<< previous (3:341) | next (3:343) >>

p460 * * * The doctrine of the Reformation put forth the view that Christ died to reconcile His Father to us - a statement every way erroneous, confounding the name of relationship in blessing with God in His nature; and teaching, what scripture does not, that Christ's work was to reconcile God to us, to change His mind. But others have used this to deny real propitiation and atonement.

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." He did not need to have His mind changed. But a righteous and holy God could not pass over sin as nothing, and if God so loved, the Son of man must be lifted up. God was not (as a heathen god) one who had to be propitiated that He might not be against us; but He did require that the righteousness and holiness should be maintained in the universe. I think you will find that the New Testament never says God was propitiated, but you will find Christ was an ἱλασμος for our sins. (1 John) And that Christ was a priest ἱλάσκεσθαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας. It is not, as in Homer, [Il. a 386] θεον ἱλασκεσθαι. We have the imperative in Luke 18 ἱλάσθητι, "Be gracious." We have never God for the object of ἱλασκομαι in the New Testament; but we have sins; and it seems to me to set the point on very clear ground.

I have elsewhere* fully shewn that to apply ἀνήνεγκε (1 Peter 2:24) to anything but what was done on the cross is simple ignorance of the use of the word. I add a confirmatory remark here that the three preceding words are in the imperfect, giving them a continuous character - ἀνήνεγκε, the aorist, shewing one special act.

{*["Collected Writings," vol. 7, p. 445.]}

[53342E]

This document may be found online at the following URL: http://www.stempublishing.com/authors/darby/letters/53342E.html.

You are welcome to freely access and use this material for personal study or sending to other Bible students, compiling extracts for notes etc, but please do not republish without permission.

With the prayerful desire that the Lord Jesus Christ will use this God-given ministry in this form for His glory and the blessing of many in these last days before His coming. © Les Hodgett .