Filter results by source database — Scripture Commentary, Theology, Mike Winger, or Pulpit. Click a tab to narrow to one database.

...more
All (222) Scripture Commentary (12) Theology (16) Mike Winger (193) Pulpit (1)
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Christian worldview distinctives: personal God, imago Dei, sin, grace, salvation by faith

Comparison of Christianity's core claims against other religions

atonement imago Dei incarnation
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Conclusion: Jesus is the only way because he alone paid the full price for sin; Christianity makes real sense of human suffering

Final summary and invitation

Holy Spirit atonement grace
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Jesus did not teach salvation by works — Mark 10 (rich man) demonstrates the impossibility of works-righteousness and points to Christ's atoning sacrifice

Question from "A Pig with 100 Subscribers" about the apparent tension between Paul (saved by faith, not works) and Jesus (enter kingdom by following commandments).

Mark 10 atonement soteriology works-righteousness
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

1 John 5:16-17: sin leading to death likely refers to physical death, not Catholic mortal/venial sin distinction

Q from Sarah Nordberg about the meaning of sin leading to death vs. sin not leading to death in 1 John 5:16-17.

1 John 5:16-17 atonement repentance mortal sin
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Isaiah 53:5 interpretation — "by his stripes we are healed" in context

Question from Cindy Johanneson about Word of Faith use of Isaiah 53:5 to support divine health and the claim believers should never be sick.

Isaiah 53:5 hermeneutics healing Word of Faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

1 Peter 2:24 quotes Isaiah 53:5 in a spiritual/relational healing context, not physical

Continuing the Isaiah 53:5 / healing-in-the-atonement discussion.

Isaiah 53:5 1 Peter 2:24 healing sin atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Matthew 8:16-17 applies Isaiah 53 to Jesus's physical healings — physical healing is in the atonement

Continuing Isaiah 53 / healing discussion; a complicating text for those who deny physical healing in the atonement.

Matthew 8:16-17 Isaiah 53:4 healing atonement messianic prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Timing argument: blessings purchased at the cross are not all present realities — healing is partially now, fully later

Disagreement with hyper-charismatic "claim healing now" theology, despite agreeing healing is in the atonement.

healing eschatology Holy Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Gethsemane — Jesus was not separated from the Father; "forsaken" means handed over to a terrible fate, not ontological separation of the Trinity

Question from Blake about whether Jesus was forsaken/separated from the Father in Gethsemane.

Psalm 22 Luke 22:44 Trinity Christology Psalm 22
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 John 4:17-18 — perfect love casts out fear; God's love applied to judgment produces confidence

Continuing the 1 John 4 reading and application

1 John 4:17-18 atonement assurance of salvation fear of judgment
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Freedom from the law through Christ — justified by faith, law's penalty absorbed by Jesus

Completing the Galatians 3 explanation

Galatians 3 justification by faith atonement imputed righteousness
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Mike opens the Q&A by addressing a Facebook question from Paul Rem about the five points of Calvinism.

Calvinism R.C. Sproul TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Limited Atonement — Mike firmly rejects it

Third point of TULIP addressed.

James White John Owen James White Calvinism TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

All five TULIP points are ultimately one point: denial of free will

Mike summarizes his overarching critique of Calvinism.

Calvinism TULIP Free Will
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Matthew 26:46 — Jesus voluntarily walks forward into betrayal and crucifixion

Question from Hunter Clyce about Matthew 26:46.

Matthew 26:46 crucifixion Judas Iscariot Garden of Gethsemane
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Penal substitutionary atonement: two valid senses of God's wrath on the cross — displeasure toward sin; outward punishment of sin

Question from Zoe Abundant about whether Jesus experienced God's wrath and what that means.

Isaiah 53:10 crucifixion atonement Sodom and Gomorrah
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Cross-reference to Mike's full video series on penal substitutionary atonement

Mike directs viewers to deeper content on the topic.

atonement penal substitutionary atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Jesus's death was a real human physical death; the divine nature did not cease to exist

Part of the atonement discussion, carefully distinguishing Christ's two natures.

Christology hypostatic union death of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

'It is finished' — full payment was complete at the moment of death; descent to spirits in prison was proclamation, not suffering

Follow-up on the atonement question about whether Jesus experienced the equivalent of hell.

John 19:30 1 Peter 3:18-20 atonement descent into hell it is finished
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Shame and guilt on the cross: Jesus experienced the full weight of all human guilt — an underappreciated dimension of atonement

Mike adds to the physical and death dimensions of what Jesus suffered.

crucifixion atonement shame
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

If aliens are sinful and redeemable by their own works, that contradicts the nature of the cross; God's holiness is the same across the universe.

