The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Some meat for the dogs . . .

Hello again! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Unfortunately, as was the case with what you wrote in a previous thread re: covenant headship, I am likewise confused as to what you hold in regard to the nature and efficacy of the atonement. When you say that "Christ redeemed all mankind unto God", what exactly is your understanding of "redeemed"? For if Christ actually paid the ransom (Grk: lutron; cf. Matt 20:28; Mk 10:45; 1Tim 2:6), thus being the Redeemer (Grk: lutroo; cf. Gal 3:13; 1Pet 1:18; cp. Heb: goel in the book of Ruth), then must not the one who held those redeemed captive must legally set them free? This is simply a matter of justice and ethics. Since it was to God that the ransom was paid and He being perfectly just (Gen 18:25), then He would be obligated to no longer hold captive those who were in bondage. The inescapable conclusion is that for whoever the ransom was paid, they are free. And if the ransom was paid for all mankind without discrimination, then ALL are thus free and are not liable to judgment for non-payment of th ransom they owed. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratchchin.gif" alt="" />

I'm afraid that your conception of the Calvinist doctrine of eternal punishment is inaccurate, at least that which is held by the Infralapsarians within the camp. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> For, what we hold is that all men are condemned upon the basis that they are sinners; having received the "curse" of Adam's transgression, their covenant head, i.e., the guilt judgment incurred by Adam; a corruption of nature which is inherited by them and guilt which is imputed to them. Thus God is perfectly just in condemning all men to eternal torment, they being doubly guilty.

As to the condemnation of "non-elect infants", they being members of the human race whose head is the same Adam of that of adults, inherit a corruption of nature from which sin is its fruit and likewise guilt is imputed to their account, they are not exempt from God's wrath nor His perfect justice. (cf. Rom 3:10-18; 9:11ff; Eph 2:1-3; et al) That some infants are elect it cannot be doubted. But I think you would be hard-pressed to show from Scripture that ALL infants are "elect". To hold to such a view would prove too much, for most infants mature into adulthood and thus this would terminate in Universalism, which you have also said you reject, i.e., you do hold that there will be a Judgment by which some will be found guilty and cast into eternal damnation.

In His Grace,