Death of death in the death of Christ - Owen - X - Chapters 5, 6 & 7 of Book 3

Required reading
Death of death in the death of Christ by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 5, 6 and 7 of Book 3.

My summary
Yet another week in which Owen brings arguments against universal redemption. 

This week Owen argues that if we examine the words 'redemption', 'reconciliation' and 'satisfaction', we must reject universal redemption: '...let us consider some of the chiefest words and phrases whereby the matter concerning which we treat is delivered in the Scripture, such as are, redemption, reconciliation, satisfaction, merit, dying for us, bearing our sins, suretiship, — his being God, a common person, a Jesus, saving to the utmost, a sacrifice putting away sin, and the like; to which we may add the importance of some prepositions and other words used in the original about this business: and doubt not but we shall easily find that the general ransom, or rather universal redemption, will hardly suit to any of them; but it is too long for the bed, and must be cropped at the head or heels.'

Thus Owen spends Chapter 5 looking at 'redemption', Chapter 6 examining 'reconciliation' and Chapter 7 tackling 'satisfaction'.

What grabbed me
Owen does like to repeat some of his material, but it is still good to hear it again: 'Now, how consistent these things (in themselves evident, and clearly following the doctrine of Christ’s satisfaction, before declared) are with universal redemption is easily discernible; for, — First, If the full debt of all be paid to the utmost extent of the obligation, how comes it to pass that so many are shut up in prison to eternity, never freed from their debts? Secondly, If the Lord, as a just creditor, ought to cancel all obligations and surcease all suits against such as have their debts so paid, whence is it that his wrath smokes against some to all eternity? Let none tell me that it is because they walk not worthy of the benefit bestowed; for that not walking worthy is part of the debt which is fully paid, for (as it is in the third inference) the debt so paid is all our sins. Thirdly, Is it probable that God calls any to a second payment, and requires satisfaction of them for whom, by his own acknowledgment, Christ hath made that which is full and sufficient? Hath he an after-reckoning that he thought not of? for, for what was before him he spared him not, Rom. viii. 32. Fourthly, How comes it that God never gives a discharge to innumerable souls, though their debts be paid? Fifthly, Whence, is it that any one soul lives and dies under the condemning power of the law, never released, if that be fully satisfied in his behalf, so as it had been all one as if he had done whatsoever it could require? Let them that can, reconcile these things I am no Œdipus for them. The poor beggarly distinctions whereby it is attempted, I have already discussed. And so much for satisfaction. '

Indeed, this is strong evidence against universal redemption.

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 8 and 9 of Book 3.

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