christ our deliverer

Final thoughts on atonement from The New Bible Dictionary:

Paul sees in the cross the way of deliverance. Men naturally are enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17; 7:14). But in Christ men are free (Rom. 6:14, 22). Similarly, through Christ men are delivered from the flesh, they ‘have crucified the flesh’ (Gal. 5:24), they ‘do not war after the flesh’ (2 Cor. 10:3, av), that flesh which ‘lusteth against the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:17, av), and which apart from Christ spells death (Rom. 8:13). Men are under the wrath of God on account of their unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18), but Christ delivers from this, too. Believers are ‘justified by his blood’, and thus will ‘be saved by him from the wrath of God’ (Rom. 5:9). The law (i.e. the Pentateuch, and hence the whole Jewish Scripture) may be regarded in many ways. But considered as a way of salvation it is disastrous. It shows a man his sin (Rom. 7:7), and, entering into an unholy alliance with sin, slays him (Rom. 7:9–11). The end result is that ‘all who rely on works of the law are under a curse’ (Gal. 3:10). But ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law’ (Gal. 3:13). Death to men of antiquity was a grim antagonist against whom none might prevail. But Paul sings a song of triumph in Christ who gives victory even over death (1 Cor. 15:55–57). It is abundantly plain that Paul sees in Christ a mighty Deliverer.