Let's play
Calvinism for awhile.
First read
1 John 2:1-2. Afterwards, I have a few questions.
1. Who/What is Jesus a propitiation for?
2. What does propitiation mean?
Before you listen to my babbling (or as
Cody calls it, "
pontification"), please answer these questions in your own mind according to the Text or the dictionary...as needs be.
Let's start with question number 2. What is propitiation? According to
Easton's:
"...in 1 John 2:2...Christ is called the “propitiation for our sins.” Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is “the propitiation,” because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured...."I'm not sure I want to use the entire Easton definition
as yet, simply because it uses the exclusive language "
our." Our substitute. Our obligations. Our guilt. So with this information, let's use the more common definition of "atoning sacrifice."
Redemption 101
Jesus is the atoning sacrifice. As was standard in Hebrew Law, a sacrifice was necessary for the expiation of the sins of the people. In those days, various animals were slaughtered. Under the New Covenant, Jesus has become the effective atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. Jesus was sacrified on the cross. He became for us the Atonement, the Redeemer and the Propitiation. The slaughtered Lamb.
The due wage for sin is death. Beyond the physical death, each sin will be punished by God. Each person not atoned for by the Redeember receives wrath. Divine wrath. Eternal judgment.
However, Jesus Christ died to set aside that wrath. He effectively atoned for the sins of the people. Since Christ is the propitiation, the sins of the people are not taken into account.
End Redemption 101Now, let's answer the first question. Who/What is Jesus a propitiation for? According to the 1 John 2 and other verses - "not ours only, but the sins of the whole world." Jesus' sacrifice is the propitiation of the sins of the
whole world.
Yet...The world is still going to Hell.
Why? Why are they
still under judgment if their account has been settled? Why are they going to the unquenchable fire if Jesus died for their sins? Did Jesus not purchase their salvation at the cross?
We do not believe that the rejectors, unbelievers, idolotors or God-haters are saved. However, we do believe that that our sins "are nailed to the cross." We sing, "old rugged cross..." We know it was at the cross that our atoning sacrifice was made. We were purchased there on those timbers. The death of Christ was effective that Friday. It paid the price. Propitiation was once for all.
Why is the world still going to Hell? Is it their sin? Unbelief? Yes. Because they have rejected the Christ, the Holy One of God, they will face the Holy Wrath of God. They will go to eternal destruction. Were their sins accounted for? No. They were
never expiated. The sin remains uncovered.
Atoning sacrifice has always been for those under the Covenant, whether Old or New. It was never meant to account for the sins of those outside of the Covenant.
Sacrifice is powerful and effective. Therefore we must read 1 John 2 in light of the effective power of the cross experience. We do not believe that God has set aside His wrath from the whole world. On the contrary, most of the world will be consumed. To believe otherwise is essentially universalism.
What does "world" mean then?
I won't pontificate too much further. But does "everyone" always mean "everyone?" In Bible class we ask, "Is everyone here?" What we mean is "Is everyone who is supposed to be here, here?" Or someone may say, "Everyone is watching the World Cup." This is common with many inclusive words. Every, everyone, all and world. Does "world" always mean the "whole of the human population?" Sometimes. Sometimes it means, "those not made righteous." Other times it means "the collective nations."
That said, better we redefine "world" rather than "propitiation." :)
Who did Jesus die for? I believe it is biblical to say that Jesus died to redeem His people. He was sacrificed for His people, not only from the Jews, but from every nation. The whole world.
We can use other more ugly words. Jesus died only for the Elect. The Foreknown.
( Now some will ask, "But if Jesus didn't die for everyone then how can everyone have a chance to be saved?" I won't answer this question here, because I don't want to labeled a "5-Pointer." However, let me just say that no person can say, "I want to be saved, I want to believe....but Jesus didn't die for me." Thanks John Piper.)Please tell me what you think. I need to wrestle with these thoughts some more. Bring the Scripture. There are plenty.
Allow me this last blasphemy:
"To the Calvinists I have become Arminian, to the Arminians I have become Calvinist. I have become all things to all men that I may by all means save some. Just some. "
A good friend of mine recommended this book to me. Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith. I, in turn, recommend it. Its the kind of book that reads easy. A little too easy in fact. When I was done, I felt like, "That's it?" On the other hand, he deals very well with some of the misconceptions of biblical interpretation and inspiration, church life, discipleship and 1st century Judaism and Christianity. He has a number of excellent points that are simply taught and therefore easily learned. There are times when I felt that his points were not developed enough. He makes few efforts to deal with the obvious counter-arguments. Click on the picture to go to Amazon. Others have posted more in-depth reviews there.
