Fellowship: Reconsidering The Atonement

Jul 16, 2025
Fellowship: Reconsidering The Atonement
Invited Matthew Miller Jose Benjamin Lawrence Ekklesia
Attachments Fellowship: Reconsidering The Atonement
Meeting records Transcript Recording

Summary
Matthew Miller discussed Philippians 2:5-11 as an ancient Christian artifact, emphasizing that the phrase "in Christ Jesus" signifies being united with Christ, particularly in his crucifixion. He explained Jesus's self-emptying as not a relinquishment of divinity but a choice to limit divine attributes while on Earth, addressing challenges to Jesus's divinity and the concept of God's nature during the incarnation. Matthew Miller, with agreement from ninjalu 27, clarified that rejecting Christ post-resurrection is "worse than Adam's sin," and Matthew Miller, along with Ben Lawrence, discussed how individuals may reject reconciliation due to a sense of deserving punishment, viewing sin as bondage while Christ offers freedom.

Details
Philippians 2:5-11 as an Ancient Christian Artifact Matthew Miller emphasized that Philippians 2:5-11 is one of the oldest Christian records of the idea that Jesus is God, predating the Gospels and quoting a hymn or creed recited before Paul wrote the letter. This passage is vital for understanding what early Christians believed about Jesus, including their conviction that Jesus was God, which is a controversial point among scholars who acknowledge its early dating (00:01:24). Matthew Miller clarified that the passage unveils a theme where Jesus did not become God but rather emptied himself of divine access while on Earth, while still retaining his divinity (00:02:50) (00:06:23).
The Phrase "In Christ Jesus" Matthew Miller explained that the phrase "in Christ Jesus," frequently used in the New Testament, is not merely metaphorical but signifies being united with Christ, especially in his crucifixion. He highlighted that salvation is understood as being united with Christ, emphasizing the literal interpretation of this phrase, which is contrary to some evangelical teachings he encountered (00:03:52).
Jesus's Self-Emptying and Obedience Matthew Miller discussed how Jesus, though in the form of God, emptied himself by taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross. He explained that this emptying did not mean relinquishing divinity, but rather choosing not to access his divine attributes like omnipotence and omniscience while on Earth, exemplified by his reliance on the Holy Spirit for miracles (00:03:52) (00:06:23). This act served as an example for humanity, enabling humans to perform greater miracles through the Holy Spirit (00:07:36).
Jesus's Obedience and Divine Attributes Matthew Miller explored the concept of God being obedient, noting that Jesus purposely limited himself and his divine powers during his earthly ministry (00:08:40) (00:11:14). He clarified that Jesus, being God, chose to limit his infinite power and humble himself by taking the form of a servant, which is significant given his divine nature (00:09:58). This self-limitation and obedience were integral to his overarching mission to save humanity from sins (00:12:22) (00:15:55).
Challenges to Jesus's Divinity and Biblical Infallibility Matthew Miller addressed common challenges from Unitarians and Muslims who question Jesus's divinity based on passages where he worships the Father, obeys the Father, and is baptized (00:11:14) (00:13:38). He explained that Unitarians often dismiss the Bible's infallibility, accepting some verses while rejecting others they deem corrupted, in contrast to those who believe the entire Bible is inspired and reconcilable. Matthew Miller stressed that despite these questions, the New Testament explicitly states that Jesus created the world and is God (00:14:50).
The Incarnation and God's Nature Matthew Miller detailed that the incarnation, where Jesus took on the "schema" or form of a man, meant he adapted himself to the human condition without ceasing to be God. He clarified that Greek terminology indicates Jesus put off divine power for his manifestation, emphasizing that he did not stop being God, but rather chose not to behave with God's attributes for a specific reason (00:15:55). Matthew Miller emphasized that understanding God as outside of time, necessitating Jesus to take on a "silhouette" in a time-bound dimension, is crucial for comprehending this concept (00:27:42).
Jesus's Exaltation and Authority Matthew Miller explained that Jesus's exaltation and receiving "the name above every name" occurred after his resurrection, which was a gift from God, despite Jesus already possessing authority as the creator. He linked this to the broader understanding that the incarnation itself is the gospel, representing God becoming incarnate as part of an overarching mission to save humanity (00:19:42) (00:21:54).
Jesus as the Perfect Representative and Recapitulation Matthew Miller discussed how Jesus's innocence unto death, unlike Adam's sin, made him the perfect "final Adam" who recapitulated what humanity was meant to do, becoming the perfect representative for humanity (00:30:13). He likened Jesus to "collateral damage" in a war, emphasizing that Jesus's unjust death defeated Satan by turning the law against him (00:32:54). This enabled Jesus to become the perfect one to represent humanity in the divine council, as he experienced temptation without sinning, unlike any human before him (00:34:17).
