The Gospel

The Necessity of Penal Substitution for Suffering Saints

By Whitney Woollard | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

The doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement keeps me sane and secure amid suffering.

Pastoring Abuse Sufferers with the Doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement

By Mez McConnell | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

As a former victim and as a pastor to the abused, I wish to look at some of the practical implications of holding to PSA.

Ten Atonement Songs You Should Consider Singing

Ten Atonement Songs You Should Consider Singing

By Bob Kauflin | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

We will never have enough songs to extol the glory of the Lamb who was slain to purchase our salvation.

The Love Story of Penal Substitutionary Atonement

By Michael Lawrence | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

The entire storyline of Scripture, the history of redemption, is the story of God providing substitutes for his people to cover their shame and bear the judgment they deserved so that they might be accepted by him.

How to Explain Covenantal Headship to Your Members 

By Harry Fujiwara | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

In explaining covenantal headship to your members, it will be helpful to walk them through three closely related biblical truths: total depravity, the virgin birth, and substitutionary atonement.

Why Penal Substitutionary Atonement Matters for Counseling

By Patti Withers | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

As counselors, we must help our counselees see that because of Christ’s substitutionary atonement they can have relief from guilt and shame, a proper view of forgiveness, and access to the Father.

How Charles Finney (and other Overly Emotional Preachers) Made It Difficult to Preach the Gospel

By Johnny Lithell | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

How can a church in a secular setting work toward a culture where discussing God’s wrath and substitutionary atonement isn’t frowned upon but celebrated?

Explaining Penal Substitutionary Atonement in Our Personal Evangelism

By Elliot Clark | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

In our personal evangelism, to what degree should we explain PSA as we seek to make sense of the bloody cross, the vanguard of our Christian gospel?

Did Jesus Affirm Penal Substitutionary Atonement?

By Bobby Scott | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

Did Jesus himself understand his death as a penal substitutionary atonement? Or did later New Testament authors make it up?

God of the Cross: 5 Recommended Books on the Atonement

By Owen Strachan | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

Consider recommending these five books on this precious doctrine to your people.

How Does the Cross of Christ Make Sense of the Kingdom of God?

By Jeremy Treat | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

From the bruised heel of Genesis 3:15 to the reigning lamb of Revelation 22:1, the Bible is a redemptive story of a crucified messiah who brings the kingdom through his atoning death on the cross.

Lose Particular Redemption, Lose Penal Substitution

By Sinclair Ferguson | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

Penal substitution implies efficacious redemption.

How Does Penal Substitution Relate to Other Atonement Theories?

By Stephen J. Wellum | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

Penal substitution best accounts for why the divine Son had to die, and why he alone saves.

Did the Church Fathers Affirm Penal Substitutionary Atonement?

By Brian Arnold | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

Did the church fathers also hold to the doctrine of penal substitution? The answer is yes and no.

Four Questions to Ask about the Atonement

By Stephen J. Wellum | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019

It is only in viewing Christ as our penal substitute that we truly understand the depth of God’s holy love for us, the horrendous nature of our sin before God, and the glory of our substitute—Jesus Christ our Lord.