Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland
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complete. S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> atonement is reconciliation<br />
with God, it is obvious that those who still have<br />
"<strong>the</strong> carnal m<strong>in</strong>d" are not yet reconciled to Him, for<br />
such a m<strong>in</strong>d is still <strong>in</strong> a state of "enmity aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
God." If Paul, writ<strong>in</strong>g years after <strong>the</strong> cross, could<br />
say to <strong>the</strong> Cor<strong>in</strong>thians, "Ye are yet carnal" (1<br />
Cor<strong>in</strong>thians 3:3), he meant that <strong>the</strong>y had not yet<br />
truly "received <strong>the</strong> atonement" (Romans 5:11).<br />
The legal or forensic justification provided at<br />
<strong>the</strong> cross is based on God's offer<strong>in</strong>g and gift for "all<br />
men"; but not until <strong>the</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ner hears <strong>the</strong> good news<br />
and believes does he experience justification by<br />
faith. So <strong>the</strong> atonement must be not only provided<br />
legally by God, but received by <strong>the</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ner through<br />
faith.<br />
This makes clear <strong>the</strong> need for a f<strong>in</strong>al atonement<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sense of a culm<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g growth of faith which<br />
heals all latent or buried enmity aga<strong>in</strong>st God <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
heart and m<strong>in</strong>d of <strong>the</strong> believer. This is <strong>the</strong> work<br />
that <strong>the</strong> enemy of Christ, <strong>the</strong> antichrist, has<br />
determ<strong>in</strong>ed to oppose to <strong>the</strong> bitter end, for if he can<br />
succeed <strong>in</strong> nullify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al atonement, by<br />
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