Jesus as Prince and Savior and Satan's Defeat Matthew Miller highlighted Jesus's dual role as "prince and savior" to give repentance and forgiveness of sins, as described in Acts 5:31 (00:36:50). He explained that Satan used the law to condemn Jesus, but since Jesus was truly God, Satan murdered an innocent man, thereby dethroning himself. This act freed humanity from Satan's bondage under the law, as Jesus paid for sins, and plundered Satan's goods, including releasing captives from Hades (00:38:05) (00:44:04).
Death as a Dominion and Humanity's Abnormality Matthew Miller clarified that "death" in ancient contexts, including Hebrew and Canaanite lore, referred to a malevolent figure or demon, and is a noun (Thanos) in Greek, not just an abstract concept (00:47:26). He explained that Adam's disobedience led to humanity becoming "death's dominion," an abnormal state, as humans were not created for Hades, which was prepared for the devil and his angels (00:49:04) (00:52:38).
The Steps of Salvation and Theosis Matthew Miller outlined the five-step process of salvation: the incarnation, recapitulation (Jesus becoming the perfect man), expiation (his death for sins), exaltation (his sitting at the Father's right hand as our representative), and theosis or divinization (humanity's union with Christ and participation in God) (00:53:51). He explained that having the Holy Spirit means believers are united to Christ's body, enabling internal healing and conformity to God's image (00:54:59). Matthew Miller connected this process to the restoration of humanity to its intended state, where the spirit, mind, and body are fixed, culminating in glorification at Christ's return and marriage to God the Son (00:55:53).
The Meaning of Gospel Matthew Miller explained that "preach" in the biblical context means "to announce," and "gospel" means "good news," signifying a decisive victory over an enemy (00:59:41). He emphasized that the good news is that the devil is defeated, and followers no longer have to die, as their enemy has lost power over them (01:01:42).
Christ's Fulfillment of the Law Matthew Miller discussed that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it, as evidenced by his baptism and his final words "It is finished" (01:03:03). He explained that this signifies Jesus as the new Adam, who completed the law unto death, leading to humanity's restoration to its original state in the Garden of Eden (01:04:03).
Participation in the Divine Nature Matthew Miller introduced the concept of theosis, where believers will partake in the divine nature and participate in God's love for all creation (01:05:03). He highlighted that this is a greater promise than simply singing hymns for eternity, emphasizing a deep union with God.
Rejection of the Gospel vs. Adam's Sin Matthew Miller, with agreement from ninjalu 27, clarified that rejecting Christ post-resurrection makes one "worse than Adam". Ben Lawrence added that Adam hid from God due to confusion, whereas conscious rejection after Christ's sacrifice is a deliberate choice to serve the oppressor (01:07:08) (01:09:32).
Faith as Trust Matthew Miller elaborated that biblical faith, from the Greek "pistis," means trust, not just intellectual belief in God's existence (01:12:33). He stressed that trusting in Christ means allowing them to save you and that "faith without works is dead" because true faith involves enacting that trust by rejecting sin and obeying God's commandments (01:13:32).
Overcoming Pride and Deserving Punishment Ben Lawrence and Matthew Miller discussed that some individuals reject reconciliation because they feel their sins are too great for God's forgiveness, which is a form of "incredible hubris". Matthew Miller acknowledged that there have been times in his own life when he felt he deserved punishment, but ultimately, God desires to save everyone, and submitting to their will is crucial (01:15:36).
Sin as Bondage, Christ as Freedom Matthew Miller explained that sin initially feels like freedom but leads to bondage and addiction (01:18:27). He emphasized that Christ offers true, permanent healing and freedom from psychological and physiological addictions if one chooses to trust them (01:20:35).
The Prodigal Son Analogy Ben Lawrence used the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate that those who do not return home to God remain in spiritual "hell" as "sharecroppers" (01:23:01). He stressed that God eagerly awaits the return of those who feel their sins are too great, having already forgiven them through Christ's sacrifice (01:23:58).
Overcoming Spiritual Bondage Ben Lawrence likened people held back by past sins to a full-grown elephant held by a small rope, unaware of its own strength (01:25:54). Matthew Miller affirmed this, emphasizing that Christ has already emancipated believers, cutting off the chains of sin and shame (01:24:51).

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