Tim Gombis Absolutely Blew Our Minds About Why Jesus Had to Die: Jesus and the Cosmic Mission of God

How the Apostle Paul's cosmic vision of salvation reshapes everything we thought we knew. Mike, Bonnie, and Tim sit down with Pauline scholar Dr. Tim Gombis to talk about one massive question: why did Jesus have to die?

What begins as a conversation about atonement turns into an hour-plus deep-dive into how Paul viewed salvation, sin, and the church—not as individual concerns, but as cosmic realities. Gombis pulls back the curtain on distorted gospel narratives common in modern Christianity and reframes salvation not as ledger-clearing, but as the liberation of all creation from enslaving cosmic powers.

From understanding wrath as a pervasive force within the present evil age to rethinking what Paul meant by "forgiveness of sins," this episode challenges individualistic soteriology and calls us to see gospel, sanctification, and mission as profoundly communal. Oh, and yes, Romans 3 and the "sinner's prayer" don't go unchallenged here either.

Key Takeaways: • The Cosmic Purpose of Christ's Death – Jesus didn't die just to forgive your sins; his death shattered the present evil age and launched an entirely new creation. • The Problem with Individualistic Salvation – Paul wasn't driven by questions of individual guilt and judgment but by the need to reconstitute a people for God's mission. • Forgiveness as New Creation Space – "Forgiveness of sins" isn't a personal transaction—it's the name of the kingdom arena God carved out in the midst of a polluted world. • How Sin and Death Hijacked God's Plan – Sin, death, and wrath are not personal moral failures—they're cosmic powers that enslaved all of creation, including the law and Israel. • Salvation as Liberation, Not Just Justification – Through Jesus, God rescued a people (not just persons) from the reign of sin and death and into Spirit-empowered, reconciled community.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Tim Gombis – Pauline scholar, professor, and author, Tim challenges foundational assumptions about salvation, atonement, forgiveness, and mission with both academic depth and personal vulnerability. A recurring friend of the show, Gombis brings rich theological insight with a pastor's heart.

Resources Mentioned: • "Reading Romans Backwards" by Scot McKnight • "Militant Grace" by Philip Ziegler • "The Drama of Ephesians" by Tim Gombis • "The Triumph of Abraham's God" by Bruce Longenecker • "Saint Paul, Our Mother" by Beverly Gaventa • Heated: A Conversation on Women in Leadership – Oct 18 in Costa Mesa (more info on Heated IG & Facebook)

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Email your thoughts and questions to [email protected] and, as always, let's keep pursuing the true mission of Jesus together.

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Follow: @voxologypodcast • Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Music by Timothy John Stafford // IG & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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