Wacky Wednesday

One of our local Christian radio stations has a segment on Wednesdays called "Wacky Wednesdays." The host will argue for an idea with which he actually disagrees. The point is to help Christians learn to argue for the truth. It is sometimes an interesting exercise, so I thought I'd try one here. I will argue for something here that I do not believe. Your job, dear reader, is to analyze my arguments, figure out what's wrong, and uphold the truth.

First, a basic position to consider: When Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is finished." He didn't say, "It is begun." He didn't say, "It is potentially finished." He said it was finished. Whatever Jesus accomplished by His death on the cross He actually accomplished. It wasn't a beginning or a potential accomplishment. It was a finished accomplishment. So the question becomes, "What did Jesus actually accomplish on the cross?"

The best place to answer this type of question, of course, is from Scripture. So here are some answers from the Bible:

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ... But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (Heb 10:10, 12).

It would appear that the purpose of the cross was "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," the offer of "a single sacrifice for sins." Note that the language of Hebrews here confirms Jesus's words on the cross: "Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins." The purpose of the cross, then, was atonement, the offering of a substitutionary sacrifice on the behalf of others to satisfy God's justice.

How far does "It is finished" extend? First, start with God's apparent intentions:

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Next consider the number of times the Bible uses the word "world" when discussing this topic.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:16-17).

If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world (John 12:47).

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me (John 17:20-21).

If their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead (Rom. 11:15)?

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19).

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

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).

Finally, consider how many times the authors of Scripture use the word "all" in this context:

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men (Rom. 5:18).

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10).

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people (Titus 2:11).

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself (Heb. 7:27).

He entered once for all into the holy places ... He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:12, 26).

So, here's the argument. Considering 1) that whatever Christ did on the cross was finished at the cross, 2) that it is God's will to save all, and 2) that the Bible repeatedly uses the words "world" and "all" to describe breadth of the effect of Christ's sacrifice, I think it is abundantly clear that everyone is already forgiven of all sin. There is no "unsaved", no "non-Christian", no pending salvation. If it is God's will that everyone gets saved and Christ came to save all and already accomplished ("finished") it on the cross, there is no further need for anything on our part. Salvation is universal!

Now, as I said, this is not what I believe. That means that I thoroughly believe that there are answers to this. I'm simply offering you the opportunity to think it through. Note, by the way, a technique I employed. I have inundated you with verses. The hope is that if I give you an overload of biblical support, you will be forced to surrender. Don't do it. Think it through.

One other note before I leave you to your pondering. In arguing against using these passages for Universalism, you will be arguing in favor of Limited Atonement. Enjoy!