Editing Reformed Christianity (section)

=== Christ and atonement ===
{{see also|Christ|Hypostatic union|Extra calvinisticum|Substitutionary atonement|Threefold office}}
Reformed theologians affirm the historic Christian belief that [[Christ]] is eternally [[hypostatic union|one person with a divine and a human nature]]. Reformed Christians have especially emphasized that Christ truly [[incarnation of Christ|became human]] so that people could be saved.{{sfn|McKim|2001|p=82}} Christ's human nature has been a point of contention between Reformed and Lutheran [[Christology]]. In accord with the belief that finite humans cannot comprehend infinite divinity, Reformed theologians hold that Christ's human body cannot be in multiple locations at the same time. Because [[Lutheran]]s believe that Christ is bodily [[Real presence|present in the Eucharist]], they hold that Christ is bodily present in many locations simultaneously. For Reformed Christians, such a belief denies that Christ actually became human.{{sfn|Allen|2010|pp=65–66}} Some contemporary Reformed theologians have moved away from the traditional language of one person in two natures, viewing it as unintelligible to contemporary people. Instead, theologians tend to emphasize Jesus's context and particularity as a first-century Jew.{{sfn|Stroup|1996|p=142}}

John Calvin and many Reformed theologians who followed him describe Christ's work of redemption in terms of [[threefold office|three offices]]: [[prophet]], [[priest]], and [[Christ the King|king]]. Christ is said to be a prophet in that he teaches perfect doctrine, a priest in that [[intercession of Christ|he intercedes to the Father]] on believers' behalf and offered himself as a sacrifice for sin, and a king in that he rules the church and fights on believers' behalf. The threefold office links the work of Christ to God's work in [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|ancient Israel]].{{sfn|McKim|2001|p=94}} Many, but not all, Reformed theologians continue to make use of the threefold office as a framework because of its emphasis on the connection of Christ's work to Israel. They have, however, often reinterpreted the meaning of each of the offices.{{sfn|Stroup|1996|p=156{{ndash}}157}} For example, Karl Barth interpreted Christ's prophetic office in terms of political engagement on behalf of the poor.{{sfn|Stroup|1996|p=164}}

Christians believe [[Jesus' death]] and [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]] make it possible for believers to receive forgiveness for sin and reconciliation with God through the [[atonement in Christianity|atonement]]. Reformed Protestants generally subscribe to a particular view of the atonement called [[Penal substitution|penal substitutionary atonement]], which explains Christ's death as a sacrificial payment for sin. Christ is believed to have died in place of the believer, who is accounted righteous as a result of this sacrificial payment.{{sfn|McKim|2001|p=93}}