The removal of judgment for our sins by Christ's death is referred to under the theological term of ____ atonement.

• A. Propitiatory
• B. Substitutionary
• C. Expiatory
• D. Reconciliation

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that judgment for our sins is taken away because Christ dies in our place. This is the heart of penal substitution: Jesus bears the punishment we deserve, satisfying the justice of God, so sin’s penalty is removed for us. That focus—Christ bearing the penalty in our stead—is what defines substitutionary atonement.

Other terms describe related aspects but don’t capture this exact action. Propitiation emphasizes turning away or appeasing wrath, which is connected to the result of Christ’s death but isn’t itself the act of taking our punishment. Expiation speaks of cleansing from sin, removing guilt, but it doesn’t specify bearing the penalty in our stead. Reconciliation is about restoring the relationship between God and humanity, which is the outcome, yet it doesn’t name the mechanism of how the penalty is dealt with.

So the best fit for the idea that Christ’s death removes our judgment by taking the punishment for sin is substitutionary atonement.