From Harold Camping's book "To God be the Glory" - "Thus when Jesus went
to the cross, He was not there to pay for our sins" - Page 34
May 2, 2009 - Treasures from the Bible - Campingite show Saturday
Mornings on Family Radio aimed at children - They stated “that the cross of
Christ was a "show n tell" like in school.”
One of the new teachings spawned by Harold Camping dovetails his other
teaching that Christ died for our sins before the foundation of the world
and then later came into time and died on Calvary. However, Camping claims
that Christ did not come into the world to die for our sins but instead it
was only a demonstration of how He suffered before the foundation of the
world. We turned to the Bible to successfully refute the idea that Christ
died twice. We saw that the Bible emphatically declares that Christ went to
the cross once to pay for the sins of His people. This study is going to
reveal to us what the Bible teaches about the cross and whether it was a
demonstration or the actual payment for the sins of the Elect.
(Psa 16:10 KJV) For thou wilt not leave my
soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
According to Camping, he believes that the reason that
Christ’s body did not see any corruption was because when He went to the
cross, He was not laden with the sins of the Elect. However, this theory
does not hold water. Psalm 16:10 tells us that Christ was to be raised from
the dead before His body would see corruption from death. He was raised the
third day after His death. Now we have all been to funerals and right before
the body is closed in the casket, it looks just like it was when it was
first placed in the casket. What I mean by that is, for example, my father
died on a Thursday and his funeral was the following Tuesday, which means
there was 5 days between his death and his burial. On that Tuesday, the day
of the funeral, my father’s body did not show signs of corruption as of yet.
So Camping’s idea that Christ’s body did not corrupt because He did not have
the sins of the Elect on Him does not hold any truth. Psalm 16:10 teaches us
that Christ would be raised quickly because His sacrifice was completed on
Calvary and accepted by the Father.
Payment for Sin?
First of all, let us look at a very revealing verse concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.
(1 Pet 1:19-20 KJV) But with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: {20}
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
He was foreordained before the foundation of the world and was
manifested to us in the last times. In eternity past, Christ was
foreordained to be the Lamb slain for the sins of the Elect. The Bible does
not say that He was slain before the foundation of the world, instead it
states that He was foreordained in eternity past to be the sinless Lamb of
God who would be manifested in the last days by giving His life for the sins
of His people.
Rev 13:8 KJV) And all that dwell upon the
earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 reveals to us that Christ was foreknown
before the foundation of the world and what was really foreknown was the
fact that He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Before
the foundation of the world He was slain in principle but in the last days
He has been revealed to us. The word “manifest” in 1 Peter 1:20 is in the
Aorist tense which means that Christ was revealed at some time in the past
but that revelation continues today. The Aorist tense denotes some type of
past action without a set completion time. So the last days commenced from
the cross, in fact, Peter calls it the final or extreme end of days (last
times). Yet, we are told with the word times that there will be plural or
many revelations of Jesus Christ. This does not mean in a dream or vision,
it means when Jesus is preached and someone becomes saved, Jesus is revealed
in their life. The veil has been removed and they now see Jesus clearly.
(2 Cor 3:16 KJV) Nevertheless when it
shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
This means there has been many millions of revelations of
Jesus since the time of the cross.
When we see the word “from” it speaks of “from the time of creation.”
When we see the word “before” in conjunction with “foundation” it speaks
about “in eternity.” In principle, the Lord Jesus Christ was slain from the
foundation of the world for the sins of His people. Christ’s sacrifice was
planned back in eternity but did not become effective until Adam and Eve
sinned, and then the sacrifice of Christ, even though in principle at that
time, was now able to cover every one that God had named in the Lamb‘s Book
of Life for salvation. Then at a future time Christ came on the scene and
became sin laden with the sins of His people on Calvary, thus completing
God’s salvation plan and now the only thing left till the end of time is to
bring all the Elect to salvation.
(Eph 1:4 KJV) According as he hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love:
(John 17:24 KJV) Father, I will that they
also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold
my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the
foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4 teaches us that we were chosen in Christ before the
foundation of the world (eternity). John 17:24 teaches us that God the
Father and God the Son had an intimate relationship of love. Camping also
denies the eternal Sonship of Christ and claims that Christ became the Son
of God at His resurrection, but here in John 17:24, we are seeing the Father
and Son relationship. Jesus calls God, Father, and He could not do that
unless He was the Son back in eternity.
