I read this in preparation for answering an exam question, and it reminded me why the ‘Occupy’ movement won’t have the far reaching effects it thinks it might…
[Penal Substitutionary Atonement] reminds us that God is concerned for justice. God saves sinners not by finding a loophole in high righteous law, but by fulfilling its demands… Secondly, penal substitution reminds us that God will one day put an end to injustice, for the crucial conflict with evil has been fought and won… Thirdly, penal substitution reminds us that the restoration of a righteous world cannot be achieved by mere human effort. It requires God’s intervention… Christians have a responsibility to stand against in justice in society, but we must never make the mistake of thinking that such efforts are the means by which God’s creation will be restored. It is the gospel that is ‘the power of God for salvation’ (Rom 1:16), and only this can ultimately transform the world.
Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach, Pierced for our Transgressions. Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution. (2007) IVP: England, p157-158
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