Once for All

There’s a theological viewpoint that has gained some traction fairly recently that includes the doctrine of “Limited Atonement.” To oversimplify, the belief is that Christ’s death was only for “the elect” or those who would eventually believe in the person and work of Christ. In other words, Christ only died for you and me, Christian, not the whole world. You might hear someone who holds this view say something like, “Not a drop of Christ’s blood was wasted.”

I’m not convinced.

In fact, I think it directly contradicts some pretty clear teaching in Scripture that suggests that Christ died for the sin of the world (meaning all of humanity) and that those who believe opt-in to an offer that He’s making to everyone, not a select few. If you’d like some passages that are problematic for a Limited Atonement viewpoint, here are a few: John 3:10-21, 12:27-36, Hebrews 7:23-28, 9:11-14, Romans 5:18-21, 6:8-11. There are many more, and a relatively few that suggest that Christ’s work is limited to only those whom he chose to take him up on the offer.

The Old Testament Law gives us picture after picture of what the Messiah would do for the sin of the world. The sacrificial system, specifically, starting with the first sacrifice of an animal to clothe Adam and Eve’s nakedness, shows in beautiful and gory metaphors what the Ultimate sacrifice would do for the sin of the world. What the Israelites were required to do at least yearly would be accomplished with a single act. CS Lewis described it in this way: “a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead.” And life passed to everyone.

The words Paul and the writer of Hebrews used were “once for all.”

Once- The act of sacrifice that had been repeated countless times between Adam and Jesus (killing an animal and sprinkling its blood on the mercy seat to atone for sins) was fulfilled in one act on the cross. And that one act was enough to atone for all sins: past, present, and future.

For All- Sin is conquered, death is defeated, for all, but not all will opt-in. Everyone has the option, but not everyone takes the gift.

It is our prayer that our students opt-in, experience the joy of living in right relationship with our Creator, and share that joy with the people around us.