When we look at the Scriptures concerning the cross, we can find
evidence of only one description of the cross, not two. There is no way that
Christ went to the cross to pay for our sins and then on the other hand He
did not pay for our sins. We can only find one path in the Scriptures and
that is that the physical cross was the payment for the sins of the Elect
and there is no straight Biblical evidence that Christ died in body and soul
before the foundation of the world. In fact, there is not even an intimation
that Christ paid for the sins of the Elect before the foundation of the
world. The payment for the sins of the Elect was planned before the
foundation of the world but was executed in time. Let us now search the
Scriptures and see what we can find concerning the cross of Christ. Since
the entire Bible is about the Lord Jesus Christ (and not about timelines)
there are many Scriptures that teach about the cross which we will be unable
to include but I hope to sufficiently cover the subject.
Blood
(1 Pet 1:18-19 KJV) Forasmuch as ye know
that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and
gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; {19} But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot:
(1 John 1:7 KJV) But if we walk in the
light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If Christ died before the foundation of the world for actual sins, then
how could Christ, being Spirit, have blood to shed for our sins? According
to Camping, He went to the physical cross as a demonstration without the
sins of the Elect on Him. The problem for the Campingites is that the blood
was shed for sins on this earth from the physical body of Christ according
to the Scriptures and not in His spiritual body before the foundation of the
world, which would have no blood. If there was no blood to shed, then how
can the blood of Christ cleanse us from all sin?
(Heb 10:19 KJV) Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
When the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross, His blood allowed us to
enter the holy of holies, that is, into the presence of God Himself. The
entire Mosaic system in the Old Testament was centered around blood and it
was all looking forward to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. If it was
looking backward into eternity, then there would be no reason for the animal
sacrifices for sin since the shedding of blood would then not fit the type.
(Luke 24:39 KJV) Behold my hands and my
feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see me have.
When the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead and was on the
shore, He asked for something to eat. They gave Him a piece of broiled fish
and a honeycomb. Then He makes the statement found in Luke 24:39 that it was
really Him as He showed them His hands and feet. He told them that a spirit
does not have flesh and bones. Along with flesh and bones, blood is needed
for the completion of the body. So if Christ died in His spiritual essence
before the foundation of the world, no blood could have been shed.
(Heb 9:22 KJV) And almost all things are by
the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
This verse is probably the most preeminent verse on the subject. Here
the Bible straightly teaches that without the shedding of blood there is no
remission of sin. If Christ died before the foundation of the world in His
spirit essence, then there would have been no shedding of any blood and
therefore, based upon the above verse, could not have paid for the sins of
the Elect until He came into the world and died on the cross in 33 A.D. When
He became flesh and blood, then He was able to pay for the sins of His
people but not before the incarnation.
Evangelism
(Luke 24:49 KJV) And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until
ye be endued with power from on high.
After the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, He told the disciples to
wait in Jerusalem and they would receive the promise of the Father which was
the giving of the Holy Spirit. If Christ died and was resurrected before the
foundation of the world, then the giving of the Holy Spirit should have
happened the moment that creation happened. This, of course, did not happen
until Christ went to the physical cross at Calvary.
Christ and the Cross
In this section I want to look at some verses which do teach directly
that Christ died for the sins of His people on Calvary, in time and not
eternity. Since there are many verses on this subject, we will be unable to
hit every verse but will try and look at the most direct verses.
(Mat 1:21 KJV) And she shall bring forth a
son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from
their sins.
Here at the outset Mary is carrying the Lord Jesus and Joseph receives
in a dream that the baby was conceived of the Holy Ghost. In the above verse
we read why the Lord Jesus is coming into the world. He is going to save His
people from their sin, that is, He is going to fulfill the task of dying for
His people. Now it is interesting to note that the words “shall save” is in
the Future tense in the Greek. This means, that if Christ already died for
the sins of His people, then those words should be in the past tense.
However, since it is in the future tense, it means that it has not happened
yet and is determined for a future date.
(John 19:30 KJV) When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and
gave up the ghost.
If Jesus had paid for the sins of His people before the foundation of
the world, then the salvation plan should have been finished at that time.
Here in John 19:30, Jesus is stating “It is finished” just before he died on
the cross. This verse teaches us plainly that God’s salvation plan was
completed on the cross in time and not in eternity past.
(Col 2:13-14 KJV) And you, being dead in
your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Here is a verse which teaches that all the transgressions which we have
committed have been forgiven. That is, because when Christ went to the
cross, He took all our sins and iniquities, plus all the ordinances of the
law which we failed to keep and nailed them to His cross. This means that we
have been freed from the penalty of the law because of Him taking our sins
and nailing them to the cross. There were no nails or wood before the
foundation of the world because God had not yet created them.
(Heb 1:1-3 KJV) God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
{2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; {3}
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of
his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on
high;
Here we read that Christ had purged our sins by Himself. Christ was the
sacrifice for sins and after He had successfully cleansed the Elect of sins,
He went back to Heaven and sat down on the right hand of God the Father. If
Christ would have purged our sins before the foundation of the world, then
this Scripture would make no sense because how could He go back to Heaven
when He was already up there? This verse teaches us plainly that Christ went
back to Heaven after His resurrection and now He sits on the right hand of
God the Father.
