THE PENAL SUBSTITUTIONARY THEORY OF THE ATONEMENT IS THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED THEORY OF THE ATONEMENT. THE PST SAYS THAT IN ORDER FOR GOD TO FORGIVE OUR SIN THAT HIS “JUSTICE” MUST BE SATISFIED, AND THAT THIS “JUSTICE” IS SATISFIED BY PUNISHING HIS SON INSTEAD OF PUNISHING US, AND THAT BECAUSE JESUS EXPERIENCED OUR PUNISHMENT ON THE CROSS WE MAY BE FORGIVEN.  

RC SPROUL DEFINES THE THEORY IN THIS WAY, “JESUS CHRIST ALONE CAN STAND IN A SINNER’S PLACE AND RECEIVE THE PUNISHMENT THAT THE SINNER DESERVES; IF WE DO NOT TRUST HIM TO SATISFY GOD’S JUSTICE FOR US, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO ENDURE THE FULL BRUNT OF THE FATHER’S WRATH OURSELVES.”

IT IS A THEORY OF SUBSTITUTED PUNISHMENT.  THE PENAL SUBSTITUTIONARY THEORY OF THE ATONEMENT SAYS THAT PUNISHMENT AND DEATH IS GOD’S SATISFACTION OR PROPITIATION.  

I FIND SUCH A THEORY OF GOD’S JUSTICE AND DEFINITION OF GOD’S SATISFACTION TO BE OFFENSIVE AND DISHONORING TO HIS NAME, AND BLASPHEMOUS.