LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

A Paper on
The Sacrifice and Death of Christ

Submitted to Dr. Hoyt,

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

201540 Fall 2015 B06 LUO

THEO 530

by

Michael E. Siebel
October 11, 2015
Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Old Testament Foreshadowing............................................................................................................. 3
Genesis 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Genesis 3:15 ESV - Protoevangelium............................................................................................... 5
Genesis 4 – Cain and Abel ............................................................................................................... 6
Genesis 22 – Abraham and Isaac ...................................................................................................... 6
Genesis 37 – Jacob and Joseph ......................................................................................................... 7
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 ........................................................................................................................... 8
New Testament Fulfillment ................................................................................................................. 8
John 10:17 ....................................................................................................................................... 8
The Crucifixion of Christ ................................................................................................................. 9
Sweating Blood ............................................................................................................................... 9
Scourging ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Crown of Thorns............................................................................................................................ 10
Nailed to the Cross......................................................................................................................... 10
Cause of Death .............................................................................................................................. 11
Burial ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Contemporary Misconceptions of Jesus’ Sacrifice.............................................................................. 12
Mimetic Violence .......................................................................................................................... 12
Theistic Child Abuse ..................................................................................................................... 12
Biblical View of Atonement .............................................................................................................. 13
Penal Substitution and Christus Victor ........................................................................................... 13
Practical Application ......................................................................................................................... 15
Biblical View of Persecution and Suffering .................................................................................... 15
A Brief Apologetic ........................................................................................................................ 16
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................... 19
 This paper argues Christ’s sacrificial death was fulfilled prophecy, appropriate and

necessary to maintain God’s love and justice while fulfilling His wrath. The arguments are based

on the biblical understand that Christ’s death paid the full penalty for sin which gave Him the

overwhelming victory over all evil personalities. While answering critical views of Christ’s

atoning work, the paper will develop and apply principles to the persecuted church.

Introduction
Newscasters have learned the most relevant time to interview the “Good Samaritan” is

right after the brave neighbor saves the day. In the same way, the most revealing time to

understand the victory Jesus won is after His resurrection. Luke 24:25-27 records a couple of

Jesus’ disciples receiving a lesson from the recently resurrected and victorious Christ. As their

discussion succinctly covered prophetic materials from Genesis to end of the Old Testament,1 so

this paper will attempt to follow a similar pattern. Luke 24:25-27 (ESV) says,

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer
these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning
himself.2
Old Testament Foreshadowing
Genesis 2
Grudem wisely begins his discussion of the Atonement by pointing out that God was

motivated by His love for humanity.3 Adam and Eve was given all the abundance, wealth and

blessing of the Garden of Eden. They could have even eaten of the Tree of Life, yet the premier

couple chose to rebel against God’s one and only revealed commandment in Genesis 2:16 which

1
Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New
Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 1993), 634.
2
“Bible Gateway Passage: Luke 24 - English Standard Version,” Bible Gateway, accessed October 7, 2015,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24&version=ESV.
3
Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England : Grand Rapids,
Mich: Inter-Varsity Press ; Zondervan Pub. House, 1994), 568–569.
says, “16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of

the garden.”4 In this passage, God’s fatherly goodness and benevolence toward man is clearly

seen.5

Contrasting the caricatures modern theology portray, God’s character is not unrestrained

love which devolves into a meaningless cesspool. Nor is He an overbearing or cruel tyrant with a

quiver full of lightning bolts to strike at the first hint of disobedience. His holiness and

righteousness were violated when Adam and Eve sinned. His justice requires that a penalty of

death according to Genesis 2:17 which says, “17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” In this verse, the royal

decree that death would ensue eating from the tree was a definitive, “emphatic,” “explicit” and

inescapable consequence for disobedience.6 However, the question remains, “Why did Adam and

Eve not die instantly when they ate from the forbidden tree?”

He was not obligated in any way to save Man from the consequences of their misused

freedom.7 His existence does not depend on humanity’s salvation. Unlike His image bearers,

God chose to use His free will to restore the broken relationship despite His own innocence.

Because of His choice to redeem man, Jesus’ sacrificial death became a “consequent absolute

necessity.”8

4
“Bible Gateway Passage: Genesis 2 - English Standard Version,” Bible Gateway, accessed October 7, 2015,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2&version=ESV.
5
Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis, Word Biblical Commentary, v. 1, 2 (Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes, England: Word
Books, 1987), 67.
6
Ibid., 67 – 68.
7
Grudem, Systematic Theology, 569.
8
Ibid., 569.
 It is readily apparent that God was extraordinarily patient and kind in the execution of

Adam’s and Eve’s punishment. Moreover, in Genesis 3:21, “And the Lord God made for Adam

and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”9 Prior to their expulsion from the Garden

God is caring for their basic physical needs by a prototypical sacrifice with the shedding the

blood of two animals. Even in the midst of punishment for disobedience, God holds out grace

and a glimmer of hope for salvation to His wayward image bearers. However, God’s justice

demands death, yet they physically lived. 10 Wenham comments that banishment from the

Garden or rejection by God, in ancient Israeli culture, was a more challenging punishment than

physical death.11

Genesis 3:15 ESV - Protoevangelium

Genesis 3 describes the Fall of Man. Interestingly, neither the man or woman are cursed

by God.12 Rather, for the woman childbearing will become painful and the relationship with her

husband will become more difficult. For the man, God curses the ground so that it produces

thorns in abundance rather than food. Furthermore, God declares that Adam’s days are limited

and that he will die and return to dust as Genesis 2:17 puts forth. Interestingly, the Serpent is

cursed to crawl and eat dust, the dust which man is made from. The serpent is also promised that

his efforts will ultimately fail in Genesis 3:15:

“15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her

offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

This verse is known as the Protoevangelium. Herein lies God’s promise in seed form to

deliver man from Satan’s dominion and influence through a savior. The promise entails that one

9
Wenham, Genesis, 84.Wenham explains that the garments may or may not have been made with animal skins.
10
Wenham, Genesis, 90.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid., 81.
of Eve’s children would deliver a victorious deathblow to the Serpent’s skull while the Serpent’s

offspring could, at best, cause some non-life threatening pain.13

Genesis 4 – Cain and Abel

The story of Cain and Abel documented in Genesis 4 foreshadows suffering of Christ.

Abel’s gift to God was acceptable whereas Cain’s was not. Abel brought his first born of his

livestock to God which represents the best of his flock. On the other hand, Cain brought a gift

that was undistinguishable from the rest of his crops. Since Abel’s gift communicated he placed

a high value on his relationship to God, his gift was naturally accepted. Instead of being

remorseful for his contemptible offering, Cain allowed sin to overcome him as he persecuted his

righteous brother. Abel suffered for pleasing God. Cain’s punishment created even further

division as he was banished from the embryonic community and became a nomad.14

Genesis 22 – Abraham and Isaac

In Genesis 22, the perplexing story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac

unfolds. Heretofore, Abraham has who has been waffling in his trust in God’s ability to provide.

However, Abraham resolutely marches himself and his son to the future site of Solomon’s

Temple, Mount Moriah. The righteous father was now willing to offer his innocent and obedient

son on an altar.15 In modern times, certainly this would be considered horrific abuse. Abraham

prepared his son to die as a sacrifice on altar of stone and wood. As he raised the knife to slay

Isaac, Abraham withheld nothing from God. Despite his prior wavering in faith, he was now

confident God could restore the loss of his son, even raising him back to life according to

13
Walter C. Kaiser, The Messiah in the Old Testament, Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology (Grand Rapids,
Mich: Zondervan Pub, 1995), 41.
14
Wenham, Genesis, 105–107.
15
Tremper Longman, Raymond B. Dillard, and Raymond B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament, 2nd ed
(Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2006), 59–60.
Hebrews 11:19.16 If he had gone through with the human sacrifice who would have suffered the

greatest loss long-term? Isaac would have lost his life, but Abraham would have had to live with

regret or mourning the loss of his loved one.

From this side of history, the foreshadowing of God the Father sacrificing His Son Jesus

is clear in the story of Abraham and Isaac. The good Father was willing to offer up His innocent

and obedient son for the redemption of His image-bearers to His glory. Also, a resurrection motif

begins to unfold. To Abraham, Isaac was as good as dead for three days as he had been preparing

to make the sacrifice.17 Isaac was symbolically resurrected as he was taken off the altar.

Genesis 37 – Jacob and Joseph

Isaac’s grandson, Jacob, also suffered the forged death and resurrection of his son,

Joseph. The pattern of the righteous, Joseph and Jacob, suffered at the hands his sin-filled

brothers and it brought about the physical salvation from famine for several nations. Joseph’s

brothers betrayed him by selling him for into slavery for the going rate of twenty shekels of

silver. Interestingly, Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.18 Then, Joseph’s brothers

ripped apart his long sleeved tunic which they felt was a symbol of his superiority and favored

position19 and dipped it into goat’s blood. His brothers led Jacob to believe Joseph had been torn

apart by a wild beast. In Joseph’s story, both the father and the son are innocent yet both suffer

betrayal, loss and anguish. Both extend forgiveness to the cruel and undeserving.

