Message of the Latter Rain - Kelvin M. Duncan

Conclusion
Since there are different phases of salvation, justification, judgment, and
atonement, there are also different phases of forgiveness and pardon. All
mankind was, in a certain sense, forgiven at Calvary and placed under
probationary grace. This is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:19: "To wit, that
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them." In all of the 6,000 years of earth's history, God has
never imputed our sins to us, not even a single one to a single individual. He
has imputed all of our sins to His only begotten Son. Thus, we were born
forgiven.
We may all say with the Psalmist, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity and
in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). We were all conceived in
sin, yet we were born forgiven. God forgave us before we even realized our
need for forgiveness. This good news applies to the whole world. God has
not imputed sin to any of us. If He had, we would be dead. Thus, we
conclude that the whole world has been, in a certain sense, forgiven of all of
their sins, except for one. Whoever blasphemes the Holy Ghost "shall not be
forgiven" (Matthew 12:31). "He that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark
16:16). For this reason, many will be lost. And it is not because Jesus did not
redeem them "from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13). He "is the Saviour
of all men" (see John 4:42, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 4:14).
"Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3). The good news of the
gospel is for everyone. He has died for everyone's sins. Yet the plan of
salvation stands free of logical contradictions and unjust machinations. The
death of Christ for the sins of the whole world is actual and not merely
provisional. "We have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11). The first
phase of the atonement is complete and effective for everyone. "All alike are
justified" (Romans 3:24, NEB). Nevertheless, the plan of salvation does not
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