Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 2.
My summary
This week we finish Smeaton's presuppositions of the atonement.
This week's reading is devoted to the influence of the deity of Christ in the matter of the atonement.
Firstly Smeaton shows us that the false views of Christ destroy all proper conception of Christ's satisfaction, in particular the theories of the:
(i) Arians;
(ii) Sabellians;
(iii) Nestorians.
Secondly Smeaton looks at the effects of God's incarnation on the atonement. As God:
(i) Jesus had power over his own life;
(ii) there is infinite value attached to Christ's atonement;
(iii) Jesus can be the party bought who must, by the necessary law of purchase, own those he redeems.
What grabbed me
Smeaton was very clear on why Christ had to be God: 'It is the person of Christ, or Himself as a divine person, in the performance of a work given Him to do and not His teaching, merely, or the republication of lost truth that constitutes the ransom. But one equal to the task of bringing a satisfaction or atonement for millions must needs possess a divine dignity. A mere man could as little redeem the world as he could create the world : the Restorer of man must be the Maker of man.'
One man cannot atone for millions, unless that one man is also the one God.
Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 3 by reading Sections XIV and XV.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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