Saturday, March 28, 2009

The Real Turretin on: The Absurdities of Universal Atonement

Moses Cho at No Mo' Condemnation has a nice quotation from the real Francis Turretin on the absurdities of any doctrine of universal atonement (link). Turretin addresses not only the errors of Arminianism, but also those Amyraldianism with this short identification of four absurdities.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Indeed, there are absurdities swirling around in this life and this doctrine is certainly and correctly, one of them.

I have been absorbing the thoughts of a contemporary Theologian, Dr. J.V. Fesko. I have purchased all of his writings and have been reading each with some zeal of passion. He indeed is a current "Light" shining in the darkness of this world.

In his little booklet, "What is Justification by Faith?", he does a contrast between Christ and His death, the death on the Cross and being laid in a tomb, and the depth of the meaning of His resurrection from the dead.

I will do my best to recall and cite some of what I read as I loaned the booklet out for review by the Lead Pastor of my Church to see if a course can be developed for our young people based on it, the up and coming men and women of His Faith Once delivered to the Chosen Elect of God under our care and pedagogy.

He contrasts Christ's resurrection this way as I recall, paraphrasing:

"....If Jesus did not rise from the dead, it would mean that "His" death was legitimate!....".

Oh, what a thought!

Also, "....If Jesus did not come alive again, then the "power" of sin and death was not broken and Death was not defeated by inflicting his power upon Him....".

The death of Jesus being legitimate! Outrageous, yet so necessary!

The power of sin and death being defeated! Oh the Living Hope that we too have been born again "into".

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


St. Augustine said of the charges against Jesus that they had to be illegitimate and unfounded and Jesus had to become "fake bait".

Joh 19:10 So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?"
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."


If Satan did not move ungodly men to commit an illegal action by their court proceedings, finding Him, who is Innocent and Pure and Righteous, "guilty" and then carry out a "just" ruling upon His person, killing Him and ridding the world of His Life, He could not rise from the dead and God would then be justly charged as guilty as I am! Christ's death was the Just for the unjust! In Adam all die. In Christ, all the Elect shall be made alive.

This is such an important Truth, being "made" alive. It presupposes all of Adam's race to be dead already in trespasses and sins. And it establishes that God did not send Christ to die a catholic death! His death was specific to "the Calling" of "Election"; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!

We have been given "His" Faith, hence, "made alive" and now know that Jesus indeed became fake bait all the while we also know, we are not fake but real bait to the consequence of the devils.

I bow my head in reverence and awe!

Turretinfan said...

I've heard good things about Dr. Fesko, but I haven't read his writings yet! I hope you are enjoying them.

-TurretinFan