Christus Victor

28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Matthew 12:28-29 [ESV]

Theories of Atonement

•Objective paradigm •Atonement satisfies a necessary demand or requirement of God

•Subjective paradigm•Atonement brings about a change in us

Theories of Atonement

•Christus Victor paradigm•Atonement is directed toward Satan and powers of evil•Through the cross Christ fights against and triumphs over the evil powers of the world (cf. Col 2:13-15)

Christus Victor

•The Ransom Theory•Dominant understanding of the atonement throughout first 1,000 years of the church•Advocates included Origen, Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine

Christus Victor

•The Ransom Theory•Satan gained control over mankind and the world•This control was the result of human sin

Christus Victor

•The Ransom Theory•Since Satan had ‘rightful’ control over mankind and the world, God would not ‘steal’ man back• Justice required that God ‘buy us back’ if we were to be freed from Satan•A ransom had to be paid (cf. Mark

10:45; 1 Cor 6:20)

Christus Victor

•The Ransom Theory•Satan demanded Christ’s death as the suitable payment (i.e. ransom)•He agreed to free mankind in exchange for the death of Jesus•He thought he could ‘own’ the soul of Jesus by killing him

Christus Victor

•The Ransom Theory•Satan demanded Christ’s death as the suitable payment (i.e. ransom)•He sought to control God by ruling over the Son

Christus Victor

•The Ransom Theory•However, Christ proved victorious over Satan through the resurrection•Satan’s scheme was thwarted•Mankind was justly freed

Christus Victor

•Contemporary Christus Victor models emphasize the defeat of Satan over the payment of a ransom

Christus Victor

•Key biblical motifs•The ongoing reality of spiritual warfare (e.g. Eph 6:12; 2 Cor 10:3-5)•The recognition that humans are held hostage by powers of evil (e.g. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Luke 4:5-5; 1 John 5:19)

Christus Victor

•Key biblical motifs•The ministry of Jesus was characterized by active opposition to satanic powers•Exorcisms (e.g. Matthew 12:22-28; Mark

1:23-27; 5:1-13)• Freeing the captives (e.g. Luke 4:18;

Eph 4:8)

Christus Victor

•Key biblical motifs•The ministry of Jesus was characterized by active opposition to satanic powers•Resistance of satanic temptation

(Matthew 4:1-11//Luke 4:1-13)•The presence of the kingdom of God means the kingdom of Satan has been defeated (cf. Matthew 12:28)

Christus Victor

Five Observations•Demons knew who Jesus was but did not understand what he was doing (e.g. Mark 1:23-24; 3:11; 5:7; Luke 8:28)•God’s wisdom that led to the crucifixion was ‘secret and hidden until after the crucifixion (Romans 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:7)

Christus Victor

Five Observations•Satan and his minions were instrumental in bringing about Jesus’ death (cf. John 13:27)

Christus Victor

Five Observations•Paul wrote, “None of the rulers of this age understood this [the mystery of

the cross] for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Cor 2:8)

Christus Victor

Five Observations•The cross brought the defeat of Satan and the reconciliation of mankind and the world to God (2 Cor 5:18-19; Col 1:19-22; 2:13-15)

Christus Victor

Contributions•Emphasis on Christ’s victory over evil•Those who are in Christ also have victory over the evil one (cf. 1 John 2:13-14; 4:4)

•Emphasis on the cosmic impact of the atonement

Salvation and Theories of Atonement

•Salvation is complex and contains elements of mystery•While we may understand aspects of it, we do not understand all of it

•A final analogy•Salvation is like …

a set of golf clubs