Theological decision tree: sinful aliens who can self-redeem

atonement works righteousness holiness of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Jesus is the only potential savior even hypothetically; a second incarnation-death-resurrection on another planet is ruled out by Romans 6:9-10.

Theological decision tree: how would aliens be saved?

Romans 6:9 Romans 6:10 atonement incarnation aliens and Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Christ's death and resurrection is a cosmic, universe-wide victory - not limited to earth; Romans 8 ties all creation's redemption to Adam's sin and Christ's work.

The scope of Christ's atonement

Romans 8 atonement Romans 8 new creation
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Speculative scenario: aliens made in the image of Adam (not directly God's image) could share in the fall and thus in Christ's redemption as a kind of extended humanity.

Theological decision tree: how Christ's death could extend to aliens

federal headship Adam atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Church fathers are routinely quoted out of context to proof-text doctrines — Gustaf Aulén's Christus Victor is a prime example, misrepresenting patristic sources to argue against penal substitutionary atonement.

Warning about the misuse of the church fathers in theological argument.

Proof-texting Church Fathers Patristics
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Christus Victor is a beautiful and biblical doctrine, but Aulén's treatment is total anachronism that butchers both Christus Victor and penal substitutionary atonement by falsely presenting them as competing alternatives.

Final comment on the Christus Victor / PSA debate, wrapping up question 20.

Church Fathers Christus Victor Gustaf Aulén
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Typological reading of Cain/Abel: works vs. faith — valid typology but not the cause of rejection

Analysis of Cain's offering rejection

Genesis 4 Hebrews 11:4 typology works-righteousness Genesis 4
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Love does not require approval of behavior — Jesus dying for sin, not approving sin

Continuing Q8 on engaging gay friend

atonement love sin
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Ephesians 5: husband's model is Christ dying for the church on earth, not Christ ruling as Lord in heaven

Continuing Q19 on husband-wife authority

Ephesians 5:25 hermeneutics headship servant leadership
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike argues that killing in self-defense is clearly permitted by Scripture, citing Old Testament law which imposed no penalty for legitimate self-defense, and Jesus’ instruction to the disciples to carry swords the night of his betrayal.

Response to viewer question about whether killing in self-defense is wrong in God’s eyes

Luke 22 Christian ethics just war Old Testament law
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Matthew 13:44-46 (Pearl of Great Price / Treasure in the Field): interpretation debate — is the person Jesus or the believer? Mike leans toward Jesus as the buyer.

Question from C. Bates about Matthew 13:44-45.

Hebrews 12:2 Matthew 13:44 Matthew 13:45-46 Atonement Hebrews 12:2 Matthew 13:44
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Christ as Second Adam — taking on human form to represent all humanity and reverse the curse

Christ's incarnation was not only to die but to serve as the representative of all humanity, reversing the curse of the first Adam.

Genesis 3 federal headship curse reversal Genesis 3
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Isaiah 6's commissioning does not mean God does not want Israel healed — the prophet's message hardens already-rejecting hearts, and God's overall posture throughout Isaiah is restorative.

Question from V Palumbi about Isaiah 6 and God's apparent unwillingness for the people to return and be healed.

Isaiah 6 Isaiah 1:18 Atonement Isaiah 6 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Generational curses: pastoral concern and theological rejection

Studio asked whether believers can be cursed by ancestral actions or ethnic heritage (specifically Native American bloodline).

Luke 11:24-26 atonement false teaching spiritual warfare
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Universal atonement does not guarantee universal salvation; receiving Christ requires a personal decision.

Response to anonymous question: since Jesus died for all, will all be saved like gravity works on all?

John 1:12 John 1:9-11 salvation free will universalism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Jesus became sin through imputation, not by sinning; understood through a Protestant doctrine of justification.

Question from "Stranger in Moscow": how can Jesus become sin if he knew no sin?

2 Corinthians 5:21 atonement imputed righteousness justification
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

The cross provides salvation benefits that are already secured but not yet fully experienced; eternal life is a present possession with a future fullness.

Q2 from Felicia: a previous video said some things are "provided on the cross but not fully finished" — isn't deliverance from the enemy's power finished per Colossians 1:13 and Acts 26:18?

Colossians 1:13 Acts 26:18 atonement eternal life the great exchange
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

1 John 3:4-10 does not teach sinless perfectionism — the Greek present tense indicates habitual lifestyle of sin, not single acts

Q14 from Shauna Whitting: Does 1 John 3:4-10 mean you are not a real Christian if you still struggle with sin?

1 John 2:1 1 John 3:4-10 habitual sin limited atonement propitiation
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Modern (rabbinic) Judaism differs fundamentally from biblical Judaism; good works now replace the sacrificial system.

Question 9 from Meg Smiley about how Jews obtain forgiveness without the Temple.

