What is Penal Substitutionary Atonement?
Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA), the focus of Chapter 6 in The Gospel Is Bigger than You Think, is a theological concept that explains Christ’s death as both penal—bearing the penalty of sin—and substitutionary—standing in the place of sinners. At its core, PSA teaches that Jesus Christ bore God’s righteous judgment against sin on behalf of humanity, so that those who trust Him are pardoned and reconciled to God.
This doctrine has shaped much of Christian theology throughout church history, and while it continues to be affirmed by many, it also raises questions and criticisms. To understand it rightly, we must consider its biblical foundations, historical development, theological strengths, and common objections.
1. Definition of Penal Substitutionary Atonement
Penal Substitutionary Atonement explains the death of Jesus in three essential elements:
Penalty (Penal) – Sin deserves punishment under God’s holy justice (Romans 6:23).
Substitution (Substitutionary) – Christ bore the penalty in the place of sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Reconciliation (Atonement) – Through His sacrifice, God’s wrath is satisfied, and believers are restored to fellowship with Him (Romans 3:25–26).
Theologians often describe this in terms of active and passive obedience:
Active obedience: Christ’s sinless life fulfilled the law’s demands.
Passive obedience: His suffering and death satisfied the penalty for sin.
Together, these capture how Christ not only avoided sin but fulfilled righteousness, offering His life for the redemption of His people.
2. Biblical foundations of PSA
Though the phrase “Penal Substitutionary Atonement” does not appear in Scripture, the concept runs throughout the Bible.
Isaiah 53 portrays the Servant of the Lord as “pierced for our transgressions.”
Romans 3:25–26 declares that God presented Christ as a propitiation by His blood.
1 Peter 2:24 emphasizes that He bore our sins in His body on the cross.
Galatians 3:13 explains that Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law’s curse.
The sacrificial system of the Old Testament foreshadows PSA. The blood of bulls and goats (Leviticus 16) symbolically bore the penalty of sin on behalf of the people. Yet these sacrifices pointed forward to the greater sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
3. Historical development in the church
The doctrine of PSA has roots in the teaching of the apostles and early church fathers. While different metaphors of atonement appeared across history, substitutionary language is consistently present.
Early Fathers: Ignatius, Athanasius, and others spoke of Christ’s death as bearing our penalty.
Anselm of Canterbury: Developed the satisfaction theory, highlighting Christ’s offering as repayment to God’s honor.
Reformation: Protestant reformers like Luther and Calvin sharpened the concept of PSA, emphasizing God’s justice and grace.
Over time, PSA became a central framework in Protestant theology, though not without debate.
4. Theological strengths of PSA
PSA highlights essential truths about God’s character and human salvation:
God’s holiness is upheld – Sin is not ignored but judged (Habakkuk 1:13).
God’s justice is satisfied – Wrath is not arbitrary but justly dealt with at the cross (Romans 8:3–4).
God’s love is magnified – The Father gave His Son for sinners, and the Son willingly offered Himself (John 3:16; Ephesians 5:2).
Believers’ assurance is secured – The penalty is paid in full, leaving no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
This model emphasizes both God’s justice and mercy, preserving the full scope of His character.
5. Common criticisms of PSA
Despite its strengths, PSA has been criticized for theological and philosophical reasons. Critics argue:
It threatens the unity of the Trinity by suggesting the Father abandons the Son.
It reduces the cross to a legal transaction, neglecting participation and union with Christ.
It risks portraying God as wrathful until appeased by His Son, a charge sometimes summarized as “divine child abuse.”
It overlooks other biblical metaphors like ransom, victory, and moral influence.
These critiques remind us that PSA should not be treated as the only lens for atonement but part of a larger biblical tapestry.
6. Alternative and complementary views
The Bible presents multiple images of atonement that work alongside PSA:
Christus Victor: Christ defeats Satan, sin, and death (Colossians 2:15).
Ransom theory: Jesus gives His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Moral influence: The cross reveals God’s love, inspiring faith and repentance (Romans 5:8).
Recapitulation: Christ retraces and redeems humanity’s story, succeeding where Adam failed (Romans 5:18–19).
These views do not replace PSA but enrich it, showing that the cross is both substitutionary and participatory, both judicial and transformative.
7. PSA and the Gospel of the kingdom
When properly understood, PSA fits seamlessly into the broader Gospel. Christ did not merely secure forgiveness but established a new covenant community. By bearing the penalty of sin, He inaugurated the kingdom of God, ensuring His people are justified, sanctified, and glorified.
The atonement secures not only personal salvation but the cosmic restoration of all things. PSA assures believers that judgment has already been borne, and the kingdom of Christ is breaking into the present age, awaiting its final consummation when He returns.
8. Conclusion: a balanced view of Penal Substitutionary Atonement
Penal Substitutionary Atonement remains a vital doctrine because it underscores the seriousness of sin, the holiness of God, and the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. Yet it must be held in balance with the Bible’s other atonement images, ensuring that our theology of the cross is not narrowed but enriched.
The cross is not merely a transaction but a triumph, not only the bearing of penalty but the restoration of fellowship. PSA is necessary for explaining how God’s justice and mercy meet, but it finds its fullest meaning when placed within the story of God’s covenant faithfulness and the hope of new creation.
Bible verses related to Penal Substitutionary Atonement
“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
“God put him forward as a propitiation by his blood.” (Romans 3:25)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous.” (1 Peter 3:18)
“The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
“Worthy are you… for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God.” (Revelation 5:9)
