Saturday, July 26, 2008

Reymonds Evidence for Particular Atonement

Next, the author uses these evidences.
God’s Redemptive Love Not Inclusive of Fallen Angels and The Irreversible Condition of Lost Men Already in Hell When Christ Died


Presenting fallen angels as evidence for a point about redemption is just plain irrelevant and totally speculative.

Here is his argument about those already condemned in eternity.
Unless one is prepared to say that Christ gave all the dead a second chance to repent (some would say a “first chance”), it is impossible to suppose that Christ died with the intention of saving those whose eternal destiny had already been sealed in death, who were at the time of his death already in hell. He clearly did not die with the intention of saving them.

David's Answer: This is a complete caricature and just plain unreasonable. Christ came into this world to save the world, i.e. the living. Christ was never sent into the realm of the dead. God loved the world that he sent his Son into the world to save the world. There is no mention of the realm of the dead. But now this is true: while a man was alive, in the realm of the living, he was an objective of redemption. Death closes the door though to the man who dies unrepentant.

Reymond says
It is difficult to believe that the Triune God intended Christ’s death for every man, woman and child, the blessing of which is enjoyed upon condition that they believe in him, when he has not arranged for everyone to hear the gospel.

David: This would negate the doctrine of the Revealed will (for example, The Lord is ...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance) as much as the general reference of the atonement. The fact that God told us to go to every creature, as a duty, seems to counter his reference. So, rather than viewing the fact that some are not able
to hear as our failure to obey God's command to preach the gospel to every creature, Reymond uses this to prove that Jesus did not die for every creature to whom we are commanded to go with the "good news".

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