Read the following Reading Assignments and follow the Assignment Description given to complete assignment. I have also attached an example from the instructor.

Peter Abelard, a medieval French theologian, was of the view that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the ultimate example of redemption and the love of God for human beings. However, he also stated that the forgiveness of Jesus Christ was not dependent on his death on the cross giving the evidence of Jesus’ forgiveness of the paralyzed man and the Mary Magdalene. In his words he “pardon sinful man apart from his Passion,” (his being Christ). He therefore attributed the forgiveness of sins to the sinner’s repentance and the “long-suffering of God”. Abelard saw the cross as God’s expression of his love.

5.29 Gustaf Aulen on the Classic Theory of the Atonement- Protestant

As a bishop of the Church of Sweden, Gustaf Aulen was of the protestant category of Christianity. In his theory of atonement, he analyzed the three previous theories on the issue, namely the Christus Victor theory, the Moral influence theory and the Satisfaction theory. Atonement to him was “a divine conflict and victory”. He further explains it as the reconciliation of the world from the fight against the evil powers present in today’s world such as the ruling tyrants of whom human beings suffer under. In simpler terms, atonement according to him is the holy deliverance of human beings from the captivity of death, sin and evil in general.

5.33 James I. Packer on Penal Substitution- Protestant

James Innell Packer, a Canadian protestant of British decent was among the main contributors of the penal substitution theory. The theory basically purports that the death of Jesus Christ was a direct substitute to the sins of human beings. According to the theory, the guilt of our sins was placed on Jesus Christ by God, hence he suffered the punishment meant for us when he died on the cross. The theory further suggests that the act was holistic as it satisfied two characters of God, namely, His wrath and His Righteousness. This was due to the fact that act allowed for the forgiveness of our sins without god having to go against his holy characteristic.

5.30 Vladimir Lossky on Redemption as Deification- Orthodox

An orthodox Christian theologian by the name Vladimir Lossky gave some insight on redemption as deification. Lossky in his theory viewed redemption as deification. In that, he believed that when a man is redeemed from sin, he becomes God. In his word’s “God made Himself man that man might become God”. He further claimed that being descendants of a holy person, God, human beings had the capability of ascending to the Holy Spirit through salvation.

6.12 Augustine on Predestination and Fallen Human Nature-Roman Catholic

St. Augustine a Catholic, was among the chief contributors of the controversial topic on predestination as well as the fallen human nature. Regarding predestination, St. Augustine initially believed that God simply chose for predestination men who He knew before hand when given the choice, would choose automatically choose to believe in Him. However, after some time, he revised the theory to suggest that for predestination, God made an autonomous decision on who to extend His saving grace, based on His supernatural position. Some humans are therefore predestined by God to eternal life while others are left in sin to be condemned in a just manner for their actions.

6.21 The second Council of Orange on Grace and Freedom- Roman Catholic

Also of the catholic category of Christianity, the Second Council of Orange believed that grace became a necessity to all men after the Original sin. The council also believed that despite having the freedom to decide, the will of man was such weak that he could not make the right choices without the intervention of divine powers. Grace was therefore given to man through baptism, and it was important as it “restores, improves and gives the justice of Jesus Christ. Human beings therefore according to this council require the grace of the lord to avoid evil and continue doing good.

6.55 The Second Vatican Council on Human Nature- Roman Catholic

Another catholic council by the name, the Second Vatican Council gave their theory on the human nature. In summary, the council stated that the current social and political situations affect the nature of human beings throughout the world. Also, the original sin plays a key role in determining the nature of human beings as well as the works of the devil.