Is Penal Substitution Biblical?

Over the last few days two videos from different preachers appeared on my social media feed and both had the same theme: a polemic against penal substitution. In other words, both were teaching against the idea that Jesus’ death on the cross was substitutionary (in our place) and propitiatory (to take upon himself the penalty of our sins i.e the wrath of a Holy God).

This kind of teaching is not new, but it seems to be making a come back. A number of years ago I released a book that deals with the atonement. This is how I understand the scriptures to present the atonement. the following is an extract from my book ‘Three Things the Devil Hates’

“Firstly, the blood speaks of a substitute. We are the guilty and Christ is the guiltless. God’s holiness demands justice, but in his love he desires to express mercy. He cannot extend mercy without justice; this would be to ignore sin and would be evil. God Himself meets the demands of the law on behalf of the sinner. Christ Jesus the righteous becomes the rebel in order that the rebels may become righteous.

Secondly, the blood operates God-ward because the death of Christ appeases God’s wrath.  How can God accept sinners? Quite simply, God is pleased with the blood. The blood satisfies Him perfectly. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col. 1:19–20) The hymn writer declared:

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

In my place condemned He stood

Sealed my pardon with His blood

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

The biblical word for this event is propitiation.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Rom. 3:23–25,  ESV)

The biblical meaning of propitiation is “the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favour.”

The teaching of propitiation is very unpopular today. Steve Chalke, in 2004, referred to the teaching of propitiation as “a form of cosmic child abuse.” Chalke, like many Christians today, is appalled by any God-talk that includes the concept of judgement and wrath. However, Chalke is simply setting the love of God against His justice and His wrath against His grace. Almost fourteen years later, the influence of liberal theology is still undermining the biblical teaching of propitiation.

The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA) also experienced controversy over their new hymn book. Some members desired to include the famous hymn “In Christ Alone” in the new hymnal, but other members wanted to remove the following lines: Till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied. They wanted to replace these lines with:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

the love of God was magnified.

There is nothing new in this latest controversy: liberal theology always seeks to eclipse God’s holiness and righteousness with his love. Liberals are happy with forgiveness, but not the cost of forgiveness. They are happy with the warm, embracing, and tolerant Jesus, but not the bloodied, bruised, and beaten Jesus. 

Contrary to the claims of liberal theology, propitiation perfectly expresses God’s love and justice: God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom. 5:8–10)

The Bible is crystal clear: God’s love, mercy, and justice meet at the cross. Because the blood of Jesus satisfies God, we are forgiven and made righteous in Christ. God’s righteous wrath has been poured out upon Jesus instead of us.  Consequently, we are reconciled to God. Therefore, it is important that we understand the value which God places upon the blood of His son.”

Extract ‘Three things the devil hates’ by John Caldwell