The Story And The Shape

Paul Smith
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  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

A podcast about Christian theology and the shape it takes in the lives of believers and the church, particularly framed within the Bible's big story of the coming of God's Kingdom through his Messiah, Jesus.

Episodes

  1. Jul 3

    What the Cross Actually Achieved (Without Penal Substitution) [Ep9]

    What does the cross actually achieve if Jesus wasn’t dying as a penal substitute? In this episode we reframe the mechanics of salvation around participation, liberation from sin’s power, and the launch of new creation. We explore how Jesus broke the old contracts of sin, death, and the law through His death and resurrection — so we could be truly freed and made new. Timestamps: 00:00 - Reframing the Cross 04:10 - Why Modern Christianity Gets It Wrong 08:55 - What Are We Saved From? 14:20 - The Cross Breaks Contracts 20:10 - The Romans 7 Mechanic 26:00 - Breaking Slavery to Sin 32:10 - The Purpose of the New Covenant 38:40 - Resurrection & New Humanity 47:00 - Discipleship Implications

    50 min

  2. Jun 20

    Did Jesus Really Die Instead Of Us? Rethinking Substitution in the Bible [Ep8]

    Did Jesus really die instead of us? When the New Testament says that **Jesus died for our sins**, does that automatically mean **penal substitution**—or is there another biblical way to understand the cross? In this episode of **The Story and the Shape Podcast**, we explore whether Scripture presents Jesus’ death as a case of **substitution**, or whether the Bible more often works with a pattern of **corporate participation**: the idea that people can share in the consequences of a group because they belong to the group. We look at key biblical passages and themes including: * **Achan and corporate guilt** in Joshua 7 * **Adamic humanity** and why “in Adam all die” matters * **Jesus entering Israel’s story** as well as humanity’s story * **Isaiah 53** and whether it really teaches penal substitution * **Galatians 3** and the meaning of “the curse of the law” * **2 Corinthians 5** and what it means that Christ was “made to be sin” * **1 Peter 2** and participation in Christ’s suffering and death The big question of this episode is whether Jesus died **instead of us**, or whether he entered fully into the human condition and **shared in the consequences of human sin** in order to bring us through death into resurrection life. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions around **atonement theology**, **penal substitutionary atonement (PSA)**, **the meaning of the cross**, or how to read verses like *“Christ died for our sins”* in context, this conversation is for you. 00:00 – Jesus Died “For Our Sins”? 01:06 – Achan: One Sin, Many Suffer 05:10 – The Bible’s Corporate Worldview 07:45 – Jesus Joined Adamic Humanity 12:10 – Jesus Enters Israel’s Story 16:03 – Participation in Christ’s Death 18:13 – Isaiah 53 Reconsidered 21:21 – The Curse of the Law 27:29 – He Entered Our Story in Love 36:13 – Participation, Not Substitution?

    40 min
  3. Passover → Covenant → Atonement: Three Sacrifices, One Story. [Ep7]

    Jun 5

    Passover → Covenant → Atonement: Three Sacrifices, One Story. [Ep7]

    In this episode we explore three major sacrifices in Israel’s story - Passover, the Covenant ratification at Sinai, and the Day of Atonement. Far from working the same way, each one uses blood differently and plays a unique role in the bigger narrative. We examine what the blood is actually doing in each case and why the common assumption of penal substitution doesn’t line up with the biblical story. A foundational episode for understanding how the New Testament applies sacrificial imagery to Jesus. 00:00 Three Sacrifices, One Story 02:15 Recap: Blood & Relationship 03:36 Passover – The Warding Blood 05:18 Dismantling Substitution 11:48 Blood as Life & Protection 13:35 Covenant at Sinai 15:16 Blood of the Covenant 21:18 Sealing the Relationship 27:46 Day of Atonement – Cleansing 33:19 The Scapegoat & Removal 35:35 One Story, Three Functions 38:30 Final Thoughts & Next Time

    39 min
  4. Why Did an Animal Have to Die? | Rethinking Old Testament Sacrifice [Ep 6]

    May 23

    Why Did an Animal Have to Die? | Rethinking Old Testament Sacrifice [Ep 6]