Hebrews Romans 10:1-4 Hebrews works-righteousness Day of Atonement
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

God chose to redeem through the cross to display his love, patience, righteousness, and desire for relationship simultaneously.

Question 15 from Daniel James about why God chose death and resurrection as the method of redemption.

John 3:16 atonement Incarnation righteousness of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Drew claims God demanded animal sacrifice because he enjoyed it. John corrects: OT sacrifice was for atonement, an act of mercy, not divine enjoyment. Genesis 1:29-30 shows God originally created a vegetarian food chain — the current system results from the Fall. Drew ignores that Christianity's purpose isn't a pain-free temporal life.

Response to Q3 — sacrifice and the Fall

Genesis 1:29-30 the Fall animal suffering Genesis 1:29-30
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Good #1: Freely choosing to enter a loving relationship with God is a great good — a love potion analogy shows forced love isn't real love. Good #2: Alvin Plantinga's supralapsarianism theodicy — the Incarnation and atonement (Christ dying for those who hate him) is among the greatest conceivable acts of love, only possible in a world with sin.

Response to Q4 — goods requiring earth (love and atonement)

free will Alvin Plantinga free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Jesus's death on the cross demonstrates that he values the hopeless, the dregs, the dependent — the very categories used to justify abortion. Jesus would rather die than kill the vulnerable.

The cross as commentary on abortion

abortion Incarnation and atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Objection: Genesis 9 mentions "blood" — does that mean life only begins when blood forms? No — blood represents life (used in Levitical sacrifices, "cleansed by the blood of Christ"). But even if you took it literally, blood forms at day 21, making virtually all known-pregnancy abortions murder.

Objection — blood and the beginning of life

Genesis 9:5-6 abortion when life begins Genesis 9:5-6
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Mike's closing appeal: abortion is not a women's rights issue — it's a human rights issue. For those who've had abortions: Jesus died for sinners, not just people with minor issues. The cross offers full forgiveness. Don't hide from guilt; take it to the cross.

Closing — gospel appeal

abortion Incarnation and atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

The OT sacrificial system was a dress rehearsal for the cross. Israel given the law → failed repeatedly → sacrifices provided forgiveness and fellowship. Jesus fulfills this: lives a perfect life, dies sacrificially in our place (Matthew 26:28 — blood of the covenant poured out for forgiveness of sins), and rises from the dead as proof of victory and eternal life.

The cross — sacrifice and resurrection

Matthew 26:28 substitutionary atonement OT sacrificial system Matthew 26:28
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Can you lose salvation if Jesus paid for your sins? Depends on your view of the atonement. Calvinist (limited atonement): Jesus only paid for the elect's sins, so losing salvation would mean he 'unpaid' — impossible. Non-Calvinist (unlimited atonement): Jesus paid for all sins; the APPLICATION is upon those who receive Christ. If someone walks away, it's not that payment was reversed but that they left the relationship.

Losing salvation and the extent of the atonement

perseverance of the saints eternal security eternal security
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-19

Points 1-2: (1) A sacrificial lamb — Jesus is the lamb offered for us (Hebrews 9:12-14, 10:1-14). OT sacrifices were shadows; Jesus is the reality. He offered himself ONCE vs yearly repetition. (2) Purpose: avoiding punishment for sin — Passover was explicitly a judgment (Exodus 12:12). Israel needed the lamb too because they were also guilty of idolatry (Ezekiel 20:7). The cross saves us from God's wrath.

Points 1-2 — sacrificial lamb and dealing with sin

Exodus 12 Hebrews 9:12-14 Hebrews 10:1-14 wrath of God substitutionary atonement wrath of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

1 Peter 2:24 ("by his wounds you have been healed") does refer to physical healing in Mike's view, but the TIMING is the issue. Many benefits of the cross aren't received now — we still die, still have corruptible bodies. Full physical healing comes in the resurrection. It's theologically inconsistent to demand healing for the common cold while accepting death from old age. The "healing in the atonement" teaching overreaches on timing, not content.

Healing in the atonement — timing issue

1 Peter 2:24 physical resurrection 1 Peter 2:24 healing in the atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-12

Theological insight from the predictions: Jesus saw his death as purposeful sacrifice, not tragedy. He predicted specifics: delivered to chief priests, condemned, handed to Gentiles, mocked, spit on, scourged, killed — and rise three days later. Progressive Christians who reject substitutionary atonement must explain why Jesus described his death as sacrificial and purposeful in his own words. The predictions show Jesus understood himself as Isaiah's Suffering Servant.

Theological insight — purposeful sacrifice, not tragic death

Mark 10:32-34 Mark 10:45 Suffering Servant substitutionary atonement progressive Christianity