Do you agree that there are verses in the Bible that seem to express contradictory ideas?

[prism]

The general consensus in Christianity is that Christ suffered and died INSTEAD OF those who believe in Him. That means in their place. That means that those people were supposed to suffer physically like He did, and die physically, like He did, but they didn't. He suffered and died instead of them. That's what substitution means. Am I understanding this correctly?

So far so good.

People who believe in Him still suffer and die. Physically. Just like He did.

Still tracking fine.

So where's the substitution?

His righteousness for our sin, so that in the resurrection we shed these mortal bodies for eternal ones which He clothes us with. 1Cor 15

Christ didn't suffer for eternity. Christ didn't suffer in the afterlife. So why would the people who don't believe in Him suffer for eternity in the afterlife?

Jesus was God in the flesh, as God, His brief earthly suffering easily covered all the suffering and death of all mankind in this temporal time slot. (think quality rather than quantity).

Don't quote Bible verses at me. I've read that books so many times! I read and watched hundreds of articles and videos on the atonement. It just doesn't make any sense to me. None of the theories do. They all lack something, which makes them irrational within the framework of an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God.

Without the Bible, what do we have in common, what is the basis of eternal truth? Maybe all the books and theories you have read on the atonement has confused you, but I doubt it's the fault of the Bible.

Do you hold to the Nicene Creed which states:

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.?

Yes, they all lack something, perhaps because ...1Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Sorry for quoting a Bible verse at you...not really.