God’s attitude toward the continuation of miracles into our present time appears to be that ‘one good Resurrection deserves another’! It’s “graciousness upon graciousness” (John 1:16). [7/1/00]
Is the Cross or the Resurrection the locus of our salvation? Has our theological tradition misplaced our redemption? This may seem a small matter for those of us who have become accustomed to talking about the Cross of Christ as a saving event. It may seem small in comparison with the revolution we must effect and endure in order to give Messiah’s Resurrection back the glory that properly belongs to it alone. But unless we are willing to risk the wrath of human theologians as we strive to correct our inherited “doctrine of the Atonement,” we are no nobler than those who habitually (I had almost said superstitiously) defend the Anselmian or Calvinistic theories of atonement. These approaches, however, only perpetuate the kindred muffling of the true glory of the Cross of Jesus. Much, therefore, is lost unless we alter our ways of explaining, teaching, and proclaiming to conform more radically to Scripture. [7/4/00]
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. The Biblical worldview frames that kind of death as a grave injustice, since Jesus was just and righteous without measure. Hence followed the subsequent revelation of God’s ultimate justice at his Resurrection. But what of the martyrs? And what of our own suffering of abuse that happens not to be for our own sins? The appalling judgments against ancient Israel (see the Former and Latter Prophets and Psalms!) were for their heinous sins. But more poignant and puzzling, what does “suffering abuse because of righteousness” (1 Peter 3:14) achieve? Is this for the salvation of others? Is this that “fellowship of his suffering of abuses” (Phil. 3:10)–that “filling up in my flesh, in his stead, the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ for his body, which is the church…” (Col. 1:24)? Does it also assist in bringing salvation to the world? [12/09/00]
The Premial Atonement 