Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Jesus was victorious over sin, death, and the Devil!
Was He really? Of course.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
The question, however, is not if Christ won the victory, but if that is the central theme of the atonement. That is what the Christus Victor theory is all about.
The “Christus Victor” theory emphasizes the victory of Christ that rescued mankind from the powers of evil. It was the whole life of Christ, culminating in His death, that won the victory. As Jesus worked miracles and displayed morality, He was chipping away at the power and influence of the Devil. Ultimately, He emerged the victor, allowing mankind to return to his place as the rightful viceroys of the earth.
I would argue that the victory of Christ is not the basis of the atonement, but a result of the atonement.
The primary weaknesses I see in the Christus Victor Theory:
1. It only deals with the consequences of sin rather than sin itself.
Bondage to sin and the Devil is a consequence of sin. Removing us from this bondage does not fix the problem of how we got there in the first place, which is sin. On the other hand, Penal Substitution solves the problem of sin because Jesus took the actual debt that we owed.
2. It disregards God's justice
God's justice requires our debt to be paid. Christus victor only releases us from bondage without payment of the debt.
Here is the link to Greg Boyd's article on the Christus Victor theory:
reknew.org/2018/11/the-christus-victor-view-of-the-atonement
Check out the "What Really Happened at the Cross?" playlist here:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcUxE-Dfb1Trt9ruqBaWEP0FQJhZcQRuV
Video 1: The Atonement--what does it mean? (youtu.be/4uSU7qs27mg)
Video 2: The Mercy Seat and Jesus (youtu.be/MIAzTLoQNfw)
Video 3: The Ransom Theory of the Atonement (youtu.be/oFd0ucqcpIo)
Video 4: The Christus Victor Theory of the Atonement (This video)
Video 5: The Satisfaction Theory of the Atonement (youtu.be/zUTTFgmAeac)
Video 6: The Moral Influence Theory of the Atonement (youtu.be/HvQcSs1DHjM)
Video 7: Penal Substitution: The Heart of the Atonement (youtu.be/kutocjmDPcA)
Video 8: Penal Substitution in the Bible (youtu.be/B96lbnQREec)
Video 9: Penal Substitution in Isaiah 53 (youtu.be/-1eXk2zanZI)
Video 10: The Wrath of God in Penal Substitution (youtu.be/SlBMCJMnKQo)
Video 11: Penal Substitution is NOT new! (youtu.be/PP4tL_J0laM)
Video 12: The Death of Jesus was Enough! youtu.be/X-tL5aJCHw8)
Video 13: The Innocent for the Guilty? (youtu.be/H2NHcSLWobs)
Video 14: Penal Substitution=Universalism or Limited Atonement? (youtu.be/t69zz77LX7Y)
Video 15: Penal Substitution=Cosmic Child Abuse? (youtu.be/Co3P0obbQ2o)
#atonement #Jesus #Christusvictor #Christ #victory #ransom #ransomtheory #death #devil #satan #evil #payment #GregBoyd #Irenaeus #expiation #sin #penalsubstitution #penalty #sacrifice #theories #powersofevil #justice #wrath #Aulen
youtube.com/channel/UCW3e7xQd0mThCLvu2QIVSxw?sub_confirmation=1
Jesus was victorious over sin, death, and the Devil!
Was He really? Of course.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
The question, however, is not if Christ won the victory, but if that is the central theme of the atonement. That is what the Christus Victor theory is all about.
The “Christus Victor” theory emphasizes the victory of Christ that rescued mankind from the powers of evil. It was the whole life of Christ, culminating in His death, that won the victory. As Jesus worked miracles and displayed morality, He was chipping away at the power and influence of the Devil. Ultimately, He emerged the victor, allowing mankind to return to his place as the rightful viceroys of the earth.
I would argue that the victory of Christ is not the basis of the atonement, but a result of the atonement.
The primary weaknesses I see in the Christus Victor Theory:
1. It only deals with the consequences of sin rather than sin itself.
Bondage to sin and the Devil is a consequence of sin. Removing us from this bondage does not fix the problem of how we got there in the first place, which is sin. On the other hand, Penal Substitution solves the problem of sin because Jesus took the actual debt that we owed.
2. It disregards God's justice
God's justice requires our debt to be paid. Christus victor only releases us from bondage without payment of the debt.
Here is the link to Greg Boyd's article on the Christus Victor theory:
reknew.org/2018/11/the-christus-victor-view-of-the-atonement
Check out the "What Really Happened at the Cross?" playlist here:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcUxE-Dfb1Trt9ruqBaWEP0FQJhZcQRuV
Video 1: The Atonement--what does it mean? (youtu.be/4uSU7qs27mg)
Video 2: The Mercy Seat and Jesus (youtu.be/MIAzTLoQNfw)
Video 3: The Ransom Theory of the Atonement (youtu.be/oFd0ucqcpIo)
Video 4: The Christus Victor Theory of the Atonement (This video)
Video 5: The Satisfaction Theory of the Atonement (youtu.be/zUTTFgmAeac)
Video 6: The Moral Influence Theory of the Atonement (youtu.be/HvQcSs1DHjM)
Video 7: Penal Substitution: The Heart of the Atonement (youtu.be/kutocjmDPcA)
Video 8: Penal Substitution in the Bible (youtu.be/B96lbnQREec)
Video 9: Penal Substitution in Isaiah 53 (youtu.be/-1eXk2zanZI)
Video 10: The Wrath of God in Penal Substitution (youtu.be/SlBMCJMnKQo)
Video 11: Penal Substitution is NOT new! (youtu.be/PP4tL_J0laM)
Video 12: The Death of Jesus was Enough! youtu.be/X-tL5aJCHw8)
Video 13: The Innocent for the Guilty? (youtu.be/H2NHcSLWobs)
Video 14: Penal Substitution=Universalism or Limited Atonement? (youtu.be/t69zz77LX7Y)
Video 15: Penal Substitution=Cosmic Child Abuse? (youtu.be/Co3P0obbQ2o)
#atonement #Jesus #Christusvictor #Christ #victory #ransom #ransomtheory #death #devil #satan #evil #payment #GregBoyd #Irenaeus #expiation #sin #penalsubstitution #penalty #sacrifice #theories #powersofevil #justice #wrath #Aulen
youtube.com/channel/UCW3e7xQd0mThCLvu2QIVSxw?sub_confirmation=1
