The New Adam: What the Early Church Can Teach Evangelicals (and Liberals) about the Atonement

Have you ever found yourself repeating expressions such as Jesus saves or Jesus died for our sins without really understanding them? When popular speakers explain how Jesuss death satisfied Gods wrath so you could be forgiven do you ever think to yourself I dont get it? If so youre not alone youre not dumb and the problem is not with you. Ron Highfield reframes Christian teaching about the atonement so that it comes alive with fresh meaning. Drawing on biblical and traditional sources Highfield explains why our frustration in trying to understand how Jesuss death satisfies Gods judicial wrath is inevitable . . . because the idea doesnt make sense and the Bible doesnt teach it! Instead of viewing the atonement as the solution to Gods problem of how to forgive sins while remaining perfectly just Highfield argues that the atonement is Gods solution to our problem. In Jesus God rewrites the human story forgiving our sins correcting our mistakes and realizing our destiny. As one of us Jesus lives a perfect life passes through death and enters into eternal life. As the new Adam he invites us to join his family share his life and enjoy his victory.