ADOPTED FOR THE KINGDOM

Abstract

This thesis examines the penal substitutionary atonement theory (PSA) considering recent critical theological scholarship. The theological implications of PSA are applied to several systematic categories such as the Trinity, God’s wrath, sin, and forgiveness, demonstrating that Evangelicals should adopt a different framework to articulate the meaning of Jesus’ death. Instead of describing Jesus’ death in punitive and legal terms, this thesis contends that Jesus’ death should primarily be understood and communicated as being “for us,” and imagined as a kingly and fatherly “intervention.” Finally, this thesis makes several applications as to how the evangelical church should communicate atonement theology.