1.1. Predetermined by God in eternity past (Acts 2.23; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
1.2. Voluntary or by free choice (John 10:1-18; Galatians 2:20).
1.3. Substitutionary (1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3).
1.4. Sacrificial or an offering for sin of others (1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 9:14).
1.5. Expiatory or taking away guilt (Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:4-6).
1.6. Propitiatory or satisfying the Father (1 John 2:2; 4.10; Romans 3:25).
1.7. Redemptive or paying the price (Ephesians 1:7).
1.8. Unlimited or for everyone; available for all, applied to believers (1 John 2:1-2; John 1:29; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9).
1.9. Absolutely complete or we do nothing and add nothing (Hebrews 7:27;
Hebrews 9:14, 28;
Hebrews 10:10, 12, 14).
1.10. Two aspects of His death: spiritual (3 hours of darkness when He was being
judged for sins (Matthew 27:45-47; Mark 15:33-36; Luke 23:44-45; John 19:28-30) and physical when
He
voluntarily accepted physical death because He had completed His work (Matthew 27:50-51; Mark
15:37-38; Luke 23:46-49; John 19:30).
2. Wrong theological explanations of Christ’s death--see Elemental
Theology, Bancroft 169-176
1. An Accident: The claim is the Jesus was a victim of circumstances,
therefore He died because of an unexpected accident. Refutation: Jesus
knew the Old Testament and the Father's plan for His life and death
(Matthew 16:21; Luke 24:25-35; Isaiah 53).
2. A martyr: The claim is that His death was simply like that of any other well intentioned martyr.
Refutation: There is no mention of this in the Bible, while the New Testament used this word to describe other
Christian's deaths. Christ died forsaken by the Father; Paul was joyful (Philippians 1:23 and 2 Timothy
4:6-7); Stephen died, but no one used him for forgiveness.
3. A moral influence: The claim is that Christ redeemed people through His example, therefore influencing
people to reform and better his condition; God can forgive when people repent and reform.
Refutation: Just knowing about His suffering and life does not change their status of
spiritual death. It did not in His time and does not now.
4. An expression of God’s anger at sin (governmental theory): The
claim is that Christ’s death showed God’s displeasure at sin in the world.
(God was angry at sin and took it out on His Son [Tod Kennedy's addition]). The help is in Christ’s suffering. This shows God’s moral
support of justice, not a substitution of penalty for sin. Refutation: God did not need
His perfect Son to show His anger at sin. He could and did show this with many people.
5. To show man how much God loved them: The claim is that man would always have this proof of God’s
love. Refutation: God has said over and over that He loves man, but because
He loves man
He sent His Son to pay the penalty for their sin (Romans 5:8).
