The Moral Influence Theory of the crucifixion
Crossroads: Where Faith and Inquiry Meet: The Moral Influence Theory: "Michael Horton writes the following in his article 'Without Excuse' in the March/April 2006 issue of Modern Reformation magazine,
One of the erroneous assumptions, not only of [many people ], but of many theologians today is, that the basic problem that human beings have with God is lack of information. If people only knew how much God loves them; if they only realized how great God was and worthy of worship, they would embrace HIm.
This is the assumption behind what is called the 'moral influence theory' of the atonement: namely, that the cross saves chiefly by showing us how much God loves us and this moving picture is all we need to be brought to repentance.
But, as Anselm countered in his eleventh-century critique of this position,
'You have not yet considered how great your sin is.'"
One of the erroneous assumptions, not only of [many people ], but of many theologians today is, that the basic problem that human beings have with God is lack of information. If people only knew how much God loves them; if they only realized how great God was and worthy of worship, they would embrace HIm.
This is the assumption behind what is called the 'moral influence theory' of the atonement: namely, that the cross saves chiefly by showing us how much God loves us and this moving picture is all we need to be brought to repentance.
But, as Anselm countered in his eleventh-century critique of this position,
'You have not yet considered how great your sin is.'"
Comments
If all Jesus on the cross was is a demonstration, then we are most completely duped.
It was there that He experienced the darkness of the sin of us all.