Author: joshmont2017

I am a child of God through Jesus' sacrifice and victory. Husband to Karuna, father to four children, staff elder at Emmanuel Church Northstowe, and Course Director for Training for East Anglia Ministry. All views here my own and do not necessarily represent the views of organisations I work for.

The pastoral power of penal substitution- once for all forgiveness

Our series so far has tried to show the biblical evidence that Jesus’s death is substitutionary, Jesus dying in our place so that we don’t have to. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/23/is-jesus-death-substitutionary/Then we saw evidence that Jesus’ death is him taking the just penalty for our sin in our place so that we receive the blessing he has earned https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/24/is-jesus-death-penal/. Thirdly, … Continue reading The pastoral power of penal substitution- once for all forgiveness →

The explanatory power of penal substitution- why can’t God just forgive?

Our series so far has tried to show the biblical evidence that Jesus’s death is substitutionary, Jesus dying in our place so that we don’t have to. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/23/is-jesus-death-substitutionary/Then we saw evidence that Jesus’ death is him taking the just penalty for our sin in our place so that we receive the blessing he has earned … Continue reading The explanatory power of penal substitution- why can’t God just forgive? →

Does Jesus bear God’s anger at the cross?

(This is the third in a series of posts exploring penal substitutionary atonement. The first and second are here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/23/is-jesus-death-substitutionary/ https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/24/is-jesus-death-penal/) So far I have shown that there is good biblical evidence for the Jesus' death being substitutionary (he dies in our place so that in some sense we don't have to die) and penal … Continue reading Does Jesus bear God’s anger at the cross? →

Is Jesus death penal?

(This is the second in a series of posts exploring penal substitutionary atonement. The first, on substitution, is here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2025/08/23/is-jesus-death-substitutionary/) In my first post, I argued that Jesus' death can (and must) be understood as in some sense substitutionary, and not merely representative. He died in our place so we don't have to. He is … Continue reading Is Jesus death penal? →

Is Jesus death substitutionary?

On various online platforms there have been debates about Penal Substitutionary Atonement. Debates about this account of what Jesus' death achieves are nothing new. John Stott's "The Cross of Christ" is still the book I'd recommend anyone wanting to see the different ways the Bible describes Jesus' death for us. In this blogpost, I want … Continue reading Is Jesus death substitutionary? →

What does it mean for a church to take “something seriously”?

You don't have to spend long at Christian conferences or in the online Christian world to find calls for the church to take something more seriously. Theological education, social deprivation, environmentalism, racial diversity, disability access and inclusion, children's discipleship, apologetics, abortion, arts, politics... and the list could get longer. All these things matter. And each … Continue reading What does it mean for a church to take “something seriously”? →

Chrysostom on why ordinary Christians need to read the Bible even more than monks

(This is why reading church history makes you Protestant!) I always entreat you, and do not cease entreating you, not only to pay attention here to what I say, but also when you are at home, to persevere continually in reading he divine Scriptures... Do not let anyone say to me those vain words, worthy … Continue reading Chrysostom on why ordinary Christians need to read the Bible even more than monks →