“Jesus died for our sins. Jesus provided atonement, to reconcile God and humans. Jesus paid a debt we could never pay ourselves. Jesus was willingly a sacrifice for our sins.”

How should a thinking Christian understand these claims?

In this episode I discuss atonement with Dr. Joshua Thurow. He surveys the various ways Christians have thought about Jesus’s unique atonement through his death.

Is this death

an example for us to imitate

a ransom of slaves or captives

a substitute for sinners who takes our punishment

a restoration of God’s honor

payment of an infinite debt incurred by our sinning against a God of infinite value

a triumph over evil spiritual forces and a liberation of us from domination by those powers

or two or more of the above?

Dr. Thurow also discusses some Protestant-Catholic-Orthodox differences about atonement.

You can also listen to this episode on Stitcher or iTunes (please subscribe, rate, and review us in either or both – directions here). It is also available onYoutube (scroll down – you can subscribe here). If you would like to upload audio feedback for possible inclusion in a future episode of this podcast, put the audio file here.

Links for this episode: