Theories of Atonement — Moral Influence

Did Jesus pay Satan a hefty ransom for humanity’s redemption? Is the devil a spiritual ransomware terrorist who hijacks humanity, forcing us into calamitous situations from which we have no control?

Was Jesus a scapegoat? A victim of a Jewish lynch mob?

Whenever we read the word atonement in a hymnal or discuss it around Easter, we have a shared understanding of the term. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines atonement in four ways:

1. Reparation for offense or injury.

2. The reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ

3. Christian science: exemplifying of human ones with God

4. Obsolete: reconciliation

The beautiful nature of the atonement is in its ramification, namely, that we have the luxury of being reconciled to God. This pleasure affords us a bridge on which to connect with God. Almost as if there initially lay a chasm, a void of hopelessness between us and the Divine, and Christ’s efficacious work on the cross not only built this bridge of reconciliation but also carried us across it.

Atonement is a great thing. It’s a marvelous thing.

But which theory about Christ’s work on the cross is the right one?

Stephen D. Morrison lists seven of the most well-known theories surrounding the atonement and I will quote his explanations of each one.

He states the seven theories are: the moral influence theory, the ransom theory, Christus Victor theory, the satisfaction theory, the penal substitution theory, the governmental theory, and the scapegoat theory.

The Moral Influence Theory

Point 1

“One of the earliest theories for the atonement is the Moral Influence theory, which simply taught that Jesus Christ came and died in order to bring about a positive change to humanity.”

Point 2

“Within this theory the death of Christ is understood as a catalyst to reform society, inspiring men and women to follow His example and live good moral lives of love. In this theory, the Holy Spirit comes to help Christians produce this moral change.”

Point 3

“This theory focuses on not just the death of Jesus Christ, but on His entire life. This sees the saving work of Jesus not only in the event of the crucifixion, but also in all the words He has spoken, and the example He has set. In this theory, the cross is merely a ramification of the moral life of Jesus. He is crucified as a martyr due to the radical nature of His moral example. In this way, the Moral Influence theory emphasizes Jesus Christ as our teacher, our example, our founder and leader, and ultimately, as a result, our first martyr.”

Thoughts on The Moral Influence Theory

Positive change after spiritual regeneration is without question an emblematic aspect of Christianity and one of the most questioned aspects about the faith when believers fail to live up to it.

The Bible is by far one of the most, if not the most exhaustive user manual on how to live an upright life. Christian thinkers allude to Jesus’ conversation with a Jewish cleric, Nicodemus. In this dialogue, Jesus explains to this aged teacher of the Law (of Moses) that one must be ‘born again’ to enter Heaven. The old man does not understand the enigmatic command and so he asks of Jesus.

“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God’s kingdom. Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit.”

And this new life, this rebirth, this regeneration, the renascent aspect of a person exerts difference; outer and inner changes. It is not just a change in habits but a change in essence. The once spiritually dead person is now alive to God in Christ Jesus. They’re not just people who behaved badly and now, after some instruction, behave better. No. That’s antithetical to the gospel. The person, whose very spirit was dead and crippled with sin, is now alive and hidden in God.

This spiritual quickening demonstrates change. These new behaviors do not lead to the change but the opposite is true. The rebirth is the catalyst for these changes.

“But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.” Said Paul to the church in Galatia concerning the evidence of their new lives in Christ Jesus. If these characteristics, if these patterns are lacking, the person in question, or the congregation, for that matter, is most likely Christian in name only.

Christ’s work on the cross is efficacious enough to transform a person’s life. It is not antithetical to a believer’s creed to claim this theory. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is evidenced by the change in patterns, habits, and also, the fruitfulness the Holy Spirits work in their life.

But is this the only thing that takes place on the cross?

Featured Image Alicia Quan.

Originally published at http://olivettheory.com on November 4, 2021.