Chapter four in Murray’s book is a discussion on the extent
of the atonement; an answer to the question of whom Christ died for.
A careful reading of scripture will highlight
that not every time a phrase indicating universality is used that it must be
understood as comprising everyone who has ever lived. If this was the case, there would be many conclusions
drawn that are not in concert with the remainder of Scripture.
Murray points out that there are definitely benefits that
flow to all of mankind from the death of Christ and the subsequent saving of
men, but that these outpourings of common grace fall short of granting
salvation and justification to all men.
Murray next shows that unless we are universalists holding a
doctrine of eventual salvation of all men, that we cannot hold to an unlimited
atonement. If one is to universalize
the extent of the atonement, then by deduction, the efficacy must be
restricted. Only if one limits the
extent of atonement can its efficacy be maintained and the true securing of
salvation for Christ’s chosen maintained.
Without this understanding, there is no way that we could actually
deliver the gospel, the good news of salvation to those whom we preach the
gospel. If the efficacy of the atonement
is not guaranteed by limiting its scope, then the best that we could news that
we could preach would be the opportunity of salvation. Christ procured the salvation of His people
and it is that great truth which is embodied in our gospel.
Murray shows how those whom Christ has died for are also
said in scripture to have died with Him.
Scripture is also clear that those who died in Christ will rise again
with Him and that they are delivered into a newness of life. Since we know that these are not universal
truths for all men then it must be understood that not all men have died with
Christ and Christ therefore has not died for all men. Those whom Christ died for are thus only for
those who are to partake in the newness of life and the benefits that Christ
has won for his adopted people by His resurrection from the dead.
Commentary: The
extent of the atonement is one that often causes concern in the church because
it seems to impinge on our human understanding of justice. The question we must ask ourselves though is
not why did God choose some and not others, but why does He choose any to join
in the benefits of Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection? Other than that we know that it is through no
merit of our own, there is no reason to dwell longer on the hidden decrees of
God for, as Murray points out, our work is to proclaim the good news, the
gospel that Christ has paid for the sins of his people and purchased a
salvation that we never can on our own. There
are things that we can never comprehend full since we are finite and our
knowledge is limited. That being said,
Murray here has done an excellent job is summarizing the scriptural defense for
an atonement limited in extent by the decree of God.
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