This is a study of the importance of Christ's atoning act for man's redemption. It examines controversial issues in the gospel teaching of the concept of atonement. In this comprehensive survey, Dr McDonald develops ideas from his earlier work Faith, Revelation and History, drawing together a wide range of researched material. His work is in the tradition of Reformed biblical scholarship and contains a restatement of Evangelical biblical theology against the tendencies of modern liberal theologians. For McDonald, Christianity is centred on the cross of Christ - his crucifixion being the essence of the Christian gospel. The object of the Christian faith is the disclosure of God in Christ's person and the forgiveness of man's sins by God, and thus man's salvation is traced to the cross and the atoning act. Compiling this argument by means of a study of biblical thought surrounding the Christian doctrine of salvation and atonement, he examines the various authors of the text of the Bible and locates the New Testament's background in Old Testament thought. He also considers the views of the more recent biblical scholars. The first part of the book looks at New Testament terminology which has a significant connection with Christ's atoning death, and the second section considers the ways in which writers interpret the Calvary event, and in conclusion, McDonald examines the Christological implications.