Defending the Atonement

Critics say Jesus’ death was unnecessary, unjust, and ineffective. They argue that God could have merely forgiven us, that wrongdoers must undergo the punishment they deserve, and that one person’s death can’t save another person from sin. But whenever there is an injury, someone has to suffer – the victim, the perpetrator, or another person. And though justice requires that someone pay the penalty, it doesn’t have to be the sinner. And when Jesus took on the suffering of sinners, he made possible a restoration of loving relationships. So the Atonement of Christ met the demands of love, justice, and peace. 

The Qur'an and God's Love

I read the Qur’an last year. I learned about the Muslim idea of God. God is great. God is merciful. Is God loving? Yes, but God’s love is conditional. God loves those who do good, who are pure and clean, who are righteous. But there is no indication that God loves unrepentant sinners. In contrast, Paul writes that, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” and that, “Christ died for the ungodly.” He says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:5-8).