Divine Substitute: The atonement in the Bible and history

by Brian H. Edwards

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. But why was there need for a Divine Substitute? Why did he have to die such a terrible death upon the cross? Was there no other way? What purpose did the physical, mental, and spiritual sufferings of Christ play in Gods plan of salvation? This book explores the very heart of the Christian gospelthe belief that Christ died in the place of sinners, bearing their sin and guilt and the just and holy punishment that they deserved from God. This doctrine has become the subject of intense debate, and it has been claimed that it is a recent invention of the church. The book demonstrates that the understanding of the death of Christ as a work of penal substitution is the principal waythough not the only wayin which the Bible views the death of Christ, and that far from being a recent teaching, it has been taught at every period in the history of the church. Here is a challenge to a deeper biblical and historical understanding of the atonement, and an encouragement to proclaim and live out the message of the cross with renewed faithfulness and courage.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2006

About the author

Brian H. Edwards is a retired pastor, writer, lecturer, and editor.

Edwards began his career as an Assistant Pastor in London. He then moved to Hook Evangelical Church in Surbiton, south-west London, where he stayed for almost thirty years. He resigned to become President of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.

Reviews

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bit more for seminary students and up. It's an excellent overview of penal substitutionary atonement. I really liked the focus on the atonement and resurrection at the end of the first section defining the biblical basis for our "Divine Substitute."

The remainder (and majority ) of the book looks at both biblical, and unbiblical, views and the theological developments of the atonement throughout church history. As is always the case, so much of current liberal theology attempts to sound new, and yet has all been said before (though, usually repackaged to fit the times). Our culture is so quick to put the love of God as His primary attribute, with all the other attributes subservient to His love. Of course, whenever that happens, the love of God is the very thing that ends up getting smaller and smaller. Without the Covenant of Redemption planned before time and the perfectly holy God of wrath and judgment stepping into our fallen world through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of the second person of the Trinity, the love of the Father, Son, and Spirit becomes significantly less.

Praise the God who is. Only a Divine Substitute can save. Only.

[Glyn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything published by Day One is good. This one particularly presents the atonement in a balanced and well-articulated manner. Penal substitutionary atonement is one of the hot topics in the church today, and Edwards discusses it in a way that should leave no argument - though there will always be those that argue for the sake of arguing.

This book serves as a good introduction to the topic, for both scholar and layman alike.