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Atonement Elder Bill Walden (dec)

Reference is made in the Bible to various worlds. In Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we
understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,...” Here we find many

meanings of “world,” including “universe” and “ages.” To say that the word “world”
in every mention in the Bible is the one Christ died for is to say He died for the “uni-
verse.” Paul said, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world.” Translated from the Greek here, world is “cosmos,” which means “earth.”

Christ did not die for the earth. As we examine the world in John 3:16, “For God so
loved the world," this can be none other than the covenant, or elect, world. “Behold
the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Luke 1:68: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his
people." John, in Revelation 5:9, saw the blood bought out of “every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation;...” and Paul was persuaded of the efficacy of the
blood of Christ for those whom God foreknew in the great covenant when he said,

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33).

We have great reason to rejoice that our Christ would condescend to die for sinful
mortals. As one inspired poet wrote, “0, wondrous love, to bleed and die; to bear the

cross and shame; that guilty sinners such as I, might plead Thy gracious name.”