Atonement of Christ

Do you need to believe in the atonement of Christ to obtain the salvation that He offers?

The question is both simple and complex. There are a number of things that long-time Christians believe. Some of those may be required for salvation. Others may not. Is the atonement of Christ on the “must” list or is it not required.

When I say atonement, I am referring to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as the ultimate substitutionary death in our place as the result of the original sin in the Garden of Eden.

So, what is required for salvation? Do we need to “pray the sinner’s prayer”? Must we have some theological understanding of the virgin birth of God as a man, the living on earth, the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection? Do we merely need to proclaim “Jesus is Lord”? Or how about truly acknowledging Jesus as the Lord and master of our lives? One place says to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Another says to call on His name. Before ascending, Jesus told the disciples to make disciples, baptize, and teach to obey.

What is “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” talking about? Everything about his life and work? To believe that he truly is God, and the way, truth and life?

I put all of these separate issues on the table, not to muddy this conversation, but to look at some of the kinds of things that are theologically important, but may not stand between the sinner and salvation. I guess the real question is whether you think that the qualifications for salvation include having some kind of notion of the crucifixion and having a definite understanding that salvation is at least partly due to that sacrifice.

I don’t intend this to be a trick question. And where you ultimately fall on it may influence your opinion on another question on which I have already done some drafting but do not expect to publish for a while.

What do you say? How broad or narrow is your position. Is being broad or narrow important?