Ask Pastor John Articulating the Glorious Cross to an Atonement-Rejecting Culture
Nov 16, 2015
John Piper, theologian and pastor known for Reformed teaching, explains why Christ’s substitution is central to the gospel. He discusses biblical proofs for substitutionary atonement. He explores cultural resistance to the idea and why Scripture must shape our categories. He frames atonement as both supreme justice and great mercy.
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Let Scripture Shape Your Categories
- Let the Bible create new conceptual categories rather than forcing it into preexisting cultural ideas about justice.
- John Piper argues resisting this leads to twisting or rejecting Scripture, especially on substitutionary atonement rooted in Old Testament sacrifice.
Use Concrete Images To Explain Atonement
- Use vivid, concrete images to explain substitutionary atonement to the biblically illiterate.
- Piper models this with Paul's image of a debt record nailed to the cross to show legal demands being cancelled.
Paul's Child Friendly Image Of The Cross
- Paul gives a child-friendly image of a legal debt being nailed to the cross to help people grasp substitution.
- Piper narrates a spike driven through a record titled with personal debts to visualize cancellation at the crucifixion.
