I am going to start with my belief, and perhaps we can see where Penal Substitution theorists depart.
Let's take it step by step.
The Fall of Man
God created Adam from the dust of the ground. God planted a garden in Eden, and He put Adam in this garden. God made all types of trees that produced fruits appealing to the eye and good to eat, but God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, informing him that when he eats of it he will certainly die.
The Serpent deceived Eve, telling her that eating of the fruit would not cause certain death, but that God knows that when she eats from it her eyes will be opened, and she will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye, it was good for food, and she desired it to give her wisdom. She ate of the fruit and gave some to Adam. Adam ate of the fruit.
Because of this their eyes were opened and they became like God knowing good and evil.
God pronounced a curse on the Serpent, saying He would put enmity between the Serpent and Eve's offspring - the Serpent would strike his heel and he would crush the Serpent's head.
Because of Adam's sin the ground was cursed. Adam would work for food until the day he died - “for dust you are, and to dust you will return”.
As Adam and Eve had become like God knowing good and evil, God excited Adam and Eve from the garden, back to the ground where he was created, lest he eat of the tree of life and live forever.
Two Main Problems
The Biblical text provides two main problems for man. One is a product of sin (“sin begats death”). Man is dust and to dust he would return. Through Adam's transgression sin entered the world and through sin death entered the world.
But the other problem is more severe and it was imposed by God. Man was cast out of the Garden, back to the ground where he was formed. God ensured Adam could not return. This is a separation from the presence Adam enjoyed from the time he was taken from where he was formed until he was cast out.
Two issues - death (begat by sin) and God's judgment (casting out). It is appointed man once to die and then the judgment.
@Martin Marprelate , @DaveXR650 , @Charlie24
Are we at least in agreement so far?
Barring any disagreement with the above, the Atonement must meet two criteria:
1. The wages of sin (death) must be addressed. Sin begats death. Sin and death needs to be overcome. Men will experience the wages of sin as all have sinned and sin begats death.
2. The judgment of God must be addressed. We need a means by which to obtain forgiveness and not be "cast out".
It is appointed man once to die and then the judgment.
We saw this in Jesus. He bore our sins, became a curse for us. He suffered the wages of sin, shared our infirmity, died. And then He was vindicated, sat at the right hand of the Father....not "can't out". He became a life giving Spirit.
Let's take it step by step.
The Fall of Man
God created Adam from the dust of the ground. God planted a garden in Eden, and He put Adam in this garden. God made all types of trees that produced fruits appealing to the eye and good to eat, but God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, informing him that when he eats of it he will certainly die.
The Serpent deceived Eve, telling her that eating of the fruit would not cause certain death, but that God knows that when she eats from it her eyes will be opened, and she will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye, it was good for food, and she desired it to give her wisdom. She ate of the fruit and gave some to Adam. Adam ate of the fruit.
Because of this their eyes were opened and they became like God knowing good and evil.
God pronounced a curse on the Serpent, saying He would put enmity between the Serpent and Eve's offspring - the Serpent would strike his heel and he would crush the Serpent's head.
Because of Adam's sin the ground was cursed. Adam would work for food until the day he died - “for dust you are, and to dust you will return”.
As Adam and Eve had become like God knowing good and evil, God excited Adam and Eve from the garden, back to the ground where he was created, lest he eat of the tree of life and live forever.
Two Main Problems
The Biblical text provides two main problems for man. One is a product of sin (“sin begats death”). Man is dust and to dust he would return. Through Adam's transgression sin entered the world and through sin death entered the world.
But the other problem is more severe and it was imposed by God. Man was cast out of the Garden, back to the ground where he was formed. God ensured Adam could not return. This is a separation from the presence Adam enjoyed from the time he was taken from where he was formed until he was cast out.
Two issues - death (begat by sin) and God's judgment (casting out). It is appointed man once to die and then the judgment.
@Martin Marprelate , @DaveXR650 , @Charlie24
Are we at least in agreement so far?
Barring any disagreement with the above, the Atonement must meet two criteria:
1. The wages of sin (death) must be addressed. Sin begats death. Sin and death needs to be overcome. Men will experience the wages of sin as all have sinned and sin begats death.
2. The judgment of God must be addressed. We need a means by which to obtain forgiveness and not be "cast out".
It is appointed man once to die and then the judgment.
We saw this in Jesus. He bore our sins, became a curse for us. He suffered the wages of sin, shared our infirmity, died. And then He was vindicated, sat at the right hand of the Father....not "can't out". He became a life giving Spirit.