For someone who might need to hear this because of current social media debates regarding the atonement:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Revelation 5:9-10
Much of the book of Revelation can be interpreted as a prophetic critique against the Roman Empire (symbolized as Babylon) and a warning to Christian believers of all ages against the enchantment of empire and its destructive cultural practices (Justo Gonzalez, For the Healing of the Nations).
To the seven churches of the earliest church in Asia, the writings of John declared that Jesus died on the cross, and with his blood purchased for God persons from every, tribe, language, people, and nation, and nation. The cross was indeed a rebel's death, the most vicious tool of state violence perpetrated by Rome upon those who would dare challenge the lordship and authority of Caesar who was declared "Son of God," "Lord of all," and "Savior." But what human beings, and empire, intended for evil, God redeemed for the liberation of human kind from every form of sin and bondage, both social and personal. No one took Jesus' life from him, but he laid it down of his own accord (John 10:18) to bring about the reconciliation and renewal of all things:
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1: 19-20
Not even the powers and authorities saw this coming (Colossians 2:15).
Various theories of the atonement have developed over the millennia to try and grasp the many layers of meaning of Christ's death, resurrection, and example on the cross. Some of these include the Socinian Theory, Moral-Influence Theory, Governmental Theory, Ranson Theory, Satisfaction Theory, etc. Recently, some have been exploring the relationship between empire and the cross. In fairness, they all shed some light, and they all have shortcomings. Some have been overemphasized at times. They seek to bring glimmers of understanding to a glorious subject that our frail human minds can never fully comprehend: God incarnate came to this little marble and marvel we call the earth; lived and ministered among the marginalized, despised and colonized of Galilee and the larger Jewish nation; shared in the depths of their, and all of our human suffering; modeled a new way of living founded upon justice, mercy, and even love of our enemies; walked a road of persecution to Jerusalem as a literal and symbolic challenge to every religious, political, economic, and institutional obstacle which violates the sacred image of God in human beings and hinders their free and loving access to God; gave His life on the cross and rose on the third day to make possible the redemption of all of humankind and every aspect of God's creation which is broken and fallen because of sin.
The historical lynchpin of the various theories of the atonement which have sought to understand these great mysteries over the centuries, as attested to by multitudinous passages from sacred Scripture, is that Jesus died for us. It is a modern phenomenon with largely western roots to declare dogmatically otherwise.
In a social media age that draws likes from extreme positions, binaries, and shock value, I tremble in my boots because I know that we who teach will be held to a higher standard before God (James 3:1). On a personal level, I also know that it can be very disturbing and disorienting to be exposed to any form of biblical teaching which dogmatically asserts a single position in response to a complex topic. Healthy theology is a dialogue with, and among the saints of 2,000 years, from every place and time; the early church centered in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Asia, and Northern Africa; the majority church which is now centered in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the immigrant and Black churches; and the historic western church which has meaningful theology to contribute to the conversation, sans its various colonial baggage.
In the glorious hope that Jesus died and rose again FOR US. And in the humility of knowing that this is a profound mystery.
Robert