I don’t mean to overwhelm the board with different issues surrounding the same topic, but an Administrator renewed my interest in an overreaching topic. Being one of those single minded type of guys - one of those people to whom holding two concurrent thoughts is like walking and chewing gum at the same time 
, I can’t help myself but indulge. Actually, we typically have numerous discussions along the same trajectory….so that was just an offhand icebreaker.
Within the context of Penal Substitution Theory another member had commented that God is not abusing another but is in effect taking punishment upon Himself. I agree that this is ultimately the design of the Theory (and this is why arguments of “divine child abuse” are contrary to actually addressing the Theory).
The great problem (to be solved) of Penal Substitution Theory is how God can deal with human sin and yet still justify men without making God unjust. Man has disobeyed God, treating God as if He were man’s equal….or worse….by elevating man’s will over God’s. Man has treated God as unholy and this is an eternal offense because God is an eternally holy and just God.
The great solution of Penal Substitution is that God Himself became man in order to take upon Himself the punishment due mankind. This way God fulfills the requirements of divine justice by punishing Christ (essentially by punishing Himself….as Y1 says – God punching Himself) for man’s disobedience. Having expended his wrath God is free to forgive man (men to whom no more wrath is due).
The great reversal of Penal Substitution Theory is that God the Son is obedient to God the Father while God the Father treats God the Son as if He were unholy.
The great irony of Penal Substitution Theory is that in order to save men from their sins the Father effectively becomes the chief of sinners against the Son and unrighteous under His own law.
, I can’t help myself but indulge. Actually, we typically have numerous discussions along the same trajectory….so that was just an offhand icebreaker. Within the context of Penal Substitution Theory another member had commented that God is not abusing another but is in effect taking punishment upon Himself. I agree that this is ultimately the design of the Theory (and this is why arguments of “divine child abuse” are contrary to actually addressing the Theory).
The great problem (to be solved) of Penal Substitution Theory is how God can deal with human sin and yet still justify men without making God unjust. Man has disobeyed God, treating God as if He were man’s equal….or worse….by elevating man’s will over God’s. Man has treated God as unholy and this is an eternal offense because God is an eternally holy and just God.
The great solution of Penal Substitution is that God Himself became man in order to take upon Himself the punishment due mankind. This way God fulfills the requirements of divine justice by punishing Christ (essentially by punishing Himself….as Y1 says – God punching Himself) for man’s disobedience. Having expended his wrath God is free to forgive man (men to whom no more wrath is due).
The great reversal of Penal Substitution Theory is that God the Son is obedient to God the Father while God the Father treats God the Son as if He were unholy.
The great irony of Penal Substitution Theory is that in order to save men from their sins the Father effectively becomes the chief of sinners against the Son and unrighteous under His own law.