I love how NT Wright always points to the why - God doesn’t just get rid of Sin because it’s bad, it’s because it gets in the way of His will for humans, that we work with God in caring for His creation and fulfilling His purposes for all people, to turn to God and live out His purposes for us, living in His glory. Then the how of it is put into service of the why, and some of the details become less important, at least to me, because I trust God’s overarching purpose.
I’ve always found the topic of justification interesting because Christus Victor and PSA by themselves do not fully answer justification. I love Wright’s explanation and I think it’s important to remember it. But it also harkens back to Leviticus 3 where the peace offering with God required flesh. So God condemning Sin in Jesus’ flesh is the fulfillment of Lev. 3. Which also nicely wraps up this notion of Jesus’ death as the death of sin because his flesh held Sin condemned and his resurrection leaves Sin dead.
As I've always seen this, I think Romans 3-5 is more in the PSA arena, dealing primarily with forgiveness and justification, while Romans 7-8 is dealing more with the problem of our inbred sin nature, and how the law is powerless to overcome that. So more Christus Victor there, as opposed to a PSA focus.
So well explained and thought out! Thank you!!!
I’m currently reading Wright’s book on Romans 8. I always enjoy reading your posts on Romans.
I love how NT Wright always points to the why - God doesn’t just get rid of Sin because it’s bad, it’s because it gets in the way of His will for humans, that we work with God in caring for His creation and fulfilling His purposes for all people, to turn to God and live out His purposes for us, living in His glory. Then the how of it is put into service of the why, and some of the details become less important, at least to me, because I trust God’s overarching purpose.
I’ve always found the topic of justification interesting because Christus Victor and PSA by themselves do not fully answer justification. I love Wright’s explanation and I think it’s important to remember it. But it also harkens back to Leviticus 3 where the peace offering with God required flesh. So God condemning Sin in Jesus’ flesh is the fulfillment of Lev. 3. Which also nicely wraps up this notion of Jesus’ death as the death of sin because his flesh held Sin condemned and his resurrection leaves Sin dead.
As I've always seen this, I think Romans 3-5 is more in the PSA arena, dealing primarily with forgiveness and justification, while Romans 7-8 is dealing more with the problem of our inbred sin nature, and how the law is powerless to overcome that. So more Christus Victor there, as opposed to a PSA focus.