16
“Genesis 22 Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary,” accessed October 10, 2015,
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/genesis/22.htm.
17
Ibid.
18
Merrill C Tenney, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House,
1975), 454.
19
Fred Wight, Manners & Customs of Bible Lands (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), 92.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Like the other Old Testament Scriptures that have been analyzed in this paper, the

prophecies of Isaiah are multi-leveled in their fulfillment. In this particular passage the

immediate context is speaking of a servant and a sufferer current to Isaiah’s time. There is some

debate as to whether or not the servant and sufferer is the same person. Watts contends that the

immediate reference does not diminish the long-term model the passage presents as the model

for the Messiah. He asserts the importance of the passage is that it expresses God’s willingness

that one innocent man should die for the good of many.20

Formatted: Line spacing: Double

New Testament Fulfillment

John 10:17
Jesus displays He is in full control of His sacrificial death when He lays His life down.

John 10:17 says, “17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may

take it up again.” The protoevangelium indicates that Satan most likely inspired Jesus’ abusers,

but was not able to cause Jesus’ death. Jesus chose His time of death. Jesus already died prior to

the Roman soldiers breaking the legs of the criminals who were crucified with Him and before

the soldier thrust a spear in His side. Augustine says, “The Lord has established his sovereignty

from a tree. Who is that fights with wood? Christ. From His cross He has conquered kings.”21

20
John D. W. Watts, Bruce M. Metzger, and John D. W. Watts, Isaiah 34 - 66, ed. David A. Hubbard and Glenn W.
Barker, Word Biblical Commentary, [General ed.: David A. Hubbard; Glenn W. Barker. Old Testament ed.: John D.
W. Watts. New Testament ed.: Ralph P. Martin] ; Vol. 25 (Waco, Tex: Word Books, Publ, 1987), 228.
21
Jeremy R. Treat and Michael Horton, The Crucified King: Atonement and Kingdom in Biblical and Systematic
Theology (Zondervan, 2014), 28–29.
The Crucifixion of Christ
A brief overview of Jesus Christ’s physical death should be made. If He did not die, there

is little to discuss. The first minimal fact is Jesus died by Roman crucifixion. Critics such as J.D.

Crossan admit that Jesus “was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.”22 This form

of punishment was reserved for Rome’s worst criminals as well as for the weakest in society

such as slaves and “non-humans.” Roman soldiers performed thousands of executions by this

method. Interestingly, crucifixion has been linked to cultic human sacrifice.23

Sweating Blood
Dr. Zugibe, a forensic pathologist, describes the physical effects of the crucifixion on

Jesus’ body. For example, he explains Luke 22:44 in medical terms how it is possible to blood

pigments due to hematidrosis, a rare condition brought on by intense anxiety and fear. It is an

extreme form of fight or flight, and it would have dehydrated and weakened Jesus prior to the

trial and crucifixion.24

Scourging
Furthermore, Jesus underwent several different processes which, individually were

enough to end His life. Jesus was scourged by Roman soldiers with a multi-strand whip called a

flagrum. Although the Romans had no particular limit to the number lashes, Jewish law limited it

to forty. Zugibe estimates there may have suffered as many as 120 lashes. In any case, the lashes

tore the flesh off his back as well as anywhere else the leather gripped into and put him into

hypovolemic shock as His lungs began to take on fluid.25 According to Watts, “marred” Formatted: Font: Not Italic, Font color: Auto

22
Gary R. Habermas, The Risen Jesus & Future Hope (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Pub, 2003), 17.
23
J. Julius Scott, Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books, 2000), 365.
24
Terry McDermott, “The Physical Effects of the Scourging and Crucifixion of Jesus,” Catholic Insight, March
2014, General Reference Center GOLD,
http://ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA362848764&v=2.1&u=v
ic_liberty&it=r&p=GRGM&sw=w&asid=b60e31878ac53dfbf144f874b5f60b46.
25
Frederick T. Zugibe, The Crucifixion of Jesus, Completely Revised and Expanded: A Forensic Inquiry (M. Evans,
2005), 19–20,25.
described the executed body as “mutilated.” In other words, His body shredded to the point he

was not recognizable.26 Isaiah 52:14 says, Formatted: Font: Not Italic, Font color: Auto

“As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond
human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—“

Crown of Thorns
The crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head is often overlooked as an aspect of Jesus’

extraordinary torture. Zugibe believes the crown of thorns was one of the most intense pains

Jesus endured. There is some debate as to which thorn bush was used to create the crown.

