Tag: christianity

Is Jam making worth it? (Or reflections on life beyond profit and pleasure)

Early in the autumn, Karuna spent a Saturday afternoon making up 12 jars of blackcurrant jam. The blackcurrants had been picked in several batches over the summer from the allotment, and it was a bumper year for soft fruits. There were more than 3kg of them in the freezer, having been frozen on trays then … Continue reading Is Jam making worth it? (Or reflections on life beyond profit and pleasure) →

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? →

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 →

Do we have to leave wisdom aside to fully follow Jesus?

"Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 8:11. Wisdom in Proverbs is the thing to be gained above everything else. And that makes sense in everyday life. People who are wise- with work, with money, with words, with family relationships, with home, with friends- generally have better lives. To have other … Continue reading Do we have to leave wisdom aside to fully follow Jesus? →