In the aftermath of the 2000 U. S. presidential election, the final choice of Bush or Gore seemed almost exactly 50/50 in the law courts. Even the U.S. Supreme Court was perplexed. There is also a nearly 50/50 division in a great world church regarding the heart of the gospel of Christ: what did He accomplish by His sacrifice on His cross? Group A believe that He actually became "the Saviour of the world," that He did something for every human being, that He gave the gift of salvation to "every man," died every man's second death, adopted the human race in Himself, became the new Head of the human race, became the second or "last Adam" and in so doing He reversed the legal "condemnation" that the first Adam brought upon the human race.
Group A believe that God has totally taken the initiative in man's salvation, and that those who at last will be lost have totally taken the initiative in their damnation by rejecting, despising, throwing away the salvation that Christ as Second Adam has given them.
Group B say No, that's dangerous doctrine. Christ has not GIVEN salvation to "every man," He has not reversed the legal condemnation Adam brought upon "all men;" He has not given the gift of a legal justification to "all men;" He has only OFFERED that blessing contingent on the sinner doing something first. In other words, "all men" have not been GIVEN the GIFT of salvation; "all men" have not been adopted into the "family of God." Group B are afraid that Group A are lowering the standard for entrance into heaven, opening the gates of the New Jerusalem too wide, giving too much encouragement to sinners to think Christ has accomplished more than He really has accomplished. They feel that if we tell sinners that Christ has actually reversed the legal condemnation that Adam brought upon them, then they will want to go on sinning.
But Group A insist that the only way sinners can truly stop sinning is by a heart-appreciation of what Christ actually accomplished for the world, by sensing what it cost Him to save us when He died the second death of "every man" (Heb. 2:9). Can Groups A and B ever come into unity? Yes, the Holy Spirit can heal Christ's "body" with healthful oneness, and He will do so. Be patient. Let Him lead!
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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