Christ's doctrine of the atonement - Smeaton - III - Chapter 2 commenced

Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 2 by reading section VI and VII.

My summary
This week Smeaton begins giving us some presuppositions about the doctrine of the atonement.

Firstly the atonement is a divine provision to put away:
(i) sin in its own nature;
(ii) all sin's consequences.

Secondly Smeaton examines separate sayings which affirm or imply the necessity of the atonement:
(i)  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (Joh 3:14);
(ii) if this cup may not pass away from me, (Mat 26:42);
(iii) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mar 8:37);
(iv) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee (Joh 17:25).

What grabbed me
I liked Smeaton's comment on the absurdity of the life of Jesus if it wasn't for satisfaction of sin: 'We cannot conceive of such a stupendous economy, if it were not necessary. There could be no other reason sufficiently important for God to abase Himself and to be made in fashion as a man, and suffer on the cross; for God would not subject His Son to such agonies if sin could have been remitted without satisfaction. To suppose that all this was appointed merely to confirm Christ's testimony as a teacher, is a shock to reason ; for that could have been effected by a martyr's death. To hold that it was meant to impress the human mind with a conviction of God's love, is no better ; for the whole historic basis of Christianity would be little better than a mere drama or scenic arrangement, intended to make an inward impression, but nothing real in the moral government of God, if the vicarious sacrifice were not necessary on God's part for the ransom of sinners, and to put away their sin. The facts are too momentous and solemn, and too closely connected with all the attributes of God and all the persons of the Trinity, to be brought down to the level of an imposing representation. To take this roundabout way of making a moral impression, if the death of God's Son was not necessary, would be repugnant to the Divine goodness and wisdom.'

The incarnation demands a great reason, and what greater reason than the atonement?

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 2 by reading section VIII to X.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.