Atonement

Part 1 - Does God Believe in Double Jeopardy?

Several years ago I attended a get together with other pastors of Reformed persuasion, both Baptist and Presbyterian. One Baptist fellow told us an experience he had while going through a study of Revelation. His congregation stumbled over Revelation 20:15. "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." This pastor asked a simple question. Does God believe in double jeopardy? Does God punish sins in Jesus Christ and also cause individuals to suffer damnation for these same sins?

The question obviously has to do with the extent of the atonement. For whom did Christ die? Did He really pay for the sins of everyone in the world? If Christ paid for the sins of every human being, no human being could justly be sent to hell to pay for their own sins. But, you say, God only provides salvation. It is up to us to accept that salvation. The sin for which we may suffer is the sin of rejecting Christ. I respond, if Christ died to pay the penalty due to every human being for all their sins, the sin of rejecting Christ is also covered by His blood.

The question remains. For whom did Christ die? Christ shed His blood for every human being who trusts in that blood. Look again at John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." The text most often used to proclaim Christ died for every human being actually limits the scope of the atonement. Jesus limits His work on the cross to those who trust that work. Why did God give His Son? It was for one purpose. It was for the purpose of saving those who trust in the sacrifice of Christ. There was no purpose to save those who reject Christ.

We tend to place the contingency in the wrong place in John 3:16. We think the proper place to introduce the contingency is at our faith. Surely we must exercise faith. This is fundamental. However, our salvation does not hinge on any human action. Were I to believe my salvation ultimately came about because of my faith, I would contradict Ephesians 2:8-9. I would have something to boast about. Actually, my faith comes from the Holy Spirit. It is the gift of God. The contingency really comes at the work of Christ. Had God not given His Son, no one would be saved. Because God gave His Son, those who trust the Son are saved. This means Christ died to pay for the sins of those who trust in His sacrifice. Christ did not pay for the sins of those who reject Him. They must pay the penalty due for their own sins. Revelation 20:15.

Two other things are worthy of mention. The "world" in John 3:16 does not denote every human being. It refers to all that is hostile to God. Compare 1 John 2:15, Romans 12:2 and James 1:27. God so loved that which is hostile to Him that He sent His Son. Compare Romans 5:10. Then too, we commonly describe the atonement of Christ by saying it was sufficient for all but efficient for the elect, those who trust in it.

My Baptist friend was ejected from his pulpit for asking his question about Revelation 20:15. His congregation rejected the biblical doctrine of the limited scope of the atonement. We should embrace this teaching of Scripture. It is the gospel. Next time we'll see how settling this teaching is both spiritually and emotionally.