Well, that's the trick! Did Christ die for all the world and forgave them and in this way everyone's sin is paid for or did he die for the chosen and paid for their sin and the guilt of the unbelievers is still on their heads? This is crucial to the way we preach forgiveness: repent, for your sins are forgiven OR repent and you will be forgiven your sins.
I thought about it & remembered one example Spurgeon gave in his book about grace. I’m sure you know it. He spoke about the times when a person could be arrested & put to jail if they didn’t pay the debts. Then he said, imagine someone came & paid for such a prisoner. Now he can leave the jail because his debts are paid. But until someone comes & tells him he is free, he cannot leave & thinks he is guilty & should be in jail. Until he knows his debts are paid, he sits in jail paying for his crime. Now Jesus died & paid for the sins of the whole world, that’s what the Bible says, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1John 2:2. You go & tell people, “Repent, for Christ paid for your sins. There is forgiveness. Come to God & receive it.” But unless a person believes in that & accepts this forgiveness, he cannot enjoy it. So the sinners who reject the gift that Jesus has for them, if they don’t want to accept that their debts are paid, they go to hell, to “jail” & have to pay for their sins. It’s even sadder to know those people suffer when they could have believed & accepted forgiveness. “And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev 22:17 That’s how I understand this.
Good point, Marina!!! I agree, but there are still questions: So the sins of unbelievers are paid for twice: by Christ and by men? If Christ paid for them in full then what are people punished for in hell? For unbelief? This is very interesting... I enjoy our little discussion here.
Yep, it's hard to put it all in our common understanding of things. It's hard to get how God's mercy & forgiveness go along with His righteousness & justice. I should search the Scriptures for further discussion, i guess:) Like, it's said that Christ took all of our sins on Himself but again it's said that those who do not believe still have their sins upon them. It's like parallel dimensions, huh?
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In one sentence, Christ is so worthy that he is able to pay a debt that requires all of eternity for us to pay. He is just that rich!
Here is my question for you Marina!
How can God punish sinners in hell if he already poured his wrath out on his Son? If Christ absorbed our punishment, how can God still punish people?
If the sins have been paid for, why are they going to be paid for again by the sinner in hell? That is a hard one for me!
Well, that's the trick! Did Christ die for all the world and forgave them and in this way everyone's sin is paid for or did he die for the chosen and paid for their sin and the guilt of the unbelievers is still on their heads? This is crucial to the way we preach forgiveness: repent, for your sins are forgiven OR repent and you will be forgiven your sins.
Yeah, but what is it? That is the question. And it isn't a trick, I really don't have a verdict on that one yet.
I thought about it & remembered one example Spurgeon gave in his book about grace. I’m sure you know it. He spoke about the times when a person could be arrested & put to jail if they didn’t pay the debts. Then he said, imagine someone came & paid for such a prisoner. Now he can leave the jail because his debts are paid. But until someone comes & tells him he is free, he cannot leave & thinks he is guilty & should be in jail. Until he knows his debts are paid, he sits in jail paying for his crime.
Now Jesus died & paid for the sins of the whole world, that’s what the Bible says, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1John 2:2. You go & tell people, “Repent, for Christ paid for your sins. There is forgiveness. Come to God & receive it.” But unless a person believes in that & accepts this forgiveness, he cannot enjoy it. So the sinners who reject the gift that Jesus has for them, if they don’t want to accept that their debts are paid, they go to hell, to “jail” & have to pay for their sins. It’s even sadder to know those people suffer when they could have believed & accepted forgiveness. “And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev 22:17
That’s how I understand this.
Good point, Marina!!! I agree, but there are still questions: So the sins of unbelievers are paid for twice: by Christ and by men? If Christ paid for them in full then what are people punished for in hell? For unbelief? This is very interesting... I enjoy our little discussion here.
Yep, it's hard to put it all in our common understanding of things. It's hard to get how God's mercy & forgiveness go along with His righteousness & justice. I should search the Scriptures for further discussion, i guess:) Like, it's said that Christ took all of our sins on Himself but again it's said that those who do not believe still have their sins upon them. It's like parallel dimensions, huh?
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