Muhammadan Objections

176	OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE DOCTRINE

C. This is a metaphor and may be pressed too far. By His death for us He satisfied the claims of Divine Justice, ultimately, though not proximately, for Divine Justice still demands the death of our bodies (Ezek. xviii. 20: vide §§ 193-195).

176. M. Did He make atonement for all men, or only for His own disciples?

C. Potentially for all (1 John ii. 2), though practically (as far as we know) His death benefits only those who believe in Him.

177. M. If He died for all, then all are thereby freed from guilt and punishment¹.

C. Only potentially. If a rope be thrown to a drowning man, it is safety to him only if he catches it and clings to it until he is drawn ashore. Salvation means deliverance from the power of sin and the guilt of past sin (Matt. i. 21), and only consequently from the future punishment of sin. It does not denote escape from temporal punishment (2 Sam. xii. 10-18, and subsequent history of David).

¹ Somewhat the same objection is occasionally put thus:—
M. If Christ paid all men's debt (1 John ii. 2: Heb. ii. 9) and if God nevertheless punishes some men, then He is unjust. Or if you say that God only wishes to save all men through Christ's death and yet punishes some for not being saved, He is still unjust. But this is impossible. Hence the doctrine of the Atonement is false.
C. Christ paid the debt and opened the prison doors and now offers all men both the will and the power to come out, but does not force them to do so. If they refuse to come out, they are doubly guilty, both as sinful rebels and for despising God's mercy. (Rev. W. A. Rice, from Leupolt.)

OF CHRIST'S ATONEMENT

177

178. M. If Christ paid the penalty, all men may sin as they like without fear.

C. Certainly not (Rom. vi. 1 sqq.; 2 Cor. v. 14, 15; Titus i. 15 and ii, esp. ii. 11-14; Heb. x. 26-31; 1 John ii. 1-6, &c., &c.).

179. M. How could He make atonement for the world, since we are told in the Old Testament that no man may make atonement for his brother (Ps. xlix. 7)?

C. That means atonement to save a man from death. The next verse says, "For the redemption of their soul is costly" (Ps. xlix. 8). Hence Christ's death was necessary to atone for sin. Christ was not a mere man, though He was truly man. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself" (2 Cor. v. 19). [See above, §§ 171, 172.]

180. M. It was unjust for the innocent to have to suffer for the guilty.

C. Christ gave Himself for us, voluntarily dying for our salvation (John x. 17, 18).

181. M. How can that be, when the Gospel tells us that He was seized by a band of soldiers (Mark xiv. 46; John xviii. 12), and that with "strong crying and tears" He prayed to escape death (Heb. v. 7)?

C. Scripture explains itself. If you read Matt. xxvi. 36-46; Mark xiv. 32-42; Luke xxii. 39-46; John xvii, you will understand Heb. v. 7; while John xviii. 6 shows that He had power to resist,

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