To quote our beloved Dr. Farnell, "Rebuke me!"
What is the atonement?
Romans 3:25: God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
Hebrews 2:17: that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
What was the intent or purpose of the atonement.
2 Corinthians 5:18: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
So that, 2 verses later...
2 Corinthians 5:20: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
The atonement was to reconcile sinners to Himself so that they will be ambassadors and implore others to be reconciled.
Who did Christ have in mind as he vicariously substituted His life?
The whole world (1 John 2:2), all (1 Tim 2:3), everyone (Heb 2:9)?
The church (Eph 5:25), sheep (John 6:37), the ones given (John 17:9)?
I don't think any system adequately explains this. Truth is we don't know what happened on the cross, Scripture doesn't tell us exactly what was in the cup.
If you receive Christ Jesus as Lord then He has canceled out the certificate of debt having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:6, 13-14. If you do not receive Him as Lord then His wrath abides on you. John 3:36.
Does the Bible use the words “world” or “all” in a limited sense?
I think this is a very week argument for limited atonement. You can't pick and chose where you apply that limit.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
All have sinned, All may be justified.
Did God limit the atonement?
Scripture teaches that God elects those who will be saved. But, I do not see that this limits the efficacy of His work on the cross. Scriptures do not reveal this. Any limits placed on the atonement becomes a philosophical argument not a biblical one.
Did Christ pay for the deserving death of those who will not believe?
This seems to be what Scripture teaches. Hebrews 2:9 - He tasted death for everyone.
The argument is, "Christ paying the penalty for the sins of people who would also have to pay the penalty for the same sin in effect it makes God unjust." But I don't see this in Scripture and we have to be careful about equating God's throne with an American court e.g. Double Jeopardy.
Conclusion:
Christ paid for everyone. (Heb 2:9)
No one would believed. (Rom 3:11)
By God's sovereign grace it is applied to a few. (Eph 1:5 ff)
I don't need a system - I have the Scriptures.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteIf you're a heretic, let us be burned together.
Let me add a few scriptures to your quandary:
2 Peter 2.1ff. - Somehow, even the prophets, who deny the Master, have been "bought"
1 Tim 4.10 - Again, somehow the Lord is the savior of all people, but especially of those who believe.
The Crucifixion of Jesus was somehow extended to all, but only the redemptive aspect of the atonement is given to the elect. So everyone is the recipient of the Atonement, but its effect is different between the elect and non-elect.
Some further thoughts on this is: I don't want to call it "common grace" b/c only grace is a term applied to believers, but our understanding of God's "common goodness" (Matt 5.43ff.), is this a result of the character of God? or part of the patience of God by a quasi-appeasment from the atonement (Rom 3.15).
Limited atonement is philosophic logic of Reformed theologians. Though some verses express a limited aspect, there is a dismissal or re-interpretation of unlimited passages. Because the "5-points" express a philosophical logic, reformed theology attempts to provide rationality to theology as opposed to complete biblical logic. (e.g. Double predestination is a logical implication of single election unto heaven. However, the scriptures don't argue this way. The scriptures argue election unto salvation, but the reason people go to hell is not because they weren't elect. They go to hell because of their denial of the Gospel [2 Thess 1.8]).
Great thoughts Paul!!!!!
With Grace,
Shawn