Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 - Shedd - XXII - Chapter 2 Vicarious atonement continued

Required reading  

Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or here) - Continue Chapter 2 'Vicarious atonement' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'Before leaving the subject of vicarious atonement, it is in place here to notice its relation to the soul of man' (Page 409 of my edition).

My summary  

We continue learning about the atonement.

Now Shedd teaches about the objective nature of the atonement as shown in:

(i) reconciliation;
(ii) ransom.

Shedd also discusses the existence of wrath and compassion simultaneously in God as shown by the vicarious atonement.

What grabbed me

I enjoyed the explanation about the atonement's end in God: 'We have thus seen from this examination of the Scripture representations, that Christ's priestly work has an objective reference : namely, that it affects and influences the Divine Being. Christ's atonement " covers sin " from God's sight. It " propitiates " God's wrath against sin. It " reconciles " God's justice toward the sinner. It "pays a ransom " to God, for the sinner. None of these acts terminate upon man the subject, but all terminate upon God the object. Christ does not " cover sin" from the sinner's sight. He does not " propitiate " the sinner's wrath. He does not " reconcile " the sinner to the sinner. He does not " pay a ransom " to the sinner. These acts are each and all of them outward and transitive in their aim and reference. They are directed toward the Infinite, not the finite ; toward the Creator, not the creature. Whatever be the effect wrought by the vicarious death of the Son of God, it is wrought upon the Divine nature. If it appeases, it appeases that nature; if it propitiates propitiates that nature ; if it satisfies it satisfies that nature ; if it reconciles, it reconciles that nature. It is impossible to put any other interpretation upon the Scripture ideas and representations. A merely subjective reference, which would find all the meaning of them within the soul of man, requires a forced and violent exegesis of Scripture, and a self-contradictory use of the word " atonement.'''

We are reconciled to God, not God to us.

Next week's reading    

Continue Chapter 2 'Vicarious atonement' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'A distinction is made by some theologians between "satisfaction" and "atonement"' (Page 433 of my edition).

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.