Scott Downey
Well-Known Member
The atonement and the sacrifice can't be separated. In the OT for example Moses is making an atonement for the sins of the people of Israel only, not the unbelieving nations of the world. The atonement is only for the people of God, so then also the sacrifice.Yes, for those who are agree to it.
(Exodus 25:9, 40; Numbers 8:4; Hebrews 9:23). Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23), but then the Perfect High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14; 5:5; 6:20; 7:26; 8:1; 9:11) must bring the blood of that sacrifice to the throne of God intercede for us by sprinkling that blood upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Leviticus 16:14-15; Hebrews 9:11). He ONLY does this on behalf of those who have accepted the New Covenant by repenting and placing their faith in Him.
So the sacrifice was for all
but the blood of that sacrifice is only applied to the Throne/Mercy Covering for those who have faith.
As with any biblical covenant, BOTH parties must agree to enter the covenant and BOTH parties must meet the requirements.
For example, the sheep. All the sheep ever mentioned are of God and Christ, not the devil or the world.
Unbelievers are not of the sheep. His, My, The sheep are all of one.
John 10:4
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:15
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:26
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
Hebrews 13
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
New International Version
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
This is not a possible salvation, it is absolute. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to die and be the atoning sacrifice for our sins, that is for the sins of believers only.
He came to save sinners, not that he made it possible to save sinners.
And it is the same thought in John 3:16 Christ was only lifted up so that believers would receive Eternal Life.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
And v17, the might is not a 'possibility', the meaning here is an absolute salvation Christ obtained for the sheep.