The Justifying Judgement of God

This monograph argues that the doctrine of the atonement may be presented more coherently by recognising judgement as the principle metaphor of the reconciling work of Christ. Judgement, not only understood as condemantion but as the whole process of bringing about justice, provides the pattern of victory, redemption and sacrifice may be compared and to which they should be related.

In view of the weaknesses found in PT Forsyth's proposal, the secondsection of the work examines Karl Barth's account of reconciliation in terms of the judgement of Jesus Christ and in relation to victory, redemption and sacrifice. It argues victory is an act of God's judgement against his enemies and for his obedient people, redemption is the liberation of God's covenant friends brought about through judgement and that sacrifice is judgement on sin revealed in death.

On the basis of these findings the proposal is made that judgement is the paradigmatic metaphor of atonement. The implications of this claim are then considered for the response to the work of Christ, and how repentance, baptism, eucharist and holiness are related to judgement.