[Our Redemption] Doctrines of Grace: Deﬁnitive Atonement

[Our Redemption] Doctrines of Grace:

Definitive Atonement

Thursday, August 8, 13

Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

RADICAL CORRUPTION

GOD’S SOVEREIGN

CHOICE

EFFECTUAL CALLING

PURPOSEFULATONEMENT

GOD’S PRESERVING

FOREKNEWPRE-

DESTINEDCALLED JUSTIFIED GLORIFIED

Romans 8:28-30


“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!”

John 1:29



John 1:29

1.What did Jesus’ death on the cross accomplish?

2.Who did he accomplish that for?

Power: “takes away...sins” - effectualScope: “the world” - everyone



John 1:29

1.What did Jesus’ death on the cross accomplish?

2.Who did he accomplish that for?

Power: “takes away...sins” - effectualScope: “the world” - everyoneThis is the heresy of Universalism.


?UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR

? ???

SCOPE

POWER


UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR


UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR


UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR

??


Power: the big question

Did Christ come to make the salvation of all men possible, i.e. to remove obstacles that stood in the way of salvation? Did he come to make men redeemable?

Or did he come to effectually and infallibly redeem? (Phillips)


The EFFECTUAL power of the atonement:

Luke 1:68 “He has... accomplished redemption for His people”

Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.


The EFFECTUAL power of the atonement:

Hebrews 9:12 He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 12:2 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.


Jesus actually paid for sins:

1Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

2 Cor 5:21 For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 9:28 ...so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.


The EFFECTIVE power of the atonement:

The doctrine of the atonement must be radically revised if, as atonement, it applies to those who will finally perish as well as to those who are the heirs of eternal life. In that event we should have to dilute the grand categories in terms of which scripture defines the atonement and deprive them of their most precious import and glory. (Phillips)

Propitiation? Sanctification? Redeem? Justification?


The UNIVERSAL scope of the atonement???

John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!

John 4:42 We know that this is indeed the savior of the world.

1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.


What does “world” mean?

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed [chosen] people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation...”



It simply means the universal implications of the gospel. The cross is to be taken to every person everywhere because every person is responsible for accepting or rejecting it.

We can talk about world peace without every person being at peace with his or her neighbor. World does not mean every individual inclusively, but rather the world as a general entity. (Horton)



Remember the context of the early Jewish church. Even though a part of mission given to Israel, they were still struggling with the world-wide ministry of the Messiah.

Acts 11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”


Where are we:

1. Affirm effectual power2. Reject Universalism heresy3. Considering Universal atonement4. What is Particular Atonement?


The PARTICULAR scope of the atonement:(What was God’s purpose?)

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.



1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.



John 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.



Matthew 20:2828 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 26:2828 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...



Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and he shall bear their iniquities.


Helpful Analogies: The bridge

Possible / Universal: a wide bridge that does not make it all the way across the river

Effectual / Particular: a narrower bridge that makes it all the way across


Helpful Analogies: The prison

Possible / Universal: everyone’s jail cell is unlocked, those with faith open the bars and walk out on their own

Effectual / Particular: a fewer number of jail cells are unlocked, opened, and the inmates are escorted home


?UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR

? ???

SCOPE

POWER


UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR


UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR


UNIVERSAL

POSSIBLE

EFFECTUAL

PARTICULAR

??


Will God be guilty of double Jeopardy?

Mt 26:28 ...for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.Suppose a criminal were on death row, awaiting execution. If the judge accepts an (innocent) substitute to be executed for this stranger, and then the criminal is also executed. Then the judge would be guilty of at least one murder. You were the criminal, but Jesus stepped in to take your place. God cannot both condemn both the Redeemer and the redeemed. This fact is an incentive to be numbered with the redeemed by trusting in Jesus. (Horton)


Power and Scope: the big question

Every Orthodox Christian places limits on the work of Christ. If Jesus died for every person, but not every person is saved, his death did not actually save anybody. Thus the work of Christ is limited in its power. If, however, the atonement, though sufficient for each and every person, was made on behalf of the chosen people, the church, that atonement is limited in its scope. If Christ died for people who will be in hell, his efforts cannot accurately be called “a saving work”.


The EFFECTUAL power and PARTICULAR scope offered to the whole world:

“The work of Christ is not deficient. It does not fail to save anyone who trusts in Christ, and it can be freely and sincerely offered to the whole world indiscriminately because it is sufficient for the salvation of every person that has ever lived or is yet to come into the world. The question is whether the saving work of Christ, any more than the saving work of the Father and the Spirit is particularly designed to make salvation of everyone possible or to actually “save his people from their sins.”


Can we tell anyone that “Jesus died for you?”

The invitation we find in scripture is very general: Christ came into the world to save sinners, to save the world. If you believe, you can be certain that your sins were covered at the cross and that you are saved from God’s judgement. We can only assure a person that Christ died for him or her if that person belongs to the visible covenant community. (Horton)

“Jesus died for all those who would believe in Him.”


Particular texts:

1 Tim 2:3 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.


The POSSIBLE power of UNIVERSAL atonement:

“Christ’s death does not save either actually or potentially; rather it makes all men savable.” (Sperry)


Particular texts:

Heb 2:9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.”And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”


Documents

[Our Redemption] Doctrines of Grace: Deﬁnitive Atonement