The Breadth and Depth of the Atonement: The Vicarious Humanity of Christ in the Church the World and the Self: Essays 1990-2015

Atonement. For some this word is the heart of the Christian faith. For others it is irrelevant for Christianity and how they live their Christian lives. Often we do not see the breadth and depth of the atonement in the gospel. Christian D. Kettler in his fourth book on the vicarious humanity of Christ suggests that we consider that the atonement is not only a vicarious death in our place and on our behalf--whether in the form of a penal substitute or a moral example--but also his vicarious humanity having atoning significance for all of our lives indeed all of reality: the church the world and the self. These essays are collected from several years of Kettlers thought on the doctrine of the vicarious humanity of Christ and its implications for all of life and reality seeking to demonstrate that the doctrine of the atonement is not to be restricted to one small part of the doctrinal agenda but has profound implications that theology sometimes does not explore. These issues include the nature of culture aesthetics creation out of nothing spiritual formation emotional weakness the priesthood of Christ and creation genetic engineering and trusting in the ideal self. No one I know of has so persistently and passionately explored the breadth and the depth of the atoning work of God in Christ as has Christian Kettler. And in this volume he has gathered together the harvest of that endeavor over many years that we may join him in celebrating the feast of the bountiful fruits of the vicarious humanity of Jesus Christ. --Gary W. Deddo President Professor of Theology Grace Communion Seminary Glendora CA . . . Kettler leads readers to see the difference a proper understanding of Christs vicarious humanity makes both for systematic and pastoral theology today. Emphasizing that the risen ascended and advent Lord continues to mediate between us and the Father Kettler impressively and convincingly explains how and why our joy and hope are real only because God in Christ is in solidarity with us. . . . Anyone interested in these subjects will want to read this book. --Paul D. Molnar Professor of Systematic Theology St. Johns University Queens NY In this delightful collection of essays Chris Kettler leads us through an exhibition of the inexhaustible joy and vivifying power of Christs vicarious humanity in relation to the whole scope of human life--its tragedy its beauty and its God-imaged greatness. --Joel Scandrett Director of the Robert Webber Center Assistant Professor of Historical Theology Trinity School for Ministry Christian D. Kettler is Professor of Theology and Religion at Friends University. He is the author of The Vicarious Humanity of Christ and the Reality of Salvation (1996) (reprint Wipf and Stock 2001) The God Who Believes: Faith Doubt and the Vicarious Humanity of Christ (2005) The God Who Rejoices: Joy Despair and the Vicarious Humanity of Christ (2010) and Reading Ray S. Anderson (2010.)