The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Brenda Rivera of Orlando, Florida from the tape, GC 1301-O, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 17."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1978. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I want to clarify this. Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all men past, present, and future?

Answer

Right.

Question (continued)

Then can you explain 1 Samuel 3:14?

Answer (continued)

1 Samuel 3:14, “And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.”

I believe that the death of Christ was efficacious for the entire world. But I believe the death of Christ has to be appropriated. Now, I think that’s answering your question more than dealing with the text of 1 Samuel, but let me go a step further. Historically, there have been some who have said that because Christ died for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2. That’s very hard to deny that, a limited atonement view finds it’s waterloo at 1 John 2. So if Christ died for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world, then that has been done.

Now some have gone so far as to say, therefore, everyone’s sins in the entire world have already been atoned for and forgiven. All we have to do is simply take the gift or appropriate it. Now I wouldn’t go that far, I would say that the penalty has been paid but it is only applied through personal faith. And I think what you have then is that Christ has prepared a salvation for every person in the world if every person in the world accepts it. Now, if they don’t then it is not efficacious.

Now if you go back into the Old Testament what He is saying there is that the house of Eli, that is the role of the priest, the function of the priest, the exaltation, the lifting up, the righteousness of that house shall not exist again. I don’t think that in anyway reflects upon an inability of Christ's death to cover their sin, nor do I think it reflects on the fact that Christ didn’t die for them. I think that simply what you have there is a statement by God that because of evil and sin that house is removed permanently from any place of divine purpose or sanctification, and the house will not be purged or its iniquity purged, so that it can never again take the role of the priest. So you’re talking about a priesthood in Samuel, you’re talking about salvation in general in the New Testament doctrine of Christ atonement.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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