The “Justice Pickle”: Owen’s 6th Argument against Unlimited Atonement

Owen’s Argument 6: The “Justice Pickle” I owe the title “Justice Pickle” to Theojunkie. This argument is probably Owen’s most popular. P1: If Christ was punished in someone’s place, they don’t have to be punished P2: Some will be punished for their sins C1: Therefore, Christ wasn’t punished for their sins P3: Christ’s death was a penal substitution for those for whom He died C2: Therefore, Christ didn’t die for all http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.ix.iii.html Scriptures Cited by Owen Rom. v. 6–8, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Gal. iii. 13, “He was made a curse for us.” 2 Cor. v. 21, “He hath made him to be sin for us.” Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Refutation P3 is false. Christ’s death can be a penal substitute for all, because Christ died on behalf of all and His death will be a penal substitute for those who believe. Thus, Christ’s death is sufficient for all, but efficient for the elect. If P3 is true, we cannot be justified by faith. It’s a matter of both timing and conditionality. If P3 is true, and unlimited atonement is true all were saved at 33 AD, weather they believe or not. If P3 is true, and limited atonement is true, the elect are saved at 33 AD weather they believe or not, and the no-elect are lost weather they believe or not. Thus justification by faith goes poof. This is why Arminians see Christ’s work in two parts. He died for (on behalf of) all, but He intercedes for believers. His intercession is His requesting the Father to accept His death as a penal substitute. His death can be a substitute for all, but will be a substitute for only believers. It’s this second aspect that the passages above are talking about. More on this topic in my review of Owen’s introduction and distinction between Christ’s offering and intercession: http://danchapa.blogspot.com/search/label/H.3.a%20Death%20of%20Death%20in%20the%20Death%20of%20Christ

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