Archive for the 'Cross' Category

Aug 25 2015

R.L. Dabney on Unlimited Expiation

Filed under Cross,Election,God,Grace,Jesus Christ,Salvation

R.L. Dabney in his Systematic Theology draws a distinction between limited atonement and unlimited expiation. As Dabney is a “Five-Point Calvinist” this is a rare distinction from that side of the theological debate.
And since he believes expiation is an unlimited work of Jesus Christ, it is also an intended unlimited work of Christ to provide such.

It seems plain that the vagueness and ambiguity of the modern term ‘atonement,’ has very much complicated the debate. This word, not classical in the Reformed theology, is used sometimes for satisfaction for guilt, sometimes for the reconciliation ensuing thereon; until men on both sides of the debate have forgotten the distinction. The one is cause; the other effect. The only New Testament sense the word atonement has is that of katallage, reconciliation. But expiation is another idea. Katallage is personal. Exilasmos is impersonal. Katallage is multiplied, being repeated as often as a sinner comes to the expiatory blood. Exilasmos is single, unique, complete; and, in itself considered, has no more relation to one man’s sins than another. As it is applied in effectual calling, it becomes personal, and receives a limitation. But in itself, limitation is irrelevant to it. Hence, when men use the word atonement, as they so often do, in the sense of expiation, the phrases, ‘limited atonement,’ ‘particular atonement,’ have no meaning. Redemption is limited, i.e., to true believers, and is particular. Expiation is not limited.1

 

1. Dabney, Robert L., Systematic Theology. From chapter 35, Section 8. (2). “Christ’s Satisfaction Not Commercial.”

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Nov 24 2012

Imputation

Filed under Cross,Jesus Christ,Salvation,Teaching Ideas,Theology

Following are some key texts on the doctrine of imputation:

(Romans 4:1-8 NKJV) What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”

(Romans 5:12-21 NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned– (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NKJV) Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Following are some additional related texts:

(1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

(Philippians 3:9 NKJV) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

(Romans 9:30-10:4 NKJV) What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

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Apr 18 2010

The Righteousness of One

Filed under Cross,Jesus Christ,Justification,Salvation

I attended the Together for the Gospel (2010) conference this week. The theme for the conference was The (Unadjusted) Gospel. Dr. Ligon Duncan gave an address entitled, Did the Father’s Know the Gospel. It was referring to whether the pastristic fathers of the church preached the same Gospel that evangelicals preach today (i.e., personal justification, imputation of our sin to Christ and His righteousness to us, by faith alone).

In the address he referenced a document from the early second century (dated as early as 117 A.D.) known as The Epistle to Diognetus, which clearly states the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is the excerpt from that document. The citation is from The Epistle to Diognetus as translated by J.B. Lightfoot, chapter 9, verses 2-6:

[2] And when our iniquity had been fully accomplished, and it had been made perfectly manifest that punishment and death were expected as its recompense, and the season came which God had ordained, when henceforth He should manifest His goodness and power (O the exceeding great kindness and love of God), He hated us not, neither rejected us, nor bore us malice, but was long-suffering and patient, and in pity for us took upon Himself our sins, and Himself parted with His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy for the lawless, the guileless for the evil, “the just for the unjust,” the incorruptible for the corruptible, the immortal for the mortal. [3] For what else but His righteousness would have covered our sins? [4] In whom was it possible for us lawless and ungodly men to have been justified, save only in the Son of God? [5] O the sweet exchange, O the inscrutable creation, O the unexpected benefits; that the iniquity of many should be concealed in One Righteous Man, and the righteousness of One should justify many that are iniquitous! [6] Having then in the former time demonstrated the inability of our nature to obtain life, and having now revealed a Saviour able to save even creatures which have no ability, He willed that for both reasons we should believe in His goodness and should regard Him as nurse, father, teacher, counsellor, physician, mind, light, honour, glory, strength and life.

Thank the LORD for the sweet exchange, i.e., imputing our Saviour’s righteousness to us and taking our sins upon Himself.
The righteousness of One is a very sweet gift


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Jun 02 2009

The Cross and Christ

Filed under Cross,Jesus Christ

Quote from Martin Luther:

God hides His power in weakness,
His wisdom in folly,
His goodness in severity,
His justice in sin,
His mercy in His wrath.1

It is interesting that in the cross we see displayed both the mercy of God and the justice of God. The mercy given to God’s people who by faith come to Him. The justice, His wrath placed upon His Son, the sacrifice for sin. I am very glad for this duality (at least) of the Cross. Otherwise, the wrath would have to be placed upon me. But thankfully, God has given me not only mercy, but imputed to me the very righteousness of Jesus Christ, my Savior.

The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us
from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God.2

_____________________________

Footnotes:
1. As quoted in, Farley,William P. Outrageous Mercy. (Phillipsburg, PN:P & R Publishing, 2009), 8.
2. Piper,John. Desiring God. 2 ed. (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2003), 59.

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