Pananastasism: An Overview
Pananastasism (pronounced pan-ana-stas-ism) is a biblical understanding of Jesus Christ’s atonement arguing that His atoning work functions on two levels,
A Defense of Both Universal and Particular Extents to Salvific Effects in the Nature of Christ's Atonement
If you are wondering what Pananastasism is, then you are in the right place. If you are struggling with understanding the nature and extent of Jesus Christ's atoning work on the cross, then you may still be in the right place, as Pananastasism offers a solution to those issues. If you are wondering about what Jesus Christ ever did for you, why should you believe in Him, then again, you have found the right place!
Pananastasism is a coined term to express a particular viewpoint on Christ's atonement. It promotes a penal substitionary view of atonement, but one that is distinct from other articulations of that view. Chiefly, the pananastastic view of atonement holds that atonement has two salvific (i.e. saving) aspects to it: one aspect is universal to all people, the other is particular to believers in Jesus Christ only.
The first aspect is corporate and universal. It is Christ's penal substitution for every person who ever has, currently does, or will exist, which substitution will result in their salvation from physical death, that is, it will result in every person's resurrection.
The second aspect is individual and particular. It is only for those who put their trust, their faith, in Jesus Christ for their salvation. Christ then cleansing them of their sinfulness by His blood.
The first aspect frees God to righteously remove all people from the legal penalty of sin, their physical death; righteously, because it was God who imposed that penalty to begin with and He cannot go back on His word. Then the second aspect frees God to righteously declare believers justified (i.e. viewed as righteous) because they will be made so at the resurrection; and since viewed as righteous, there is no wrath of God upon them as there is still upon unbelievers.
In short, Christ's penal substitution is His gracious act to pay for and remove the legal penalty of sin upon all people, saving them from death by the resurrection. Then Christ's cleansing is His gracious act to remove the natural consequences of sin upon believers, which consequences had made them vessels worthy of God's wrath, but which cleansing saves them from that wrath, which is expressed in the second death.
If you want to know more of the big picture idea of the Pananastastic view on the nature and extent of Christ's atonement, then these posts are for you.
Pananastasism (pronounced pan-ana-stas-ism) is a biblical understanding of Jesus Christ’s atonement arguing that His atoning work functions on two levels,
Digging into the original languages of the Bible text for those who want a deeper understanding of the biblical support behind Pananastasism.
Analysis and discussion of views on atonement and how they may relate (if at all) to the Pananastastic view.
Historical overview of penal substitution coming soon.
Exploring a number of theologians, past and present, who hold views with some varying level of similarity to Pananastasism.