The Death of Death in the Death of Christ - Book Four - Part Two

Extract

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ A Treatise of the Redemption and Reconciliation that is
in the Blood of Christ, with the Merit Thereof, and Satisfaction Wrought Thereby.
John Owen

Book Four — Part Two
Chapter 3

An unfolding of the remaining texts of Scripture produced for the confirmation of the first general argument for universal redemption
Next to the place before considered, that which is urged with most confidence and pressed with most importunity, for the defence of the general ransom, in the prosecution of the former argument, is, —

2. 1 John 2:1, 2, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Now, these words, and the deductions from thence, have been set out in various dresses, with great variety of observations, to make them appear advantageous to the cause in hand. The weight of the whole hangs upon this, that the apostle affirms Christ to be the “propitiation for the sins of the whole world;” “which,” say they, “manifestly appears to be all and every one in the world,” and that, —

First, “From the words themselves without any wresting; for what can be signified by the whole world, but all men in the world?”
Secondly, “From the opposition that is made between world and believers, all believers being comprised in the first part of the apostle’s assertion, that Christ is a propitiation for our sins; and therefore by the world, opposed unto them, all others are understood.” If there be any thing of moment farther excepted, we shall meet with it in our following opening of the place. Before I come to the farther clearing of the mind of the Holy Ghost in these words, I must tell you that I might answer the …