The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-27
HINTS ON CERTAIN TEXTS AND
TOPICS.

THE UNIvERsALIsT has recently
received various requests for expla-
nations of texts, and a statement
of our UNCONVENTIONAL views on impor
tant subjects. We cannot give at pres
ent any extended answers to these re-
quests, and commend the regular and
careful reading of the paper for infor
nation on this class of subjects in
general. From time to time texts are
incidently explained, and the views of
our church presented in regular articles.
The careful reader will find in this way
many of these special subjects discussed
with much more care and fullness than
we can devote to them.
The Atonen,ent is one of those sub.
jects which is frequently explained in
our columns. investigator" wishes
to know the views of our denomination
in regard to this doctrine. We reply
briefly that the Universalist church
repudiates the idea that Christ came
to make an atonement to an angry God
for the sins of mankind, in order to
save them from an endless punishment,
or that he suffered vicariously for the
race. The atonement in the Universe
list view, is the reconciliation-the
reconciliation of man to God-not as
the church teaches, of God to man.
God was in Christ reconciling the world
unto himself; in other words, bringing
mankind into state of unity or atone
ment with the Father, and thus over
co ming the evil influence and aliena-
ting powers of sin. The word 'atone-
ment" occurs only once in the Tesla
ment, Rom. v. 2. Itdoes not carry with
it the idea of substitution, nor is it
afame with the vengence of heaven; but,
on the contrary Its tender significance is
reflected throughout the sacred record
and invariably means the reconcilia-
ton of man to his maker. The true
view of the atonement is very beauti-
fully set forth in such scriptures as the
following: Rom. v. 10-11, Cor. v. 49,
20, Col. l. 1920. If Investigate"
will read these passages without any
preconceived opinions Of the atonement
as satisfaction rendered by Jesus
Christ to an Iincensed Deity, he will
have no difficulty in understanding the
sublime teaching of the New Tesla
ment on this subject.
John, Xxx, %. Another of our read
ers wishes an explanation of this verse.
The passage is that in which our Lord
after comforting the holy Spirit on his
disciples, said to them: "Whose soever
sins ye remit, they are RENTED unto
them, and whose soever sins We retain,
they are retained" This is not to be
understood as authority for the for
giveness of sin personally by the disci-
pies for we know that man cannot for
give sins that power belongs only to
God. The meaning is that as the fol-
lowers of our Lord were now inspired
for their mission, they would be en-
abled to declare the principles on which
the divine forgiveness could be secured;
the terms and conditions on which God
would forgive sin. They were hence
forth his inspired ministers. They
were to go and preach the kingdom of
God, publishing these principles, and
God would sanction their promises to
men made in his name, and by the gift
of the Holy Spirit. No branch of the
Protestant church, with the exception
of the extreme Ritualists and Semi
Romanists of the Episcopal commun-
ion, will contend that any power re-
sides in man-apostle, priest or minis
ter-to forgive sin. The Roman Cath
olic church, however, teaches this doc
trine, and relies ON this passage for au-
thority. But there is no proof that
any of the power conferred on the dis
ciples was to be handed down from
generation to generation. We recog-
niZe no such necessity in the present
case. The authority with which Jesus
invested the disciples was that of un-
the original conditions and
principles of divine forgiveness. They
were authorized to pronounce that for
giveness because they would be endow-
ed with true spiritual discernment,
and with 1.-the capacity of knowing
the conditions Of forgiveness
were fulfilled or not"
ReU. Xxx, Is. Still another friend is
troubled about this passage, and writes;
II am in sympathy with the Universal
ist faith, but this Scripture 1 cannot
make harmonic with universal sal
vation." The passage is that which
speaks of "death and hell, being least
into the lake of fire." declaring 'this is
the second death" 1t should be very
plain to the mind of even our friend, |
that if he is inclined to interpret this
text in favor of the doctrine of the pop
ulaT church, that "hell" is out of the |
question as the final receptacle for sim
ners, for it is here represented as de-