Free Grace Theology without Penal Substitutionary Atonement, and Free Grace Theology with it.

[gb93433]

There is no difficulty, Christ's sacrifice provides the ransom for all, those to be saved and those never to be saved. Thus His death provides the means of reconciliation (which if obtained results in salvation). The key is to accept that believers must receive the reconciliation, and discard the unbiblical belief in automatic reconciliation when a person puts dead or lip service faith in Christ. It is God who either credits a person's faith as righteousness, or not. And if not, they do not "automatically" receive reconciliation.

I would agree with everything you wrote but the problem in translation is not adding an explanation. I am not sure I read in your response the importance of repentance. That is consistent with what God wanted in Amos 5:26. I would suggest many Christians are carrying idols with Jesus.

 

[Van]

"And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform, and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."

I assume you know the "it" was Abraham's faith.

And this observation seems to have nothing to do with describing Christ's death on the cross as providing the means of reconciliation to all mankind.

 

[Van]

I would agree with everything you wrote but the problem in translation is not adding an explanation. I am not sure I read in your response the importance of repentance. That is consistent with what God wanted in Amos 5:26. I would suggest many Christians are carrying idols with Jesus.

Instead of propitiation, use means of reconciliation. That is not a problem. Repentance and Faith as two sides of the same coin.
Dead faith is like lip service faith having no deep root or commitment to walk through fire for Christ.

 

[JesusFan]

Our deserved wrath was not propitiated. This is not what the word "propitiation" means.

The focus on wrath is the "judgment to come", as God's wrath is poured out on the wicked, for "the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God". God will "separate the nations as a shepherd separates goats from sheep". The wicked will be "cast into the Lake of Fire", for the "wicked shall perish".

We had to face judgement for our own sins committed though!

 

[JesusFan]

He is the Propitiation for our sins, not only ours but for the sins of the whole world.

I agree with FF Bruce that the correct word is "atonement" or "reconciliation" in that passage. The subject is Christ, not wrath or sins. Christ IS the Propitiation or Atonement.

That is why Calvin could insist that the passage refers to all men, indiscriminately, while not compromising his Calvinistic view.

Jesus bore the wrath of God for us in order to appease wrath towards us due to our sins!