The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Timothy 2:5-6a,
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people."
There is a popular theology enjoying its heyday these days that teaches what they refer to as "Limited Atonement." The notion is that since God is sovereign, all for whom Jesus Christ died will be saved, none lost. No one can thwart God's sovereignty and so God takes his steps to insure this happens. Since we know all people are not saved, and, unfortunately, most people are not saved and facing God's judgment at the end of the age, then Jesus did not die for all people. His atonement for sins only covers certain ones he has predestined for salvation. It is an overall theology that speaks of faith, but is most accurately understood as a theology that promotes salvation by appointment.
The problem with this approach to theology is that it fails to comport with Scripture. All faulty theology fails to be consistent with the Scriptures at some point, and the doctrine of limited atonement is no exception. Look at the above verse, "Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people." Not some people, not those perceived to be "chosen" and not just those who ultimately make their way into God's kingdom by faith. Look also at 1 John 2:2, "He [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." There are many other passages that can be looked at, but you get the idea.
Feeble attempts have been made, consistent with our pop culture's fascination with "diversity" to legitimize this doctrine. Promoters of limited atonement tell us that "whole world', the "all people" are to be understood not as literally "all", but is to be understood as some people from every, all, demographic groups. Some whites, some blacks, some this and some that. As I say, a feeble attempt to patch up an incoherent theology.
The payment Jesus Christ made on the cross was for all sins of all people for all time. There is no sin not payed for by Jesus Christ on the cross. The only sin that will not be covered is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ. Look at what Jesus told Nicodemus, "Whoever believes in him [Jesus Christ] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." All sins have been paid for. At the judgment the sins of the unbelieving will be recounted, but it is the rejection of God's one and only Son, who died as a ransom for all people that brings an eternity in that fiery lake of burning sulfur we read of in Revelation 21:8. Although all sins have been paid for, that payment for sin is only credited to those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith.
So, what difference does it make? When a person starts to whittle down what Jesus accomplished on the cross, the totality of the payment must necessarily be understood as reduced. If Jesus only made payment for the sins of the relatively few people, then that payment was not as great. This is what the calculus produces - a smaller payment, a reduced suffering. My point isn't that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ must be defined in terms of the greatest suffering for no reason. But, if in fact, Jesus did die for all the sins of all people for all time, then those who promote such theology seek to diminish our understanding of the full nature of the suffering of Jesus Christ. This is no mere inconsequential matter of little importance. It means the expression of God's love represented in the cross of Jesus Christ is reduced. It means the expression of the Father's judgment for sins as represented in the cross of Jesus Christ is likewise reduced.
My Savior died for all the sins of all people for all time. It was an enormous payment and an horrific suffering he experienced. It expresses the enormous judgment of the Father and an enormous and unfathomable love. For anyone to attempt to diminish what the Scriptures have to say of these realities will ultimately have to give an account. I love my Savior and I certainly hate to see how so many seek to diminish our understanding of what he has done for us all.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people."
There is a popular theology enjoying its heyday these days that teaches what they refer to as "Limited Atonement." The notion is that since God is sovereign, all for whom Jesus Christ died will be saved, none lost. No one can thwart God's sovereignty and so God takes his steps to insure this happens. Since we know all people are not saved, and, unfortunately, most people are not saved and facing God's judgment at the end of the age, then Jesus did not die for all people. His atonement for sins only covers certain ones he has predestined for salvation. It is an overall theology that speaks of faith, but is most accurately understood as a theology that promotes salvation by appointment.
The problem with this approach to theology is that it fails to comport with Scripture. All faulty theology fails to be consistent with the Scriptures at some point, and the doctrine of limited atonement is no exception. Look at the above verse, "Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people." Not some people, not those perceived to be "chosen" and not just those who ultimately make their way into God's kingdom by faith. Look also at 1 John 2:2, "He [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." There are many other passages that can be looked at, but you get the idea.
Feeble attempts have been made, consistent with our pop culture's fascination with "diversity" to legitimize this doctrine. Promoters of limited atonement tell us that "whole world', the "all people" are to be understood not as literally "all", but is to be understood as some people from every, all, demographic groups. Some whites, some blacks, some this and some that. As I say, a feeble attempt to patch up an incoherent theology.
The payment Jesus Christ made on the cross was for all sins of all people for all time. There is no sin not payed for by Jesus Christ on the cross. The only sin that will not be covered is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ. Look at what Jesus told Nicodemus, "Whoever believes in him [Jesus Christ] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." All sins have been paid for. At the judgment the sins of the unbelieving will be recounted, but it is the rejection of God's one and only Son, who died as a ransom for all people that brings an eternity in that fiery lake of burning sulfur we read of in Revelation 21:8. Although all sins have been paid for, that payment for sin is only credited to those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith.
So, what difference does it make? When a person starts to whittle down what Jesus accomplished on the cross, the totality of the payment must necessarily be understood as reduced. If Jesus only made payment for the sins of the relatively few people, then that payment was not as great. This is what the calculus produces - a smaller payment, a reduced suffering. My point isn't that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ must be defined in terms of the greatest suffering for no reason. But, if in fact, Jesus did die for all the sins of all people for all time, then those who promote such theology seek to diminish our understanding of the full nature of the suffering of Jesus Christ. This is no mere inconsequential matter of little importance. It means the expression of God's love represented in the cross of Jesus Christ is reduced. It means the expression of the Father's judgment for sins as represented in the cross of Jesus Christ is likewise reduced.
My Savior died for all the sins of all people for all time. It was an enormous payment and an horrific suffering he experienced. It expresses the enormous judgment of the Father and an enormous and unfathomable love. For anyone to attempt to diminish what the Scriptures have to say of these realities will ultimately have to give an account. I love my Savior and I certainly hate to see how so many seek to diminish our understanding of what he has done for us all.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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