Jesus Christ Who Died for the Nation…Not the World
In the Old Testament, we learn of the Temple system of animal sacrifice. Substitute sacrifices were offered to God for sins. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement each year, the high priest would take the blood of the choice animal substitute, into the holiest of holies. There, he would make atonement for himself, so that he might approach the mercy seat, atop the Ark of the Covenant.
After sprinkling blood for himself, the high priest that year would make blood atonement for the sins of the whole nation of Israel. This act of reconciliation proved that Israel knew that despite its status as God’s chosen nation to be holy, it was actually sinful and disobedient.
God had made a way for the remission of sins. Israel was in union with Yahweh, by the blood applied to the mercy seat. God displayed mercy toward sinners in the very place where the blood of the substitute was applied in the presence of God, in His house on earth.
The seventh sign, of the Gospel of John, is Messiah raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11). Following this breathtaking moment in Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish leaders revealed their fear of the consequences of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was an incomparable threat to their position, power, and prestige. If they did not rid themselves of the Nazarene, it would be their demise. He would increase, and they would decrease. That scenario was unacceptable to them. They were not in a position to let this man rule over them.
The prophecy of the high priest, Caiaphas, informs us how the Old Testament type of sacrificial atonement points to the scope of Jesus’ death benefit, “But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.’ 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one, the children of God who are scattered abroad (Jn 11:49–52).”
At no point in either the Old or the New Testament does universal atonement appear. The type is limited, and the testimony from Caiaphas’ prophecy is limited…to the nation. Thus, it is the false teachers who promote God’s universal love for humanity, and the notion that Jesus Christ died on the cross for everyone, everywhere, and at all times.
Our Lord died on the cross for His holy nation (1 Pet 2:9), His church (Mt 16:18), the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). As our great high priest, Jesus offered Himself, as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), an unblemished (sinless) substitute. He laid down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11, 15), bearing our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet 2:24). In love, He gave Himself for His bride, His church (Eph 5:25), drawn from every nation, tribe, and tongue — the world (Rev 5:9; 7:9).
The aberration of Universalism is a repulsive, heretical doctrine. It propagates a false Jesus, who atones for the sins of the whole world, and who saves everyone. The Universalist has a false assurance of a salvation he does not possess. What purpose does the doctrine of hell hold at that point?
In an effort to blend Universalism, with the reality that most people are not saved, the Arminian wrests salvation from God and makes it conditioned on man’s free will and personal choice. He sings, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” This false teaching is so prevalent in the church, today, that it almost goes unchallenged. The Arminian Christ saves no one. In truth, the Arminian has zero assurance of his salvation. If he claims he has eternal security, he is a liar because it was his decision to be saved or not.
The popularity of these two systems of bad theology reveal a dearth of interest in sound doctrine. Instead, when Universalism is promoted, there is little effort in evangelism. In contrast, the Arminian incessantly manipulates people to provoke “a decision.”
Christians must see and understand the doctrine of particular redemption. Students of the Bible know this limited atonement is what is taught in the Bible. When John 3:16 is misused, it reinforces the false teaching of Universalism. It is also misused, in order to support the false doctrine of man’s free will decisionalism (Arminianism).
Christian, be reminded that God chose a people for Himself, before the foundation to the world (Eph 1:4; Rev 13:8; 17:8). He gave these elect to His Son (Jn 6:37), who came into the world to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). He redeemed God’s chosen nation, by His precious blood (1 Pet 1:19), shed on the cross, where He bore their sins (1 Pet 2:24).
Now having the right to call God “Father” (1 Jn 3:1), the adopted sons (adopted children do not decide to be adopted) are the holy nation (Eph 1:5; 1 Pet 2:9), set apart from sin and set apart to Christ. This was God’s eternal purpose in Christ (Eph 3:11), to become sin for us on the cross, and to suffer death, even death on a cross.
To see one’s salvation, one must look at the Triune God, who in His predetermined plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23), elected the very people Christ would one day come and save. He saved us (Titus 3:5), not the whole world. This is the sacrificial system’s, Caiaphas’, and our witness…yes, our delight…that Jesus suffered and died for His holy nation, who are now known as, “the saints of God.”
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 25, 2022
