Last Friday, Christian author Tony Jones wrote the following:
Some people today may find it compelling that some Great Cosmic Transaction took place on that day [Good Friday] 1,980 years ago, that God’s wrath burned against his son instead of against me. I find that version of atonement theory neither intellectually compelling, spiritually compelling, nor in keeping with the biblical narrative.
If Tony Jones is right, I’m going to hell.
If no “transaction” occurred at the cross, I have no hope for salvation. If God’s wrath did not burn against his son, it will one day burn against me. If my sins were not credited to Christ then they still hang upon me.
Thankfully, Tony Jones is not right. Scripture makes it clear that an astonishing transaction did take place at the cross.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (1Peter 2:24)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Corinthians 5:21)
My only hope is in this glorious exchange. My sins upon Christ. God’s wrath upon Christ. Christ’s righteousness credited to me.
Pray that God opens Tony’s eyes to see and embrace the glories of the gospel.
Written by Stephen Altrogge
Topics: The Gospel