(Mark 14:62 KJV) And
Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand
of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Jesus sits on the right Hand of God ruling, reigning, and interceding until
the time appointed when He will return to earth to bring all His children
home to glory and then begin the final judgment of the unsaved.
(Gen 3:15 KJV) And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Here is a verse which prophesies the death of Christ. If you notice, God
states that He will put enmity between the woman and Satan. Now if this took
place before the foundation of the world, where did the woman come from?
Adam and Eve were not yet created. So Genesis 3:15 is a future prophecy and
not a fulfillment of a past event.
(1 Cor 15:3-4 KJV) For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; {4} And that he was buried, and that he
rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Here is another premier set of verses as it speaks of Christ dying for
our sins, according to the Scriptures. The Scriptures were not yet written
until the time of Moses when he wrote the Pentateuch under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. Then over the next thousand years, others penned the
rest of the Scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Then these
Scriptures state that He was buried and rose again on the third day
according to the Scriptures.
(Psa 16:10
KJV) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption. (Hosea 6:2 KJV) After two days will he revive
us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Now in Heaven, there is no time, just eternity. So there
would be no days in Heaven, so how could Christ rise on the third day
according to the Scriptures when there was no days until God created the
world? These verses are speaking of the time when Christ went to the
physical cross in 33 A.D and not before the foundation of the world because
the scenario would not fit making these verses have no meaning.
(Mat 20:28 KJV) Even as the Son of man came
not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom
for many.
The Lord Jesus Himself states that He came not to be ministered unto,
but He came to minister and to give His life a ransom for many. If the
penalty for sin had been paid before the foundation of the world, then why
would He still have to give His life as a ransom for many, that is, He still
had to pay the penalty for the sins of His people. This was not accomplished
before the foundation of the world but as of the timing of this Scripture,
it was still a future event. The Scriptures states plainly that He came into
this world for the purpose of dying for His people. If this would have been
accomplished before the foundation of the world, then He would not have had
to die for their sins again because it would have been already accomplished.
(1 Pet 2:23-24 KJV) Who, when he was
reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but
committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: {24} Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead
to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Here is another premier set of verses which teach us that Christ bore
our sins on the cross at Calvary and not before the foundations of the
world. Camping states that when Christ went to the cross, He was not there
to pay for our sins. However, these verses in 1 Peter state exactly the
opposite that Christ bore our sins on the cross and coupled with that by His
stripes we were healed, that is, we receive spiritual healing for our dead
souls. He made them alive. The scourging and the crucifixion were one
cohesive event which brought about the salvation of the Elect and that was
done on the cross on Calvary, in time and not eternity. In light of these
verses, how could Camping make a heretical statement that Christ did not go
to the cross to pay for our sins when the verse is so plain that He bore our
sins on the cross?
(Heb 10:5 KJV) Wherefore when he cometh
into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a
body hast thou prepared me: (Heb 10:10 KJV) By the which will we are
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all.
These two verses teach us that God had prepared a physical body for the
Lord Jesus Christ when He came into the world. Then in verse 10, the
Scripture teaches us that it was through the offering of this body of Jesus
Christ on Calvary, that the Elect of God are sanctified, that is, they are
saved, because sanctified and holy are the same word in the Greek.
(Eph 1:4 KJV) According as he hath chosen us in
him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love: So these verses in
Hebrews plainly teach us that we have become saved through the body of
Christ who physically died on Calvary in 33 A.D, and not before the
foundation of the world. Once again there is no intimation at all that the
sins of the Elect were paid for before the foundation of the world.
Everything in the Bible points to Calvary!
(1 Pet 3:18 KJV) For Christ also hath once
suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Here is another plain verse which teaches us that Christ was physically
put to death on Calvary. It states plainly He was in a body of flesh and the
result of this would be salvation for the Elect. The verse stresses that
Christ suffered only once for this sins of the Elect and that was while He
was in His physical body on earth.
Summary
As we have plainly seen, the penalty for the sins of the Elect were not
paid before the foundation of the world. What we saw was that the death of
Christ was already planned as He was foreordained for this task. We looked
at ten sets of single and multiple verses and plainly saw that the atonement
for the sins of God’s people was planned back in eternity but fulfilled in
time. The idea that the physical cross was only a demonstration is a
ludicrous assumption because the Bible no where tells us or even intimates
that the cross was only a demonstration of how Christ suffered before the
foundation of the world. Christ bore the full wrath of God on Calvary for
the sins of the Elect and this we saw in the verses that we read and we did
not even have to over-explain or allegorize them because they were basically
self-explanatory. So once again, Harold Camping has created another teaching
which does not exist in Scripture and therefore must be rejected if we are
to remain faithful to the Scriptures.