The "satisfaction" model of the atonement is not biblical! While this model is widely accepted by Protestants and Catholics alike, nevertheless it was not introduced until about AD 1100 by Anselm, the Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury. (It is extremely interesting the number of false teachings developed by the Catholics, including the foundation to what evolved into Dispensationalism.)
Our modern "gospel," that which was redefined by Martin Luther, firmly rests upon this faulty foundation. The tragic result of this has been "easy believism." Since the penal substitution or satisfaction theory of atonement cleanses those who believe through Jesus' death on the cross, the work starts and finishes on the cross. Ergo, there is no need for repentance, obedience, holiness, righteousness, or fruit, and no change of allegiance establishing Jesus as King in the one who professes to "believe." The end result is a "salvation" that does not require a heart turned to God.
This "gospel" of "easy believism" is at odds with the Gospel according to Jesus, where He says, "repent and follow Me." Instead, we are told to simply, "believe in Me." But Jesus' words throughout all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is contrary to this teaching that has taken over the majority of Christendom. We have been taught that all we need to do is "believe" and that we will inherit Heaven. Not only by reading Scripture, but also by reading the first three centuries of the early believers can we see that this teaching is contrary to biblical truth.
In the Disciples' Prayer (where Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray), Jesus says these words:
"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:14-15
"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." Mark 11:25-26
Professing believers today, under the "gospel" of "easy believism," will say that this is not true and that Jesus was being extreme here. They will attempt to explain how "Jesus was wrong." That is some shaky ground I would not want to be standing on. It is thin ice overlooking a slippery slope. This is not the only place where Jesus illustrated this fact of reality:
"Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."" Matthew 18:21-35
The king is God the Father. The slaves are men. This story illustrates the mercy of God. God has always been merciful with men. Nothing has changed in that department. God desires us to show mercy to our fellow man, and if we do not then He will not show mercy to us! Evangelicals can attempt to argue with this all they want, choosing their faulty and corrupt theology over the words of Jesus, but in the end they will find out, and at that point it will be too late.
Most doctrines can be traced back to individual men rather than to Jesus or the Scriptures. In order to support these doctrines, these men utilize the proof text methodology (ripping random isolated verses of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation out of their immediate context and forcing them together to support agendas and doctrines of demons). If you are offended by that statement, good. Maybe that is what you need to be woken up and to pay attention. Jesus does not say things simply for the sake of saying them. He says what He means and means what He says. Stop choosing your particular theology over Jesus!
Whether you like it or not, or want to admit it or not, God's forgiveness is conditional. The above passages make this abundantly clear. Our debt is forgiven by God's mercy, based on sincere remorse and repentance. However, if we fail to manifest that repentance and live it out with our fellow man, God can justly reinstate the sin to our account. There is a reason we are repeatedly commanded to walk and live a certain way in the Scriptures. Jesus states clearly that if we fail to forgive our debtors, then we will not be forgiven. After His illustration in Matthew 18, Jesus even declares, "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." Deny and reject this at your own risk and peril!
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Colossians 3:13
"For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." James 1:25