Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 22:43 (Autumn 2009)
Article: Benefits Of Christ’s Blood: Restricted And Unrestricted?
Author: Robert N. Wilkin

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JOTGES 22:43 (Autumn 2009) p. 3

Benefits Of Christ’s Blood: Restricted And Unrestricted?

Robert N. Wilkin

Editor

Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society

Denton, Texas

It has been called to my attention that I wrote something 22 years ago, in the March 1988 GES newsletter (“Matthew 25:31-46—Works Salvation?”), which seems to contradict unlimited atonement. In that article I say, “Since those cast into eternal fire did not believe in Christ, their sins were not covered by His blood and hence they were doomed to eternal damnation.” I cited John 8:24 as proof.

That statement is not true, as I will explain in this paper.

I was guilty of some shallow thinking on the blood of Christ. But I’m not alone. Many people have never carefully considered who benefits from His blood. The truth, which is obvious when we look at the Scriptures, may surprise you.

Unrestricted: Unlimited Atonement: The Sin Barrier Is Removed For All People, Including Unbelievers (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2)

John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus didn’t potentially do that. He actually did that by His death on the cross. First John 2:2 reiterates that point. Jesus satisfied God’s righteous judgment against sin by His death on the cross for 100% of Adam’s offspring, including all unbelievers.

Lewis Sperry Chafer liked to say, “Because of Calvary, people no longer have a sin problem. Instead, they have a Son problem.”

JOTGES 22:43 (Autumn 2009) p. 4

Calvinists object, however, that if this is true, then everyone is born again. No one will be condemned. Not at all. Jesus’ blood removes our sin as a barrier to our having life. But the cross doesn’t give anyone life. John the Baptist went on to say that to get life a person must believe in Jesus (John 3:36).

No one will be eternally condemned because of his sins. Jesus’ blood already removed the sin barrier. This is not only evident by the verses cited, but also by Rev 20:11-15, which shows that the basis of condemnation is not what is found in the books of works, but what is not found in the Book of Life. Anyone found not written in the Book of Life is condemned. Anyone found there...

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