Episode 71
#71. Why Did Jesus Die – Debating the Atonement Faithfully
Brad Vaughn (formerly Jackson Wu) breaks down how the interpretation of Jesus’ atonement impacts an individual, the church and perceptions of God’s character. Understanding the atonement can be heavily influenced by culture, worldview and holding metaphors more closely than scripture itself.
Brad shares from his recently published a book, The Cross in Context: Reconsidering Biblical Metaphors for Atonement.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
- Where to look for greater understanding about Christ's atonement
- About the influence the Western church has in some traditional cultures
- About the impact of culture and worldview on understanding atonement
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Brad Vaughn (Ph.D., SEBTS) is the marketing manager for William Carey Publishing after serving for 15 years as a church planter and seminary professor in East Asia. His books include Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes, One Gospel for All Nations, and The Cross in Context which. He posts resources at savinggodsface.com.
At the time of recording, "Jackson Wu" was a pseudonym Brad had adopted while working overseas in sensitive areas. Brad now goes by his real name, Brad Vaughn.
SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:
- John 17: 19-23; Jesus Sanctifies Himself
- Galatians 3: 13-14, Deuteronomy 21: 23; Christ Became a Curse
RELATED LINKS:
- Brad Vaughn’s Website
- Brad Vaughn on Twitter
- The Cross in Context: Reconsidering Biblical Metaphors for Atonement
TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:
00:34 - Topic: Considering the Cross, Why Atonement Matters
01:54 - Family Fun
05:25 - Atonement vs Reconciliation
07:07 - Atonement Is Like What?
08:53 - Conflicting Interpretations and Simplified Metaphors
09:58 - Looking at the Cross First to Understand Atonement
11:59 - Three Interrelated Fundamentals of Atonement: Purification, Bearing and Payment
12:51 - Cultural Factors that Affect the Understanding of Atonement
15:40 - Culture Wars, Cultural Preferences and Atonement Theory
16:38 - Uncontextualized Tradition from the West
17:59 - Honor, Shame, Atonement and the Sacrifices
19:00 - Sacrificial Offerings and the Holiness of God
21:32 - Making Things Holy
22:01 - Challenging the Status Quo and Bringing Nuance
23:28 - Penal Substitution and It's Logic
24:11 - Bearing Sin, Jesus' Death and the Curse
26:42 - Beyond Assumptions about Atonement
28:04 - Out of this World Joke
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