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Developing Seven Bible Studies Related to the Atonement, Consistent with a Cosmic-Conflict Arp Adigm of Salvation History

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Developing Seven Bible Studies Related to the Atonement, Consistent with a Cosmic-Conflict Arp Adigm of Salvation History Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1998 Developing Seven Bible Studies Related To The Atonement, Consistent With A Cosmic-Conflict arP adigm Of Salvation History Richard Duane Smith Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Smith, Richard Duane, "Developing Seven Bible Studies Related To The Atonement, Consistent With A Cosmic-Conflict Paradigm Of Salvation History" (1998). Dissertation Projects DMin. 413. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/413 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT DEVELOPING SEVEN BIBLE STUDIES RELATED TO THE ATONEMENT, CONSISTENT WITH A COSMIC-CONFLICT PARADIGM OF SALVATION HISTORY by Richard Duane Smith Adviser: Jerry Moon ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: DEVELOPING SEVEN BIBLE STUDIES RELATED TO THE ATONEMENT, CONSISTENT WITH A COSMIC-CONFLICT PARADIGM OF SALVATION HISTORY Name of researcher: Richard D. Smith Name and degree of faculty adviser: Jerry Moon, Ph.D. Date completed: June 1998 Problem A new view of the atonement threatened to divide some local congregations of Seventh-day Adventists. Referred to in this study as the "trust-healing model" of atonement, the new paradigm proposed by A. Graham Maxwell was developed from a wide reading of Scripture and claimed additional support from the "great controversy" motif in the writings of Ellen G. White. However, because it seemed to call in question certain aspects of the long-accepted substitutionary model of the atonement, the new paradigm became a point of conflict. Method This dissertation seeks to clarify the issues by comparing the trust-healing model of atonement with the substitution model of atonement, and evaluating both models on the basis of Scripture and the writings of Ellen G. White. Incorporating the sound concepts from both models, a cosmic-conflict model/paradigm was developed. From this cosmic-conflict paradigm seven atonement-related doctrinal concepts were presented in Bible study form. They were field tested on two groups of individuals and evaluated as to their effectiveness in helping individuals separate the truth about God from common misconceptions of God's character. Results The seven Bible studies did assist the participants in the process of identifying and filtering out Satan's misrepresentations. Understanding God increased confidence in and trust in God. Conclusions Both the substitutionary and the trust-healing models contain valid concepts. This dissertation combines the strengths of both models in order to avoid misconceptions often associated with one model or the other. The effect of the seven Bible studies on those who participated in them suggests that the Bible studies were influential toward overcoming common misunderstandings about God. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary DEVELOPING SEVEN BIBLE STUDIES RELATED TO THE ATONEMENT, CONSISTENT WITH A COSMIC-CONFLICT PARADIGM OF SALVATION HISTORY A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Richard Duane Smith May 1998 DEVELOPING SEVEN BIBLE STUDIES RELATED TO THE ATONEMENT CONSISTENT WITH A COSMIC-CONFLICT PARADIGM OF SALVATION HISTORY A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Richard Duane Smith APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Advis Jerry Moon Richard Davidson i.^ /??<P Peter van Bemmelen Date approvedrovti TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION .......................... 1 The Problem ................................................ 1 Methodology ................................................ 3 Definitions ................................................ 4 II. LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEOLOGICAL BASE ....................... 5 Definitions ................................................ 5 History of the Development of Atonement Theology ....... 5 Ellen G. White's Great Controversy Theme ................ 9 Provide for the Salvation of Man ..................... 11 Vindicate the Character of God ....................... 12 Establish the Perpetuity of the Law .................. 14 Reveal the Nature and Results of Sin ................. 14 Draw Men to Christ .................................... 16 The Substitutionary Model of Atonement .................. 17 The Trust-Healing Model of Atonement .................... 19 Comparison ............................................... 24 The Salvation of Man ...... 25 Vindicate the Character of God before the Universe ... 26 Establish the Perpetuity of the Law of God .......... 27 Reveal the Nature and Results of Sin ................. 28 Draw Men to Christ .................................... 28 Cosmic Conflict Paradigm of the Atonement ............... 30 Atonement-Related Doctrinal Concepts ...................... 32 The Cosmic Conflict ...................................... 32 Issues of the Conflict ............................... 33 Satan's Accusations ................................... 35 Justice Satisfied ..................................... 37 Mission of Christ ........................................ 42 Christ's Death ........................................ 42 Love, the Motive for Christ's Mission ................ 45 Faith, the Goal of Christ's Miss i o n................... 48 Sin Understood from the Cross ........................... 50 Sin as the Breaking of a Relationship ................ 51 Wages of Sin Is Death ................................ 55 Not Arbitrary ....................................... 56 Wages as Legal Penalty and Retributive Justice .... 57 Incompatible with God's Holiness ................... 58 Sanctuary ................................................ 59 Sacrifice ............................................. 61 Make Peace .......................................... 62 Heavenly Sanctuary .................................... 65 i n Judgment ................................................. 68 Not for God's Information, but about God ............. 68 Basis of Evaluation ................................... 72 An Advocate in Judgment .............................. 74 The Judge ............................................. 75 How Sin Is Eradicated ..................................... 7 6 Wrath ................................................. 78 God Is Not the Executioner ........................... 80 Destruction by Separation ............................ 81 Destruction by Fire ................................... 84 Summary .................................................. 90 III. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT ............... 91 First Group ................................................ 92 Ed's Response ............................................ 92 Joanne's Response ........................................ 94 Bob' s Response ........................................... 94 Jack's Response ........................................... 95 Dan's Response ........................................... 95 Sue's Response ........................................... 95 Earl's Response .......................................... 96 Summary .................................................. 96 Second Group ............................................... 96 Tami's Response .......................................... 97 Randy's Response ......................................... 98 Clark's Response ......................................... 99 Sara's Response .......................................... 99 Annasett's Response ...................................... 100 Procedures of the Two Field Tests ......................... 101 IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................... 103 APPENDIX A. BIBLE STUDIES ................................................. 106 B. RESPONSE SURVEY ............................................... 120 C. HERMENEUTICS .................................................. 135 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................... 144 VITA .................................................................. 149 IV CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Problem Within some local Seventh-day Adventist congregations, as well as within the denomination as a whole, a number of members are discovering a new paradigm regarding God's role in the plan of redemption. It is referred to as the Trust-Healing model of atonement. Others are alarmed by this new paradigm, viewing it as an unbiblical approach that undermines the pillars of the Adventist faith.1 What should the proper response be? Excommunicating the "heretics" is not the answer for the call to unity. Rather, there is a need to be redemptive by gently explaining from Scripture the dangers of any error, and thus win them back. Therefore it is necessary first to investigate the new paradigm in the light of God's Word. If it is not in harmony, the conclusion has to be that "there is no light in it."2 Any other course would be dangerous, leading persons away from the One the Word witnesses to.3 Christians must be biblical, and genuine new light will also be biblical and in harmony with a biblical theology. While
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