Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 1.
My summary
This week Smeaton outlines how he is going to go about his task of looking at Christ's atonement from the recorded sayings of Jesus.
Firstly Smeaton tells us that the sources of the knowledge of the sayings of Jesus are to be drawn from the gospels.
Secondly Smeaton informs us that although the number of the sayings is small, they are nevertheless weighty.
Thirdly Smeaton ponders the question of whether all the testimonies of Christ on his atoning death are recorded, which he believes they are not.
Fourthly Smeaton tells us that the method to be followed in evolving the import of his sayings is to concentrate on the Lord's own testimony to his death for our redemption.
Fifthly Smeaton makes some comments on the importance of using only Biblical ideas on Christ's death.
What grabbed me
At the end of the chapter Smeaton made a good statement about what we can expect from our study: 'The more fully we enter into Christ's truly human experience, and trace His chequered course of joy and of sorrow, the livelier will be our apprehension of His curse-bearing life, and of His penal death. '
May it indeed be so.
Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 2 by reading section VI and VII.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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