Universal Atonement

There are some verses of Scripture which surely go down in the history of the Word as verses most likely to be memorized.  Certainly, John 3:16 is one such verse and the entire 23rd Psalm is another.  The letter Paul wrote to the Roman church is filled with verses which have been memorized by many over the centuries and will likely to continue to be stored in the memory of generations of believers still to come.  In the fifth chapter of this letter we find two such words, "...at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.." and  "..God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us."  Romans 5:6, 8)  These words are certainly worth memorizing.    

Not only are these verses worth memorizing, but they also proclaim a powerful truth about God, His goodness, and our hope.  Jesus did not die on the cross because of our worthiness, or because He knew we were capable of doing all manner of kind deeds in His name, or because of the way we might make a difference in the Kingdom's work.  Christ did not die for saints, but sinners.  He did not die for the godly, but the ungodly.   

What is being put in bold print here for all of us to see is a Word about universal atonement.  The cross is not for a few good folks.  It is for all of us.  Through the death of Christ on the cross the divine gift of atonement is made available to every one of us.  In other words what Christ did on the cross is a gift that enables anyone who chooses to be at one with the Creator once again.  While the Word underscores the importance of the faith response to the atoning act of Jesus on the cross, faith has nothing to do with this precious gift being available to everyone man and woman who breathes the air of this earth.