If you are ever in an Evangelistic situation and don’t know what to say, or you are a pastor and don’t know what to preach; just say this, just preach this:
“God loves you so utterly and completely that he has given himself for you in Jesus Christ his beloved Son, and has thereby pledged his very being as God for your salvation. In Jesus Christ God has actualised his unconditional love for you in your human nature in such a once for all way, that he cannot go back upon it without undoing the Incarnation and the Cross and thereby denying himself. Jesus Christ died for you precisely because you are sinful and utterly unworthy of him, and has thereby already made you his own before and apart from your ever believing in him. He has bound you to himself by his love in a way that he will never let you go, for even if you refuse him and damn yourself in hell his love will never cease. Therefore, repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.” ~T. F. Torrance, “The Mediation of Christ”, 94
And then say, Amen, amen!
What a great quote! Now a potentially dumb question: did Torrance intend those truths for the elect only or for all mankind? (I’ve come to learn the hard way not to be presumptuous in this arena – e.g.”all” doesn’t necessarily mean all, the “whole world,” etc.) Thanks, Bobby.
I feel like I’ve failed you, Eric! π I hope it is clear by now that Torrance believes that Jesus died for everyone (for real, ontologically). So for all mankind or humanity. The quote is a great one! I obviously have it in my sidebar, but I wanted to highlight it even more π .
No, you haven’t failed me at all. I’m just a little gun shy on this issue and wanted to make sure I was understanding Torrance’s quote correctly. It really is a great quote.
Eric,
I was just joshing a bit. I understand why your gun-shy towards the doctrine of limited atonement or unconditional election (in its classic frame); I don’t like this either. Don’t worry, I will never endorse anyone on my blog who favors limited atonement or any of the classic or Westminster Calvinist stuff π .