This essay attempts to explain the belief that the death of Christ on the cross had the character of penal substitution, and that it was by virtue of this fact that it brought salvation to mankind. First, the author clears up some questions of method. He then continues to explore what it means to call Christ's death substitutionary.

Looking at 1 Peter 3:18, this article shows how Peter descdribes the suffering of Christ as penal (punishment for our sins), vicarious (on our behalf), and expiatory (effective in taking away our sin). All this is crucial for the Christian life.