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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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