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The Atonement

Started by Josiah Bartz
December 30, 2025
1 replies
363 views
Josiah Bartz OP
December 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
#1

I've heard David Bercots discussion on the atonement as a ransom and that ransom being paid to Satan opposed to it appeasing God's wrath. I really resonated with this, but am struggling with Romans 3:23-25 where it says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom god displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed."

Propitiation by definition is the action of propitiating or appeasing. Forbearance is the action of refraining from exercising legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.

Would appreciate any additional thoughts or discussion on this.

Thank you,

Josiah Bartz


Replies (1)

Justin Bennett
December 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
#2

I haven't heard this discussion so I don't completely understand Mr. Bercot's side or position on it. The way I understand it is this, our sin put us in debt to two parties. We owed a debt to God, which is justice (His wrath/punishment) for our sinful actions. And we owed a debt to satan because we are supposed to die when we sin (satan has power over death. Hebrews 2:14.) because if we sin we must die, that is the spiritual law.

Jesus paid for and cleared both the debt we owed satan for our death and the debt we owed to God for justice having taken the wrath we deserve on Himself by suffering and dying on the cross. Perhapse those are two components of our atonement that had to be addressed.

Though, I personally have never thought of the atonement in relation to the legal matter with satan that God also addressed at the same time. I believe atonement by definition of reparation for wrongs primarily deals with us and God and His anger being appeased by blood sacrifice as it was when sins were atoned for in the Old Testament by animal sacrifices but now by Christ Himself. I believe the legal matter with satan is a separate matter that was addressed at the same time as our atonement.

That is how I understand it.

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