The eisegesis series part 6: Romans 8:32

 

He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?[Romans 8:32 CSB]

Those who hold to a universal atonement use this verse as ‘proof’ that the Christ died for all mankind, all without exception. But that verse is not saying that, not even remotely close. Again, context is king. As the saying goes, “text without context is pretext”. That whole chapter, Romans 8, has God’s chosen ppl, His sheep, His elect, in focus. Verse 1 starts out by saying Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. So right from the first verse, God’s ppl are those Paul is addressing in this great chapter. Paul then gives an example of those who have their minds set on the flesh and those who have their minds set on the Spirit.[vss 5-9] He then says Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.[vss 10,11] So you can see the context of Romans 8 is clearly God’s chosen ppl, His sheep, His elect.

He then gives us the ‘golden chain of redemption’ in vss 28-30 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified;and those he justified, he also glorified. These ppl in vss 28-30 can NOT be all mankind, because all who He foreknew, He predestined, called, justified(declared righteous before God), and glorified. Seeing that not everyone is saved, all can NOT be glorified. Again, the context is crystal clear as to whom Paul is referring to.

Then the very next verse after vs 32 Paul wrote Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. There’s those pesky words some ppl hate to see, God’s elect. Also, Paul stated it is God who justifies. How does God justify the lost? By faith. Romans 5:1 states Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, where does faith come from that justifies the lost? It can not come from man, seeing not all ppl have faith, as 2 Thessalonians 3:2 says and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. Faith comes from God and does not resonate from man, nor is it innate in fallen man. The lost are devoid of faith, because the very moment someone has faith they are saved. 

Then we can read Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.[vs 34] Who are these ‘and intercedes for us’? If you look at the role the OT High Priest played, and that he interceded for God’s ppl, and that the Christ is the High Priest for God’s ppl, the elect, it’s crystal clear the ppl who make up ‘and intercedes for us’, is not mankind indiscriminately, but His sheep, His elect.

I will end this blog post after examining this passage No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.[vss 37-39] In verse 37 Paul wrote ‘we are conquerors through Him who loved us’. Again, us in context, is believers. Then he goes on to write that nothing can separate us(believers, not all mankind indiscriminately) from the love of God that is in the Christ.

So, the ‘all’ in vs 32 are God’s ppl, God’s sheep, God’s elect, who He offered for atonement for their sins.

Eisegesis series part 5: John 1:29

 

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”[John 1:29 CSB]

This verse is used to support universal atonement, but those who use it, haven’t fully grasped all it avers. John proclaimed He takes away the sin of the world. Now, if the word ‘world’ means ‘all whoever lived’, they’re advocating universalism. If ‘world’ means ‘worldwide’, it makes better sense. Here’s what I mean. To take away sins means to expiate them. To expiate means to take/remove one’s guilt from them. If their sins are taken from them, then they’re saved, seeing saved means to be justified, and being justified means to be declared righteous before God. So, if the Christ takes sins from literally everyone, which is what many say ‘world’ means, then everyone whose sins have been taken away are saved. They have had their sins expiated/removed from them.

 

God’s wrath will be poured out on all the lost on the day of judgment. If ‘everybody whoever lived’ have their sins taken from them, then there’s no wrath for God to mete out the day He judges ppl.

In expiation is also propitiation, which means God’s wrath has been satisfied, satiated, appeased. So, those who have their sins taken away, expiated, do not have God’s wrath abiding upon them, seeing they have been expiated, propiated(also means atoned), and have been reconciled to God. Reconciliation means two enemies making peace with each other. None who are reconciled, their sins expiated/taken away, have their sins propitiated(which means it was God who was propitiated as He was the one offended, not man) will die lost.

 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”[John 10:11]

Here we see the Christ giving His life for the sheep. In this, He took their sins upon Himself(expiation), died in their stead(propitiation/which also means atonement), and rose from the dead for them(justification). Then it was also written Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.[Ephesians 5:25] So, the Christ died for His ppl, the elect, the sheep, and in this, He expiated, reconciled and propiated their sins, and they will never die lost.