However, none of the options would not inflict intense pain when applied to the sensitive, nerve-

filled head. It is interesting to note that as a part of the punishment of Adam in Genesis 3:17e-

18a, there God declared the ground would yield thorns. “In pain you shall eat of it all the days of

your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;”27 Jesus is again taking the full

punishment for Adam’s disobedience.

Nailed to the Cross

Jesus was nailed to the Cross several times in his hands and feet. The exact locations on

his body are still up for debate, but the end result is the same. The pain sends Jesus into traumatic

shock at every move.28 Colossians 2:14 has an interesting exposition worth researching. It states,

“14 bycanceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.
This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”29

26
Watts, Metzger, and Watts, Isaiah 34 - 66, 231.
27
“Bible Gateway Passage: Genesis 3 - English Standard Version,” Bible Gateway, accessed October 11, 2015,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&version=ESV.
28
McDermott, “The Physical Effects of the Scourging and Crucifixion of Jesus.”
29
“Bible Gateway Passage: Colossians 2 - English Standard Version,” Bible Gateway, accessed October 5, 2015,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2&version=ESV.
Traditionally, this verse refers to the symbolic document of indebtedness each sinner has before

God that has now been wiped away and discarded. Ancient writing materials were expensive and

difficult to replace. When possible, the scribes would wipe off the acid-free ink and recycle the

paper as if new. Furthermore, when a law was to be abolished a copy of it was attached with a

nail to a plank of wood. In this case, Jesus was nailed to the tree as if He was the accuser thereby

freeing the repentant Man from condemnation. Furthermore, Pilate had Jesus’ accusations nailed

to His cross as a means to identify his crime, but ultimately it declared His innocence.30

Cause of Death
Zugibe’s conclusion is that Jesus died by traumatic and hypovolemic shock. The popular

theory is Jesus’ actual death was caused by suffocation. However, Zugibe believes the loss of

blood and the shocking pain induced death first.31 The post-mortem spear in His side removes

any doubt as to Jesus’ chances for survival. Furthermore, the blood and water would have

trickled out as opposed to freely flowing out as is often imagined. Jesus was not simply dead

with all of his body parts intact, but He was very dead with vital organs such as his lungs and

heart destroyed.32 Isaiah 53:5 foretold this,

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we
are healed.
Burial
In His burial, Jesus fulfills Isaiah 53:9a which says, “9And they made his grave with the

wicked and with a rich man in his death,” If he managed to survive the crucifixion the burial

process would have undoubtedly killed him. Rigor mortis sets in after three hours33 and it was

30
F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, The New International
Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans, 1984), 109–110.
31
McDermott, “The Physical Effects of the Scourging and Crucifixion of Jesus.”
32
Ibid.
33
Ibid.
important to have the wounds washed and body laid straight with the hands and feet tied. Joseph

of Arimathea and Nicodemus provided the costly embalming spices according to John 19:40.

Furthermore, his head and body was wrapped in such way that he would have been suffocated.34

Contemporary Misconceptions of Jesus’ Sacrifice

Mimetic Violence
There are several schools of thought that seek to denigrate the efficacy of Jesus’ life and

remove the concept of blood sacrifice from the equation for atonement. Rene’ Girard has

analyzed the death of Christ using the social theory of “mimetic violence” or scapegoating. He

believes that God had little to do with Jesus’s crucifixion, but that social setting required

someone or something as the focus for relieving social angst. He believes the driving force in

social tension is selfishness and envy. The desire to be like or have what others have motivates

conflict interpersonally as well as on a large scale. In this view Jesus was a victim of

circumstance. However, he served to momentarily unite the Roman rulers with the Jewish

leaders as they poured their frustration upon him. Girard asserts that Jesus’ crucifixion exposed

blood sacrifices as a religious scam to accomplish social and political aims.35

Theistic Child Abuse

New Atheists, such as the late Christopher Hitchens36, and Feminists such as Joanne

Carlson Brown and Rebecca Parker have a similar line of thinking as Girard. However, they

view that the god portrayed in the Bible is an abusive tyrant. After Brown and Parker analyzed

several theories of the atonement including Christus Victor, moral influence and satisfaction. In

every case, they conclude the concept of atonement should be discarded altogether. They believe

the God of Christianity is guilty of “divine child abuse” and has no right to force his son to

