We are not surprised, therefore, that we have in Scripture such explicit
statements as to the universality of the Atonement. I was brought up in
that church which is identified with the theory of a limited Atonement.
At an early age, however, I took the larger view of the Atonement, and I
hold that view with increasing conviction now. In fact I do not see how
the idea of a limited Atonement ever came to command the assent of
intelligent men, except that it was found to be necessary as a part of
a preconceived system of theology.
* * * * *
Surely it was a great pity that men thought it necessary in bygone years
to make their systems of theology so complete. Of course they are
complete in the divine mind. But they cannot be so in ours. We see but a
short way into the whole scheme of things. And when men thought that
God's plan of grace is restricted to the present life, it is not so
surprising that they favored the idea of a limited Atonement. They
believed that air of God's purposes of salvation are realized in this
life. But when we realize that God's saving plans extend into the next
life, it is not hard to believe in the Atonement being universal. Thus
we can take the plain statements of Scripture in their obvious sense,
without twisting them into unison with some preconceived theory.
In my view we ought to accept the plain statements of the Word of God.
If they seem to involve impossibilities, let us wait for further light.
To me it seems that universal Atonement involves universal Restoration:
and that idea solves the whole difficulty.
A noted Professor of Theology once sought to entrap me on that very
point. I took a firm stand on the universal theory of the Atonement, He
wanted to know what that would lead to; evidently hoping to commit me to
Universalism. I said that if it was revealed we ought to accept it, no
matter what it led to. At that time I had not accepted the idea of
Restoration, but I strongly believed in the universality of the
Atonement. Now the idea of Restoration rounds out and completes
that view.