C Michael Patton
C. Michael Patton is the primary contributor to the Parchment and Pen/Credo Blog. He has been in ministry for nearly twenty years as a pastor, author, speaker, and blogger.
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Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary (2001), president of Credo House Ministries and Credo Courses, author of Now that I'm a Christian (Crossway, 2014) Increase My Faith (Credo House, 2011), and The Theology Program (Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, 2001-2006), host of Theology Unplugged, and primary blogger here at Parchment and Pen. But, most importantly, husband to a beautiful wife and father to four awesome children. Michael is available for speaking engagements.
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3 replies to "Theology Unplugged: An Invitation to Calvinism – Part 9"
Jesus as “propitiation” (Gr. hilasmos).
As an abstract idea, to “propitiate” is to “pacify anger.” Jesus turns away the wrath of God by His obedience. But the word probably has more concrete connotations. In the Septuagint, the related word hilasterion refers to the cover of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:17-22; Hebrews 9:5), a word that is also used to describe Jesus and His work (Romans 3:25). In the symbolism of the ark, is related to the firmament canopy that serves as a “veil” between heaven and earth. To say Jesus is the hilasterion means that He is the screen, the firmament, through which the Father views the world.
This explains the universalism of John in verse 2. Calvinists, (definite atonement) have trouble with this verse and others like it. The solution is that the cross has multiple intentions: Jesus died to secure salvation for His sheep (Jn 10), His Bride (Eph 5), but He also died and rose again to be the “firmament-covering” for the whole world.
Plus compare:
Romans 1:8
1 John 5:19
“holos kosmos”
Not all individuals everywhere and all times.
The difficulty of this position for me is most demonstrated in the sharing of the gospel. Sam mentioned that he would not tell a family member that Christ died for them. He would say that Christ died for sinners, for people who were at enmity with God, and for the ungodly. What he really should say to remain consistent is that Christ died for some sinners, for some people who were at enmity with God, and for some of the ungodly. When he shares the gospel he is giving the impression of an unlimited atonement, knowing that the hearer will understand the message in this way, while trying to remain consistent with his own position of limited atonement. I am just not comfortable with that. I should not have to feel as though I need to be deceptive when I share the gospel to remain consistent with my position. It is like telling a half truth like Abraham telling Abimelech that Sarah is his sister and not his wife. If you are telling someone that they are a sinner and that Christ died for If you are telling someone that they are a sinner and that Christ died for sinners, it is the same as telling them, “Christ died for you”. There is no getting around that. You can’t have it both ways. Either tell people that Christ might have died for them, or tell people that he did die for them.