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

Required reading  

Continue Chapter 2 'Vicarious atonement' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'Having considered the nature and value of Christ's atonement, we are prepared to consider its extent.' (Page 464 of my edition).

My summary  

This week respecting the possibility of the substitution of penalty we learn:

(i) punishment is at sin;

(ii) justice is dispassionate and unselfish;

(iii) it is implied in divine sovereignty.

Regarding the sovereignty of God, Shedd teaches us:

(i) the suffering substituted must be penal in its nature and purpose, and of equal value with the original penalty;

(ii) the penalty substituted must be endured by a person who is not himself already indebted to justice and who is not a subject of the government under which the substitution takes place.

Then Shedd makes clear that the sufferings of Christ meet all these conditions:

(i) They were penal in nature and intent, since they were neither calamitous nor disciplinary;

(ii) They were infinite in value;

(iii) They were not due from him as from a guilty person.

What grabbed me

I appreciated the point that a substitute must not be already under the law: 'Secondly, the penalty substituted must be endured by a person who is not himself already indebted to justice, and who is not a subject of the government under which the substitution takes place. If he be himself a criminal, he cannot of course be a substitute for a criminal. And if he be an innocent person, yet owes all his own service to the government, he cannot do a work of supererogation such as is implied in vicarious satisfaction. An earthly state could not righteously allow an innocent citizen to die for another, even if he were willing so to die, because there are claims upon the person and life of every citizen which must go undischarged if his life should be taken.'

The Son of God is the only substitute for sinful man.

Next week's reading    

Conclude Chapter 2 'Vicarious atonement'.

Now it's your turn

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