community, built on substitutionary models but avoiding penal substitution problems.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

The atonement is a central doctrine in Christian theology, but its relationship to the life of the church and its impact on worship and liturgy are complex and multifaceted. In his groundbreaking book, "The Nature of the Atonement," renowned theologian Oliver Crisp offers a fresh and comprehensive exploration of this doctrine, delving into its implications for our participation in God's life and the shared life of the Christian community.

Crisp begins by examining the traditional understanding of the atonement, which sees it as God's act of reconciling humanity to himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He then challenges this model by proposing a new understanding that emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ's obedience and suffering in the atonement. According to Crisp, Jesus Christ's obedience to the will of God was a necessary condition for his death on the cross, and his suffering was a necessary means by which God's wrath was appeased.

This new understanding of the atonement has significant implications for our participation in the life of God. According to Crisp, the atonement enables us to participate in God's life through the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us and empowers us to live in obedience to God's will. It also enables us to participate in the shared life of the Christian community, as we are united in our love for God and our fellow believers through the atonement.

Furthermore, the atonement has a profound impact on worship and liturgy. According to Crisp, the cross is the central symbol of the atonement, and it should be central to our worship and liturgy. The cross reminds us of the price that Jesus Christ paid for our sins and the love that God has shown us in his sacrifice. It also serves as a reminder of our need for repentance and forgiveness, as we are called to turn away from our sin and follow Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, the atonement is a central doctrine in Christian theology, and its relationship to the life of the church and its impact on worship and liturgy are complex and multifaceted. Oliver Crisp's book "The Nature of the Atonement" offers a fresh and comprehensive exploration of this doctrine, challenging traditional understandings and proposing a new understanding that emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ's obedience and suffering in the atonement. This new understanding has significant implications for our participation in the life of God and the shared life of the Christian community, and it should be central to our worship and liturgy.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780801049965