According to all of Scripture Christ made a full atonement for the sins of all mankind. Atonement (at-one-ment) means reconciliation. If God was not reconciled by the saving work of Christ, if His wrath against sin was not appeased by Christ'’ (sic) sacrifice, if God did not respond to the perfect obedience and suffering and death of His Son for the sins of the world by forgiveness, by declaring the sinful world to be righteous in Christ -–if all this were not so, if something remains to be done by us or through us or in us, then there is no finished atonement. But Christ said, "It is finished." And God raised Him from the dead and justified Him, pronounced Him, the sin bearer, righteous (I Timothy 3:16) and thus in Him pronounced the entire world of sinners righteous (Romans 4:25).
Contrast
According to all of Scripture Christ made a full atonement for the sins of all mankind. Atonement (at-one-ment) means reconciliation.
The English origin of a word does not explain the Scriptures. In fact, the Greek origin of a word in the New Testament does not explain its meaning either, apart from context. Kittel's enormous work has caused Kittelitis, an irritation caused by obsessive use of the multi-volume publication. The rule is "Scripture explains Scripture" not "Lexicography explains Scripture."
This is the topical sentence, so we have to return to its implications after the so-called Scriptural support, which is really false paradox fallacy...writ large.
Conclusion of the False Paradox
then there is no finished atonement - So, if people do not agree with Objective Justification, then they reject the Atonement. Let's see what the clauses suggest before this marvelous conclusion.
If Clauses
1. If God was not reconciled by the saving work of Christ - These words alone here are not wrong, but the meaning spelled out is alarmingly wrong.
2. if His wrath against sin was not appeased by Christ' sacrifice, - Already he is begging the question, insisting on his claim being absolute fact. According to John's Gospel - "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36
3. if God did not respond to the perfect obedience and suffering and death of His Son for the sins of the world by forgiveness, by declaring the sinful world to be righteous in Christ-- Now we begin to smell the pot-roast. If God did not declare the sinful world righteous in Christ! He is working up to his precious Objective Justification, with citations - not proof, but actually refuting these toxic claims. Where is this declaration, which is mentioned so often yet never quoted at all?
4. if all this were not so, if something remains to be done by us or through us or in us, then - Now the pot-roast is burning and smoking in the oven. This is a dig at those who teach Justification by Faith. I have heard of the UOJ acolytes saying, snarkily, "So there is something left to do? We have to DO something?" First of all, this if-clause rejects what Jesus teaches throughout John's Gospel. This if-clause suggests some heresy, perhaps decision theology.
The crowd was stricken by the apostolic accusation that they killed the Prince of Glory.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The Scriptures Mentioned But Never Explained
So this theologian of Church Growth, teaching UOJ and offering Church Growth degrees at his seminary, quoted two passages.
And God raised Him from the dead and justified Him, pronounced Him, the sin bearer, righteous (I Timothy 3:16) and thus in Him pronounced the entire world of sinners righteous (Romans 4:25).
1 Timothy 3:16 does not say the entire world was declared righteous when Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus showed that He died an innocent man, without sin.
1 Timothy 3: 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was
- manifest in the flesh,
- justified in the Spirit, [He - not the world]
- seen of angels,
- preached unto the Gentiles,
- believed on in the world,
- received up into glory.
Did he even open Paul's letter to the Romans? Romans 4 offers Abraham as the example of Justification by Faith, as Abraham is through the Bible, whether Genesis 15, Romans 4, Galatians, James, or Hebrews.
Romans 4:20 He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
But They Do Not Quote Robert Preus Later: They Are Just as Allergic to the Scriptures and Luther
