Death of death in the death of Christ - Owen - IV - Chapter 8 of Book 1

Required reading
Death of death in the death of Christ by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 8 of Book 1.

My summary
Now Owen answers objections to his assertion that Christ's sacrifice and intercession are both for the elect alone.

The first objection with Scripture proofs is that 'the mediation of Christ is both more general and more special; — more general, as he is the ‘one mediator between God and men,’ 1 Tim. ii. 5; and more special, as he is ‘the mediator of the new testament, that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,’ Heb. ix. 15. According to that it is said, ‘He is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe,’ 1 Tim. iv. 10. So in all the offices of Christ, the priest, the prophet, the king, there is that which is more general, and that which is more special and peculiar.”'

The second objection with Scripture proofs is that 'Christ...in some sort intercedeth and putteth in for transgressors, even the sons of men, yet in and of the world, that the Spirit may so still unite and bless those that believe on him, and so go forth in their confessions and conversations, and in the ministration of the gospel by his servants, that those among whom they dwell and converse might be convinced and brought to believe the report of the gospel, Isa. liii. 12; as once, Luke xxiii. 34; as himself left a pattern to us, John xvii. 21–23; that so the men of the world might be convinced, and the convinced allured to Christ and to God in him, Matt. v. 14–16; yea, so as that he doth in some measure enlighten every man that cometh into the world, John i. 9. But in a more special manner doth he intercede,” etc.'

The third objection with Scripture proofs is that '“As a priest in respect of one end, he offered sacrifice, — that is, propitiation for all men, Heb. ii. 9, ix. 26; John i. 29; 1 John ii. 2; — in respect of all the ends, propitiation, and sealing the new testament, and testification to the truth; — and of the uttermost end in all, for his called and chosen ones, Heb. ix. 14, 15; Matt. xxvi. 28.”'

What grabbed me
I enjoyed watching Owen answering objections by taking the Scripture proofs head on and paying attention to their proper contexts.

For example, in regards to 'Luke xxiii. 34, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”' as a proof that Jesus intercedes for unbelievers, Owen says: 'we must observe...That this prayer is not for all men, but only for that handful of the Jews by whom be was crucified. Now, from a prayer for them to infer a prayer for all and every man that ever were, are, or shall be, is a wild deduction.'

Poor exegesis equals poor theology.

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 1 and 2 of Book 2.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.