1. Models of salvation Gustaf Aulén, Christus Victor John Webster, Ph.D.
Dean, H.M.S. Richards Divinity School,
Professor of Theology & History of Christianity
La Sierra University

2. Considering Salvation
Useful to Distinguish between:
Faith Doctrine --- Theology
Existential Guarding Putting pieces
experience boundaries together

3. Faith
John 3:16

4. Doctrine
Barmen Declaration, 1934

5. Friedrich Schleiermacher, 1799; 1830/1
Theology
Friedrich Schleiermacher, 1799; 1830/1

6. Gustaf Aulén, Christus Victor

7. Atonement
Romans 5:6-11: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

8. Quiz Time! Die for our sins Show us the love of God Overcome the Devil
Satisfy the wrath of God
Liberate us from Evil
What did Jesus come to do?

9. Three Models of Salvation
‘Classic’ or Dramatic Model
Early Church Fathers: Irenaeus, Origin, Augustine
So-called “Ransom Theory”
‘Latin’ or Objective Model
Anselm (11th Century)
So-called “Satisfaction Theory”
‘Love’ or Subjective Model
Abelard (12th Century)
So-called “Moral Influence Theory”

10. ‘Latin’ or Objective Model
Anselm of Canterbury ( )
Cur Deus Homo? (Why the God-Man?)
‘Latin’ --- Feudal system & Penance
-God’s honor demands Satisfaction/Punishment
-Humans cannot provide satisfaction, thus die
-Satisfaction made by the death of the God-Man
Later: Reformers, Justice & Penal Substitution
Why ‘Objective’? In Christ, not in us.
Discontinuous Divine Action: Father--Son

11. ‘Latin’ or Objective Model
Jesus came to die for our sins, take our place, and suffer our punishment (God’s wrath);
So that we can receive his merit and be treat-ed as he deserved
Cross needed for God to forgive & be just
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2
Rom 3:24-25
Heb 2:17

12. ‘Love’ or Subjective Model
Peter Abelard ( )
Commentary Epistle to the Romans
Jesus came to Demonstrate the Love of God
Sin put Jesus on the Cross not God
God forgives without needing ‘payment’
Salvation happens in us, through Christ’s life
Why ‘Subjective’?
Moral Influence theory
Continuous Divine action; discontinuous salv.

13. ‘Love’ or Subjective Model
Jesus came to show us how much God loves us; even to the Cross
God forgives us because that is what God is like
Salvation happens when we respond to the love of God; and love takes root in us
For God so loved the World . . .
John 3:16
Rom 8
Phil 2

14. ‘Classic’ or Dramatic Model
Early Church: Irenaeus, Origin, (Augustine)
First four centuries; Greek speaking
Why “Ransom Theory”?
Dramatic Model; Cosmic Conflict; Narrative
Christ overcomes the principalities and powers of Evil, Death and the Devil.
Liberates us from the bondage of evil & death
Continuous Divine Action; Objective salvation
Still the major view of Eastern Orthodoxy

15. ‘Classic’ or Dramatic Model
In Christ, God fights and overcomes the principalities and powers that have taken us into bondage
In the Resurrection Evil & death is defeated
Humanity is now freed to respond to God in praise and thankfulness
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities , against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12

Rom 8
Phil 2