Several times I have seen advocates of the Theory of Penal Substitution Atonement (PSA) comment that they do not understand how other theories necessitate the cross.
I hold a Christus Victor view of Reconciliation. This view considers God as sending His Son as a sin offering, that it pleased God to “crush Him” in the context that Christ suffered and died “at the hands of wicked men” but that this was also “in accordance with God’s predetermined plan”.
Christ suffered and died at the hands of the world (at the hands of wicked men), not at the hands of God. The cross was necessary because the cross was the “worlds” condemnation. It was necessary that Christ be handed over by the Jewish leadership (religious leadership) into the hands of the “wicked” (the secular powers of that time, the powers of the world) and Christ suffer and die that specific death under those specific circumstances.
Christ had to be condemned NOT by God but by the world. God will never condemn the righteous. The point of the cross is that the world DID condemn the righteous. God vindicated His Son, raising Him to life, given victor over the powers of sin and death – the powers of this world – that has held man in bondage.
That is just a short answer, but it should be enough to explain why Christus Victor (and most non-PSA theories) absolutely depends on Christ's suffering and death upon a Roman cross and being raised on the third day.
BUT
PSA does not necessitate the cross itself (as long as Christ died in public and His death concluded by being hung on a tree or any type of wooden structure). I am not sure that advocates of PSA have realized this.
Sure, the cross was foretold so it would happen that way. Sure, under Roman law this is how it would occur. But none of this speaks to it as being necessary (that our redemption needing the cross). Another interesting thing is PSA does not acknowledge that Christ died not under God’s law but under the law of the world. But that's another topic.
I believe there are some fundamental truths in the cross that need the mature in Christ to see.
1. Jesus died at the hands of us, sinful mankind.
2. Jesus forgave those who killed him, the group who caused His death.
3. Our problem is believing God loves us and will not reject us because of our sin, ie there is a path of forgiveness
4. We need to identify with those who killed Jesus, to receive His forgiveness
5. We need to believe Jesus that the cross is enough to cleanse us of all unrighteousness
Jesus had to be God for this to be significant, to show how much He, the creator of all, loves us, He would do anything possible to bring us home.
This is very personal, our sin killed Jesus, our guilt and shame, put Him on the cross. Our attempts at domination, proving, control, overcoming others, proving ourselves, wanting glory, put Jesus on the cross. And on that cross it all got nailed, dealt with, cleansed and forgiven.
The emotional conclusion that our guilt is resolved, our sin cleansed, our hearts purified is the power of Christ in our lives. There is nothing more that needs to be done. It is not a distant act, it is brutal, unbelievably cruel and heartless. Just see the wounds as displayed in the Turin shroud. Jesus lost so much blood he could not carry his cross. 1 week after the triumphal entry, the assassination of the King of glory took place. One man taken out, not much of a crime or an issue. The movement crushed, the problem resolved, just one innocent murdered. How many others had gone before, one more made little difference.
Anything that removes this from us personally is not of God.
Our foundation is Jesus and cross. It is faith that puts us with the murderers who killed Him, and faith that exercises forgiveness of our sin.
It is grace that covers over our failures and areas where we need emotional growth and healing, and the law that guides us in the areas we need to work on.
PSA comes from a desire to distance ourselves from the need to change, and the brutality of our own sinful deeds and the sorrow that should flow.
The power of the cross is the disciples that ran away, hours before Peter who said he was so strong to stand with God unto death. Peter imagined a heroic end, not a capitulation to the authorities with a betrayal by a friend, and no fight. Why did Jesus need the sword?
It had to be the cross and it had to be the Jewish teachers of the law, who claimed they wanted Gods way, to the letter, but had no love only self indulgence and greed. How today the same realities are still alive, the claiming of promises while not living out the fulfilment of a cleansed life, but rather wallowing in sin and defeat. Each reader knows there place in this divide, but the question is always, are they willing to repent and approach God in faith, knowing what the cross actually means for them personally. Praise the Lord, some will respond as God gives the grace to repent, Amen. Praise the Lord.
