Featured Aspects of the Atonement

In the thread "Why I became a calvinist" some posts were made about the Atonement. Discussing Calvinism and the Atonement in one thread is a daunting task. I think atonement issues deserve their own thread. So, here we are.

@agedman made an interesting post in the other thread. He wrote:

I also reject that the Atonement includes God owing a debt. He owes a debt to who? God is the One who cursed creation upon Adam's act of disobedience. He was under no obligation to do so other than to His own word (Genesis 2:17; 3:17-19). He did not need to consult with any other being or receive permission in order to impose the harsh sentence of death once Adam sinned. In the same manner, Jesus had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:17-18). Other than the agreement that exists between all three persons in the Trinity, Jesus was not under obligation to Creation or any created being.

There is also a redemptive aspect of the Atonement; not just for mankind but all of Creation. Consider the words of Paul:

Romans 8:18-25 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Ever since God cursed creation it has been yearning for its redemption and restoration. This has been already decreed from eternity and the acts that secured Creation's redemption and restoration occurred on the Cross and at the empty tomb. We see the "sons of God" today as souls are added to the Kingdom. As Paul wrote, both we, the sons of God and Creation, "with perseverance we wait eagerly" for return of the Lord, the final judgment, and the ushering in of the eternal state.

 

Every person who has ever lived will bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

All people who ever lived will bow the knee because of who Jesus is: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16). Those who love the Son (and are loved by Him) will bow in worship. They will feel the gentle caress of their King as He wipes away their tears and they will hear His gentle and kind voice when he says, "Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21).

Those who are counted as enemies of their King will also bow down. They will not do so out love or even fealty but under compulsion. Of these scripture says, even while they are living, that the wrath of God abides on them (Romans 1:18). Instead of the joy of their master, these will know the terror of His judgment (Hebrews 10:27).

I like the notes in the NET Bible on the Philippians passage:

"The beings in heaven that Paul referred to evidently are believers who have died and whose spirits have gone into the Lord’s presence. Those on earth are people still alive on the earth. Those under the earth are unbelievers awaiting resurrection. Hades (the same as Sheol, the Old Testament term) is the place where the spirits of the unbelieving dead go until God resurrects them and judges them. The ancients thought of Sheol or Hades as being under the surface of the earth, probably because that is where their bodies went in burial. All angelic beings will acknowledge Jesus’ lordship too (1 Cor. 15:27)."

 

The reason I do not share your view about the Atonement is it makes Christ's death a futile act for those who are not elect. There are positive passages in the New Testament that Christ died for His sheep and only His sheep (c.f. John 10:11-16).

John 10:11-16 11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

Scripture never states this. What it does state is:

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

In the above passage, it is not Christ as a propitiation for all people that ever lived that the reprobate considers being foolishness, it is the word of the cross, the Gospel (c.f. 1 Corinthians 2:14).

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

The Elect, Christ's sheep, having been redeemed from the penalty of sin, are a sweet aroma to those who are also being saved but a smell of death to the reprobate. There is no need for additional condemnation other than what scripture pronounces.

John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

How do you come to the conclusion scripturally? Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

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Answer my question first.

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