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      What Happened on the Cross

      Forgiveness Not Punishment

      Copyright © 2020 Nick Peros. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

      Wipf & Stock

      An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

      199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

      Eugene, OR 97401

      www.wipfandstock.com

      paperback isbn: 978-1-7252-6369-7

      hardcover isbn: 978-1-7252-6363-5

      ebook isbn: 978-1-7252-6364-2

      Manufactured in the U.S.A. 08/10/20

      Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

      Scripture marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

      Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations marked (NIrV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

      Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

      Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations marked (CJB) taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.

      Scriptures marked (YLT) taken from Young’s Literal Translation, public domain; Scriptures marked (ASV) taken from American Standard Version, public domain; Scriptures marked (Geneva Bible) taken from Geneva Bible, public domain.

      Foreword

      What Happened on the Cross addresses a topic that remains a thriving public debate in contemporary academic and pastoral theology: the nature of the work of salvation accomplished by Jesus on the cross. This conversation strikes at the heart of what it means to be Christian, and it is a source of the upheaval of faith for many of the upcoming generation. The question is as simple as it is profound: How can God have punished his Son for the sins of every person on earth and still have been just? In this work, Nick Peros takes a fresh look at the questions involved and offers a Bible-centered, comprehensive approach to the topic of how our salvation was accomplished at Calvary.

      One of the most intriguing aspects of What Happened on the Cross is it does truly offer a new and refreshing paradigm for seeing the nature of salvation, which is a significant accomplishment in its own right. Whatever theory of atonement you may hold to currently, you can expect to be genuinely challenged by Peros’s presentation as he grapples with an enormous amount of biblical literature from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.

      The current debate today largely centers around a Reformed view of penal substitution which has been standard to most Evangelical preaching for centuries, and which is now being challenged by evolving questions and a strong resurgence of the Christus Victor view popular with a growing Anabaptist theological school of thought. Peros challenges both views, arguing you can’t ignore the need for the blood of Jesus in the biblical account of atonement, but it doesn’t represent divine punishment. The Christus Victor view often leaves those conducting close study of the word of God trying to understand the special emphasis put on Jesus’ blood in its pages. Likewise, the penal substitution view presses those of us who are adherents with troubling questions about divine child abuse. Peros is careful to allow a bulk of Scripture to speak as he builds his case, and in doing so creates a nuance that is engaging. This work stands out amongst many modern writings on the subject as it does not interact with modern theologians by name but instead belongs to an older form of systematic theology that brings it closer to biblical theology. By painting a picture of the theological theme of salvation all the way from the creation to Revelation, the author builds an argument for a unique view of the physicality or the reality of sin, and the need for an incarnate God to finally wash away our sins permanently.

      The author’s theological acumen becomes apparent despite not using the traditional academic style. The project is harkening back to times when a writer went about building a case for a theological doctrine from the Scriptures themselves, not relying on other theologians and thinkers to create a case. Peros has built a fresh picture of redemption spanning from Genesis to Revelation; a systematic theology that adheres to the authority of the Bible. With almost 750 Scripture verses used to support the argument, the reader becomes aware this work is predicated upon a firm foundation. The author speaks quite strongly at times, more certainly than many of us in professional theological academia are used to, but this passion for the truth is what drove him to discover new connections and present a bold and original picture of salvation.

      As this is a theological hot-button topic, the timing of this work for publication couldn’t have been better. Peros’s presentation of key themes helps any reader get a better understanding of the Scriptures involved in the current atonement theory debate and will be enjoyed for its unique perspective by people on both sides or those confused who are looking for a good guide. As a theologian, I recommend What Happened on the Cross for its faithfulness to Scripture and novel philosophical insight, and as a pastor, I can recommend it as a conversation partner to help the average Christian think through the complexities of an important topic—our salvation in Jesus.

      Dr. Cyril Guérette (PhD, MPhil, BTh)

      Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology,

      Tyndale University College

      Lead Pastor, Groundswell Church (www.thegroundswellchurch.com)

      Introduction

      The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the central events of human history. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was conceived and born of a virgin, the Son of God—God incarnate—married forever to human flesh. At age thirty, Jesus began his public work, living a sinless life, and revealing

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