The Breadth and Depth of the Atonement

Atonement. For some this word is the heart of the Christian faith. For others, it is irrelevant for Christianity and how they live their Christian lives. Often we do not see ''the breadth and depth'' of the atonement in the gospel. Christian D. Kettler, in his fourth book on ''the vicarious humanity of Christ,'' suggests that we consider that the atonement is not only a vicarious death in our place and on our behalf--whether in the form of a ''penal substitute'' or a ''moral example''--but also his vicarious humanity, having atoning significance for all of our lives, indeed, all of reality: the church, the world, and the self. These essays are collected from several years of Kettler’s thought on the doctrine of the vicarious humanity of Christ and its implications for all of life and reality, seeking to demonstrate that the doctrine of the atonement is not to be restricted to one small part of the doctrinal agenda, but has profound implications that theology sometimes does not explore. These issues include the nature of culture, aesthetics, creation out of nothing, spiritual formation, emotional weakness, the priesthood of Christ and creation, genetic engineering, and trusting in the ''ideal'' self.''No one I know of has so persistently and passionately explored the breadth and the depth of the atoning work of God in Christ as has Christian Kettler. And in this volume he has gathered together the harvest of that endeavor over many years that we may join him in celebrating the feast of the bountiful fruits of the vicarious humanity of Jesus Christ.''--Gary W. Deddo, President, Professor of Theology, Grace Communion Seminary, Glendora, CA''. . . Kettler leads readers to see the difference a proper understanding of Christ’s vicarious humanity makes both for systematic and pastoral theology today. Emphasizing that the risen, ascended, and advent Lord continues to mediate between us and the Father, Kettler impressively and convincingly explains how and why our joy and hope are real only because God in Christ is in solidarity with us. . . . Anyone interested in these subjects will want to read this book.''--Paul D. Molnar, Professor of Systematic Theology, St. John’s University, Queens, NY''In this delightful collection of essays, Chris Kettler leads us through an exhibition of the inexhaustible joy and vivifying power of Christ’s vicarious humanity in relation to the whole scope of human life--its tragedy, its beauty, and its God-imaged greatness.''--Joel Scandrett, Director of the Robert Webber Center, Assistant Professor of Historical Theology, Trinity School for MinistryChristian D. Kettler is Professor of Theology and Religion at Friends University. He is the author of The Vicarious Humanity of Christ and the Reality of Salvation (1996) (reprint, Wipf and Stock, 2001), The God Who Believes: Faith, Doubt, and the Vicarious Humanity of Christ (2005), The God Who Rejoices: Joy, Despair, and the Vicarious Humanity of Christ (2010), and Reading Ray S. Anderson (2010.)