Death of death in the death of Christ - Owen - XI - Chapters 8 & 9 of Book 3

Required reading
Death of death in the death of Christ by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 8 and 9 of Book 3.

My summary
This week Owen takes a digression from his list of arguments against universal redemption.

Basically Owen spends two chapters answering a false understanding that someone known to him held.  The misapprehension was: 'That the eternal, unchangeable love of God to his elect did actually instate them in such a condition as wherein they were in an incapacity of having any satisfaction made for them: the end of that being to remove the wrath due unto them, and to make an atonement for their sins; which, by reason of the former love of God, they stood in no need of, but only wanted a clear manifestation of that love unto their souls, whereby they might be delivered from all that dread, darkness, guilt, and fear, which was in and upon their consciences, by reason of a not-understanding of this love, which came upon them through the fall of Adam.'

Owen then unpacks the meaning of Christ's death to show that this belief is false.

What grabbed me
The teaching that Owen was attacking today smelt very much like the 'new perspective on Paul' that is causing considerable damage in certain areas today.  Evidently, there is nothing new under the sun.

I did enjoy Owen's brief exposition of 2 Corinthians 5:21: 'As, first, 2 Cor. v. 21, “He made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.” “He made him to be sin for us;” how could that be? are not the next words, “He knew no sin?” was he not a Lamb without blemish, and without spot? Doubtless; “he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” What then is this, “God made him to be sin?” It cannot be that God made him sinful, or a sinner by any inherent sin; that will not stand with the justice of God nor with the holiness of the person of our Redeemer. What is it, then? “He made him to be sin who knew no sin?” Why, clearly, by dispensation and consent, he laid that to his charge whereof he was not guilty. He charged upon him and imputed unto him all the sins of all the elect, and proceeded against him accordingly. He stood as our surety, really charged with the whole debt, and was to pay the utmost farthing, as a surety is to do if it be required of him; though he borrow not the money, nor have one penny of that which is in the obligation, yet if he be sued to an execution, he must pay all. The Lord Christ (if I may so say) was sued by his Father’s justice unto an execution, in answer whereunto he underwent all that was due to sin; which we proved before to be death, wrath, and curse.'

Christ did not become a 'sinner' at the cross.

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 10 and 11 of Book 3.

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