Is Universal Atonement True? (3)

In the last two issues, we raised seven objections against the popular notion that Jesus gave His life to atone for the sins of all men without exception. Please consult your Bibles as you follow arguments #8-9 below, especially #9.

(8) If Christ died for absolutely everybody (and His atonement is surely motivated by love; Eph. 5:25; John 3:16), then he also loved and died for the false church, the whore and the multitudes who fornicate with her in her corrupt worship (Rev. 17:1-2, 15). But Ephesians 5:25 teaches that Christ "loved the church, and gave himself for it." No mention is made here of a love of Christ or a death of Christ for that which is not the true church which is sanctified by God's cleansing Word (26) and presented spotless at the last day (27). If Christ did love and die for everyone head for head (which necessarily includes the false church), then Christ "loved the church [and the false church], and gave himself for [them]." But husbands are commanded, "love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church [and the false church]" (25). Thus husbands would have to love their wives even as Christ loves His bride and a whore, the false church.

But Scripture teaches that Christ has one bride, the church of all ages (Rev. 21:2). He loved her and gave Himself for her alone. This--and not the theory that Jesus loved and died for everybody--is the truth of the cross, and the model for Christian husbands.

(9) Isaiah 53 is the greatest chapter in the OT, and possibly in the whole Bible, on Christ's substitutionary atonement. The "us" for whose sins Christ was "wounded" (4- 6) are given specific names: "my people" (8), "his seed" (10), and the "many” -- not all men head for head (11-12). They are the "pleasure of the Lord" who "prosper in his hand" (10). God never made the reprobate "prosper in his hand" and He was never pleased with them. They are not His seed, people and pleasure; and so Jesus did not die for them.

Those for whom Christ died "are healed" by "his stripes" (5). It isn't merely that they might be healed if they believe, but they really are healed. Those whose sins Christ bore are also justified: "my righteous servant [shall]: justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities" (11). God's elect "people" (8) are justified for Christ bore our punishment (11). The reprobate are not justified, thus Christ did not atone for them. It is for the "many" whose sins He bore that Christ intercedes (12). Remember, Jesus said, "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me” (John 17:9). The "many” for whom Christ suffered and for whom He prays are the elect, not the reprobate world. In this way, Jesus is perfectly "satisfied" (Isa. 53:11). If some for whom He was "stricken" (8) and for whom He intercedes (12) are not healed (5) and justified (11) and do not prosper in his hand" (10) and do not receive a share in His spoils (12), Christ is not satisfied. lf even one soul perishes for whom He died, Christ's purpose is not fully realized, His atonement is not totally successful and He is dissatisfied.