    Why did animals actually die in biblical sacrifice? In Episode 6 of the podcast, we challenge the standard courtroom framework of Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) and explore how ancient Israelite sacrifice was really about relational gift-giving, life, and purification. For many modern Christians, the default view of biblical sacrifice is a legal transaction: an animal dies as a substitute to suffer the death penalty for a person's sin. But does this courtroom model actually hold up under biblical scrutiny? In this episode, we put a spanner in the works of standard PSA logic by looking at the actual mechanics of Levitical law. We discuss why "sin offerings" were required for completely non-moral things like childbirth, skin diseases, mildewed houses, and even inanimate objects like the altar itself. If blood doesn't represent a demand for death and punishment, what does it mean? We dive into the ancient perspective that blood symbolizes a potent force of life - the ultimate ritual cleaning agent used to push back the forces of death, mortality, and ritual decay so that a holy God can dwell among his people. This episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/jEJbA_vF1Ec Books Mentioned: - "Leviticus on the Butcher's Block" by Phil Bray (YouTube: Leviticus is Fun) - "Lamb of the Free" by Andrew Rillera 00:00 - The Distortion of Biblical Sacrifice 02:06 - Debunking the Courtroom Model (PSA) 06:36 - Israel's Actual Criminal Justice System 08:21 - The Throne Room: Relationship & Gift-Giving 09:48 - Why the Priests Offered God "Food" 13:57 - The Shared Meal: Participating with God 18:10 - The Real Reason the Animal Dies 21:12 - The Logic of Blood Atonement & Cleansing 28:33 - Sin Offerings for Altars, Houses, & Childbirth 34:32 - Where Sin Offerings Appear in the Gospels 38:18 - Does the Sacrificial System Support PSA?

    41 min
  5. Ep5: Does Romans 3:25-26 Really Teach PSA? // Rethinking Propitiation & Justice

    May 9

    Ep5: Does Romans 3:25-26 Really Teach PSA? // Rethinking Propitiation & Justice

    In episode #5 of the podcast we take a deep dive into one of the most important atonement passages in the New Testament. What does “hilasterion” (often translated "propitiation") really mean? Is God the one being propitiated, or is He offering humanity a gift? We explore the original meaning of the word in both Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, the true nature of God’s justice, and why this passage may not be saying what many assume. A fresh look at justice, faithfulness, and reconciliation that challenges common assumptions about the cross. If you’ve ever wrestled with how God can be both just and the justifier, this episode is for you. 00:00 Intro 03:10 The Word Propitiation 09:25 Direction of the Gift 12:45 Faith As Loyalty 22:30 What Hilasterion Really Means 37:20 Trojan Horse & Augustus 50:40 Amnesty & Reconciliation 56:50 Final Thoughts Music by PaulYudin - https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-sport-music-490393/

    59 min
  6. Ep 4: Is God's Justice About Retribution... or Restoration?

    Apr 28

    Ep 4: Is God's Justice About Retribution... or Restoration?

    Most Christians assume that God’s justice means punishment for wrongdoing. But what if the Bible presents a completely different picture? In this episode, we look at how “justice” is actually used in the Old Testament and why that might challenge the idea that God’s justice is primarily retributive. This is part of an ongoing series exploring the cross, the gospel, and the assumptions behind penal substitutionary atonement.

    41 min
  7. Ep3: What If God Doesn't Need to Punish to Forgive?

    Apr 11

    Ep3: What If God Doesn't Need to Punish to Forgive?

    What if God doesn’t actually need to punish sin before He can forgive us? In this episode of the podcast, we take a close look at one of the most common assumptions in modern Christianity: that God can’t forgive without someone being punished. We trace the idea back to Anselm’s satisfaction theory, examine John Stott’s arguments in "The Cross Of Christ", and ask whether this is really a biblical concept or a man-made framework placed on top of Scripture. We dive into the Old Testament (Psalms, Micah, Isaiah, Jonah), the parable of the unmerciful servant, and why penal substitution might actually be trying to solve an imaginary problem. Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/yTiaw9EFeGY Intro music by PaulYudin - https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-sport-music-490393/

    1h 1m
  8. Ep2: Why Emotion Blocks Honest Debate About Atonement

    Mar 30

    Ep2: Why Emotion Blocks Honest Debate About Atonement

    In this episode, we unpack why discussions about penal substitution often get intensely emotional before anyone even opens the Bible. We explore how feelings of guilt, safety, and fear can shut down conversation, and why questioning this popular doctrine can feel like a major red flag to many Christians. Music by PaulYudin - https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-sport-music-490393/

    46 min
  9. Ep 1: Can I Convince My Pastor Penal Substitution Isn't Biblical? (Series Intro)

    Mar 27

    Ep 1: Can I Convince My Pastor Penal Substitution Isn't Biblical? (Series Intro)

    Is Penal Substitutionary Atonement really the gospel? In this first episode of The Story and the Shape Podcast, I kick off a deep dive conversation with my pastor James about the story of the Bible, the meaning of the cross, and whether penal substitutionary atonement really sits at the centre of it all. Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/w-Gp1En5nY4

    23 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

A podcast about Christian theology and the shape it takes in the lives of believers and the church, particularly framed within the Bible's big story of the coming of God's Kingdom through his Messiah, Jesus.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Smith
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Story And The Shape