34
Wight, Manners & Customs of Bible Lands, 144.
35
Thomas E. Breidenthal, “The Blood of Abel: Atonement and the Neighbor,” Sewanee Theological Review 54, no.
2 (2011): 121–122, http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/858390689/citation.
36
Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, 1st edition (Twelve, 2007).
undergo such humiliation, public disgrace, physical abuse and even death by crucifixion. In their

opinion, the atonement sets a theological precedent that promotes domestic violence and

oppression. Brown and Parker write, “Christianity is an abusive theology that glorifies

suffering.”37

Brown and Parker’s views of “theistic child abuse” that promote ongoing violence could

be adequately charged to the “example” and “governmental” views of atonement. In the Example

Theory, the penalty is not paid completely. Instead, Christ taught his followers how to purge sin

from their lives through suffering. This would promote suffering as a means for attaining

perfection and salvation.38

The governmental view shows Christ’s suffering and death as more of a “whipping boy”

than anything else. God’s law was broken, but He could have arbitrarily changed the

consequences. The punishment Jesus suffered was to show sinners a penalty must be paid for

their disobedience.39 However, the full payment for sins is not accomplished by Christ on the

cross. Grudem explains this aspect of the governmental theory as:

“…it takes away the objective character of the atonement by making the
purpose not the satisfaction of God’s justice but simply that of influencing us
to realize that God has laws that must be kept.”40
Biblical View of Atonement
Penal Substitution and Christus Victor
This paper advocates Dr. Treat holds a convincing view of Christ’s atonement. He asserts

the significance of Jesus’ death on the Cross is a combination of the Penal Substitution Theory

and Christus Victor. That is, “Christ’s penal-substitutionary death is the means for His victory on

37
Mary VandenBerg, “Redemptive Suffering: Christ’s Alone,” Scottish Journal of Theology 60, no. 4 (November
2007): 394–395, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/10.1017/S0036930607003717.
38
Grudem, Systematic Theology, 582.
39
Ibid., 581–582.
40
Ibid., 582.
the Cross.”41 The penal-substitutionary understanding of atonement is that Christ paid the entire

penalty for man’s sins against God once and for all so that God’s love and justice could be

equally maintained.42 Morris also reiterates Jesus’ death is the final and all-sufficient atonement

for sins and that animal sacrifices are unable to forgive sins.43 Hebrews 10:1-18 supports this

view by emphasizing this point several times. Hebrews 10:8-10 says,

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in
sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are
offered according to the law), 9 then he added “Behold, I have come to do your
will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by
that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.
The essential conflict for Christus Victor is that Man is in bondage to demonic powers

and Christ primary goal was to deliver humanity from this bondage. After all, Adam and Eve did

obey the Serpent rather than God. However, to assert that God owes Satan a ransom is

unbiblical.44 Man has offended Almighty God and unable to restore the relationship. At the same

time, Man has given his authority to Satan and is in bondage to demonic forces.45 As Karl Barth

laments Man is, “the responsible author but also the poor victim of sin.”46

In Treats proposal, Jesus on the Cross satisfies the penalty and frees man from the

accuser. 47 Colossians 2:13-15 strongly defends this view:

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your

flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.

41
Treat and Horton, The Crucified King, 38.
42
Grudem, Systematic Theology, 577.
43
Leon Morris, The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance (Inter-Varsity Press, 1983), 64–65.
44
Grudem, Systematic Theology, 581.
45
Treat and Horton, The Crucified King, 195.
46
Ibid., 196.
47
Ibid.
 This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and
authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.48
Practical Application
Biblical View of Persecution and Suffering
Throughout Scripture there is a theme of the righteous suffering at the hands of the

unrighteous. Christ suffered tremendously not only at the hand of sinners, but by the hand of evil

powers. Does following the biblical God open a person to unnecessary abuse and persecution as

Brown and Parker contend? Even today persecution and martyrdom is at unprecedented levels

and continues to rise.49 If the argument that the suffering of the saints is not redemptive true,50

does that mean their hardships are without meaning? Or does the suffering of the righteous

identify them with Christ and communicate a prophetic message to the unrighteous world as did

the suffering of the patriarchs? Galatians 2:20 says,

“20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.” Formatted: Font: Not Italic

