Penal Substitution and Impassibility

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Old errors have a habit of recycling themselves.  I’ve written recently about the resurgence of Federal Vision theology in the UK and how back in the noughties we faced a triumvirate of to theological errors, FV, the denial of Penal Substitution and Open Theism.  Well, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that Open Theism is… Continue reading Penal Substitution and Impassibility

What is an Evangelical?

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It’s over twenty years now since  the controversy  over Steve Chalke’s book, The Lost Message of Jesus.  Central to the controversy was his rejection of Penal Substitution and central to the response was that you can’t deny Penal Substitution and continue to be recognised as an Evangelical. It is worth noting that at the time,… Continue reading What is an Evangelical?

What atonement means

There has been a tendency in recent years to talk about “models of atonement”.  The tendency came to the forefront during the 2003 controversy over Penal Substitution.  Evangelical Christians have historically tended to talk about Jesus’ death as paying the penalty for our sin.  Steve Chalke and Alan Mann in their book “The Lost Message… Continue reading What atonement means

Does the parable of the prodigal son rule out penal substitution?

This was other “Threads take” that I referred to the other day. In the parable of the prodigal son, a father has two sons, the younger demands his share of the inheritance and then leaves home, wasting his share until famine hits and forces him to recognise his folly. He returns home to throw himself… Continue reading Does the parable of the prodigal son rule out penal substitution?

Penal Substitution: Steve Chalke and the Lost Message of Jesus, 20 years on

In 2023, a little book by a prominent Christian communicator shook the evangelical world.  Steve Chalke stated in “The Lost Message of Jesus” that the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement if true would amount to “cosmic child abuse.”[1]  It’s important to be clear about what he wasn’t saying. Chalke did not claim that the atonement… Continue reading Penal Substitution: Steve Chalke and the Lost Message of Jesus, 20 years on

The curse

When the people of Israel came out of Egypt, God gave them The Law in the wilderness at Sinai. Then, before they were about to go into Canaan, Moses in effect set before them a choice between curse and blessings. This choice was to be enacted in a covenant ceremony.  The people were to pass… Continue reading The curse

Summing up the message of Isaiah

The message of Isaiah can be summed up as follows.  First, that we are rebel sinners. We have been unfaithful to God and chosen idolatry over worship and trust in him.  Isaiah warns us that we will become like our idols, impotent, hardened, powerless, ignorant.  Secondly, the consequence of sin and idolatry is God’s righteous… Continue reading Summing up the message of Isaiah