Death of death in the death of Christ - Owen - VII - Chapters 4 & 5 of Book 2

Required reading
Death of death in the death of Christ by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 4 and 5 of Book 2.

My summary
Today Owen addresses the distinction that is made by Arminians between the impetration and application of Christ's death. 

In Chapter Four Owen firstly explains their argument: 'They say, then, that in the oblation of Christ, and concerning the good things by him procured, two things are to be considered:— First, The impetration, or obtaining of them; and, secondly, The application of them to particular persons. “The first,” say they, “is general, in respect to all. Christ obtained and procured all good things by his death of his Father, — reconciliation, redemption, forgiveness of sins, — for all and every man in the world, if they will believe and lay hold upon him: but in respect of application, they are actually bestowed and conferred but on a few; because but a few believe, which is the condition on which they are bestowed. And in this latter sense are the texts of Scripture which we have argued, all of them, to be understood. So that they do no whit impeach the universality of merit, which they assert; but only the universality of application, which they also deny.”'

Then after stating their view, in his second main point Owen attacks it - particularly by showing that God's redemption is not conditional.

Then in his third main point Owen gives his own view: 'God, out of his infinite love to his elect, sent his dear Son in the fulness of time, whom he had promised in the beginning of the world, and made effectual by that promise, to die, pay a ransom of infinite value and dignity, for the purchasing of eternal redemption, and bringing unto himself all and every one of those whom he had before ordained to eternal life, for the praise of his own glory.'

Chapter Five then provides some further brief arguments that the application and impetration of the death of Christ cannot be separated.

What grabbed me
I loved the affirmation of the unconditionality of God's will in saving us: 'That the will of God is not at all conditional in this business, as though he gave Christ to obtain peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness of sins, upon condition that we do believe. There is a condition in the things, but none in the will of God; that is absolute that such things should be procured and bestowed...That all the things which Christ obtained for us are not bestowed upon condition, but some of them absolutely. And as for those that are bestowed upon condition, the condition on which they are bestowed is actually purchased and procured for us, upon no condition but only by virtue of the purchase. For instance: Christ hath purchased remission of sins and eternal life for us, to be enjoyed on our believing, upon the condition of faith. But faith itself, which is the condition of them, on whose performance they are bestowed, that he hath procured for us absolutely, on no condition at all; for what condition soever can be proposed, on which the Lord should bestow faith, I shall afterward show it vain, and to run into a circle.'

The only reason we are saved is because God chose to save us.  No 'ifs'.  No 'buts'.  No conditions.

Next week's reading
Commence Book III by reading Chapters 1 and 2.

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