Beale aptly puts the suffering of Christ-followers in perspective,

“The suffering of Christians is a sign, not of Satan’s victory, but of the saints’
victory over Satan because of their belief in the triumph of the cross, with
which their suffering identifies them.”51

The persecuted saints are not saviors of the world, but their suffering displays their faith,

confidence and hope in the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice and allows them to share in His

victory.52 However, there is a difference between Jesus’[‘] and Abel’s suffering just as there is a

48
“Bible Gateway Passage.”
49
“Persecution Of Christians Reaches Historic Levels Conditions Suggest Worst Is Yet To Come | Newsroom | Open
Doors USA,” accessed October 15, 2015, https://www.opendoorsusa.org/newsroom/tag-news-post/persecution-
of-christians-reaches-historic-levels-conditions-suggest-worst-is-yet-to-come/.
50
Treat and Horton, The Crucified King, 126.
51
Ibid.
52
Ibid.
difference between Christ and His saints’ persecution. Hebrews 12:24 entreats us to listen to “a

better word than the blood of Abel.” Abel’s blood cries out for a vindication whereas Jesus’

blood commends a message of cleansing, love, forgiveness and peace.53 Abel’s blood is

contentious whereas Jesus’ blood unifying.54 Moreover, the blood of the persecuted anticipates

the return of Christ when they will receive their reward. The “better word” is calling followers of

Jesus to “…rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Formatted: Font: Not Bold
when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13 ESV).
Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Mary Vandenberg reacts to Brown’s and Parker’s accusations of theistic child abuse

which thereby advocates domestic abuse and violence by asserting that only Jesus’ sufferings

can adequately claim redemptive qualities. She believes all other human suffering can be, but are

not necessarily, positive. Vandenberg argues that it is inappropriate for Christians that suffer for

their faith to view their trials as redemptive.55 Morris affirms Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross is the

only redemptive offering whereas believers who live sacrificially are doing so in a grateful

response to His work.56

A Brief Apologetic
The scapegoat and the theistic child abuse views differ in who is responsible for the

unjust killing of Jesus. The scapegoat theory erroneously blames the victim. Whereas, the child

abuse theory blames God for the injustice. The biblical view is Man’s failure created an

opportunity for God to display His glorious grace. In His sovereignty, God is able to use what

Satan intended for harm to work out His good plan for Man’s benefit to the glory of God.57

53
F. F Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990), 361.
54
Breidenthal, “The Blood of Abel,” 118.
55
VandenBerg, “Redemptive Suffering,” 396.
56
Morris, The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance, 65.
57
Grudem, Systematic Theology, 577.
Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in

him we might become the righteousness of God.” If Man demands justice, then he should not

expect to take another breathe since he deserves the punishment; God graciously suffered the

injustice for him as worked out the elect’s salvation for His honor.

Accusations of theistic child abuse are quelled when the neglected facts are taken into

consideration. For example, Dr. Treat dismisses Brown’s and Parker’s critique of the conclusions

because they do not incorporate a working knowledge of the Trinity. Jesus was not forced to

either go or stay on the Cross. Jesus freely chose to accept His Father’s will and to lay down His

life out of His own love for humanity by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.58 John 10:18 says,

“18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down,

and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”59 Jesus was

fully in control of His life and death. At any given moment especially while suffering on the

Cross, He could have been delivered from the earth by a multitude of angels. Moreover, Jesus

had prior knowledge of his crucifixion. In John 2:19, Jesus told His opposition that if they

destroyed His body he would raise it up in three days.

Conclusion
Second Peter 3:9 KJV says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men

count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all

should come to repentance.” The full wrath of God and punishment for Adam and Eve’s

disobedience was withheld until Christ’s crucifixion because God in Christ Jesus was the only

one who could endure it. This paper has shown that throughout the Old Testament there are

many instances of God working in and through people’s lives anticipating Jesus’ incarnation and

58
Treat and Horton, The Crucified King, 192.
59
“Bible Gateway Passage: John 10:17-19 - English Standard Version,” Bible Gateway, accessed October 7, 2015,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A17-19&version=ESV.
sacrificial death. It has defended the biblical understanding of Christ’s death against current

criticisms. Furthermore, this paper uncovered that blood sacrifices were established by God,

were carried out by flawed men throughout the Bible and were entirely fulfilled in Christ.
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Mike,

You did an outstanding job of researching and writing your paper! However, as you know it is

tardy and according to Liberty’s Tardy Policy -10% is deducted from your total score.

I am so glad you have been in the class! May the Lord wonderfully use you in the days to come!

Dr. Sam Hoyt