Question/Objection to UOJ:
Aren’t all people justified/forgiven through faith alone?
Defense for UOJ (Part 5 of 5):
If faith completes justification, Jesus’ words, “It is finished.” become invalidated.
The argument suggests that since, Jesus could not have lied or been mistaken when he said, “It if finished” then, UOJ must be true.
Analysis:
Here again, we have an obviously faulty conclusion built upon flawed reasoning.
Again, I have to say, “Really? There’s no other possible conclusion?” Think about this carefully.
What is finished? What exactly did Christ mean when he said, “It is finished.” and how does anyone know for certain?
Did Jesus mean he had paid the full redemption price? Did he mean that the Father had poured out the fullness of his wrath against all sin – enough to exact a full payment for sin? Even if Christ meant that God had poured out the fullness of his wrath, does this mean no one could possibly experience the wrath of God, after the time of the cross? Did he mean that the Father had objectively justified the whole world and not even faith was necessary for salvation? Did he mean that the Father had objectively justified the whole world, but that faith was still necessary for salvation? Did Jesus mean that everything was completely accomplished and that everyone since the time of his death on the cross is in heaven…that this is it…the end has come and we’re all experiencing it? Did Jesus simply mean that it had been a long and brutal day and now his day (and his life) was coming to an end?
While some of these examples may be easily ruled out based on the context of the rest of Scripture, you hopefully get the point.
What exactly encompasses Jesus’ statement of completion. Did Jesus spell it out for us before he gave up his spirit and died? No. Did the apostles specifically comment on these words from the cross? No. How does anyone know precisely what exactly was included in the “completed” work of Christ, particularly since Christ is still at work in the world?
Proponents of UOJ would have us believe that “It is finished” very specifically refers to the whole work of the objective (yet, not the subjective) aspect of UOJ. Moreover, they would have us believe there is no other possibility, otherwise Christ’s words become invalid.
But, isn’t it ultimately completely arbitrary to try to attach a specific meaning to these words from the cross, and then conclude everything else falls outside of the realm of possibility and is therefore wrong?
Think about it.
That’s like my saying, “Universalism must be true because Jesus said ‘It is finished.’ To suggest that all people only come to have salvation and eternal life through faith, would mean that faith completes salvation and eternal life, which would invalidate Jesus’ words. Therefore, universalism must be true.” Of course, I don’t actually believe this, but by using the same logic as the proponent of UOJ, I could make this argument and declare it to be true.
How about a couple of other examples?
“If subjective justification were needed in order to lay hold of the benefits of objective justification, then subjective justification could not be true. Why? Because Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’”
Or, “If Christ said, ‘It is finished.’ then how could anyone come to have justification, forgiveness, eternal life, or…(fill in the blank) after his death on the cross, since he already said everything was completed?”
The point being, anyone could arbitrarily pick anything he wants in regard to matters of the Christian faith and say, if something comes after, then Christ’s words from the cross are invalid.
Did I mention arbitrary?
Scripture does not expressly define the exact details of the meaning behind Jesus’ words, “it if finished.” and therefore neither should we.
For me, it is enough to know that what Jesus meant was that everything necessary (whatever that may include) to please and to satisfy the Father, in regard to his incarnation as Savior, is complete.
He and the Father know all the ins and outs and the inner workings of all of the intimate, nitty-gritty details of the whole kit-and-caboodle…and have not shared it all with me.
Then…
Then, Jesus rose from the grave to prove it was so. And, I’m good with that!
I don’t need to know anything else, or to pretend that I do. And, anyone who proclaims to know more…well…I’ll let you complete that thought for yourself.
As for me, I am finished.
…well, with this particular analysis, not with the whole website or with the whole of my life. Oh, look…my “I am finished.” statement is still valid, even though it could have had any number of possible meanings. 😉
Which is more consistent with the entire testimony of Scripture, UOJ or JIC?