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How Does Jesus Save Us? Understanding Penal Substitutionary Atonement
By Mike Winger, Simplified and Explained
Introduction: What Did Jesus Do on the Cross?
At the very heart of Christianity is a big question: how does Jesus save us? One way Christians have explained this is through something called Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA). That’s a mouthful, but it simply means this:
Jesus took our punishment so we could be forgiven and brought back to God.
This idea is not new. It’s been around since the early days of the Church and is taught clearly in the Bible.
What Does Penal Substitutionary Atonement Mean?
Let’s break it down into three simple parts:
• Penal – This comes from the word penalty. Because of sin, humans deserve a penalty. The Bible says, “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). Sin leads to separation from God and death.
• Substitutionary – This means Jesus took our place. He didn’t just die – He died for us. Like it says in Isaiah 53:5, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.”
• Atonement – Atonement means to make things right between us and God. Through Jesus’s sacrifice, we are forgiven and made right with God (Romans 5:10).
So, put together: Jesus took the punishment we deserve (penal), in our place (substitution), to bring us back to God (atonement).
Why Do Some People Disagree?
Some modern teachers say PSA is a new idea that started only 500 years ago with a man named John Calvin. They argue that the early church didn’t believe this, and that PSA is based on legal thinking, not love.
But Pastor Mike Winger strongly disagrees. He believes that many early church leaders clearly taught that Jesus took the punishment for our sins.
Let’s look at what some of them said.
What Did Early Christians Believe?
Clement of Rome (c. 95 AD)
“Jesus Christ our Lord gave his blood for us… his body for our bodies, and his soul for our souls.”
This clearly shows substitution – Jesus gave Himself in our place.
Ignatius (c. 107 AD)
“He suffered all these things for our sakes that we might be saved.”
Jesus suffered so that we could be saved – that’s penalty and substitution.
Epistle of Barnabas (c. 70–135 AD)
This early Christian writing quotes Isaiah 53, which talks about the suffering servant taking the punishment for others’ sins.
“He was wounded for our transgressions… and with His stripes we are healed.”
The Epistle to Diognetus (2nd century)
“The righteous one for the unrighteous… Oh sweet exchange!”
This describes the beautiful exchange – Jesus took our place so we could be free.
Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD)
“The Father… wished his Christ to take upon himself the curses of all.”
Jesus took on the curse (the penalty) so we could be forgiven.
Isn’t There Another View? What About Christus Victor?
Yes, another way people understand the cross is called Christus Victor, which means “Christ the Victor.” This view says that Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil.
But here’s the thing: Christus Victor and Penal Substitution are not enemies. They go hand in hand.
• PSA explains how Jesus won the victory (by taking our place).
• Christus Victor explains what the result was (Jesus defeated sin and death).
As Pastor Mike says, “They are sisters, not rivals.”
Does the Bible Support PSA?
Absolutely. The Bible is full of verses that teach penal substitution. Here are a few:
• Isaiah 53:5–6 – “The punishment that brought us peace was on him… the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.”
• Galatians 3:13 – “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”
• 1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross.”
These verses clearly show Jesus took our punishment to make us right with God.
Was God Angry at Jesus?
Some people say PSA makes it sound like God was cruel – even calling it “cosmic child abuse.” But this is a misunderstanding.
Here’s the truth: God was not punishing someone else. God Himself – in the person of Jesus – came to take our place. Jesus said, “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).
So, Jesus wasn’t a victim. He willingly gave Himself to save us. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Conclusion: Why It Matters
Penal Substitutionary Atonement shows us two important things:
1. God is holy and just – He does not ignore sin.
2. God is loving and merciful – He took the punishment Himself so we could be saved.
This isn’t a cold, legal idea. It’s the glorious good news of the gospel. It’s about how Jesus saves us by giving His life for ours.
Final Thought
If you ever doubt how much God loves you, just look at the cross. As it says in Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”
God was pleased – not because of the pain – but because Jesus’s death would bring salvation, healing, and new life to anyone who believes.
That’s the heart of Christianity. And that’s why the cross changes everything.
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