“In the ancient world, people regularly sacrificed animals” to the gods, both in apology and thanksgiving (Bell 123). True. But this didn’t just happen in the ancient world. It is still happening today. However, since Bell is contrasting this with the words of the author of Hebrews, we can probably assume that he is probably not saying that no one does this now.
“So when the writer of Hebrews insisted that Jesus was the last sacrifice ever needed, that was a revolutionary idea” (124). This was indeed a very revolutionary idea. God, to whom the people sacrificed, had provided for Himself the perfect sacrifice. But to the Jews, this was not as astounding as it was to the Gentiles. God is loving and compassionate. He is not fickle. The false gods of the Gentiles were easily offended, and dangerously fickle. Where God is slow to anger, the false gods of the Gentiles had to be continually appeased. These false gods would never have considered providing the sacrifice themselves for themselves. Not that these false gods actually existed. Even if a demon were to pretend to be one of these beings, it would not actually be the being of the myth.
Bell goes on to talk about words used to describe the results of what Jesus did on the cross: “reconciliation” (125), “justified” (125), “destroyed death” (126), “redemption” (126). He is correct when he says that all of these understandings of what Jesus did at the cross are correct.
Here is a quote from this chapter that I like: “The point then, as it is now, is Jesus. The divine in flesh and blood. He’s where the life is” (128).
The only real issue I had with Bell in this chapter is that he still sees the gospel as something it is not. If everyone is to be saved, then why do we need to preach? Why would Jesus give the Great Commission? If there is no Bad News, then why were we sent the Good News? If Jesus death atones everyone, whether they want it or not, then it doesn’t matter what anyone does. In fact, the entire Law would be meaningless. It would have been pointless for God to send the Prophets. After all, if everything was going to be taken care of, no matter what the people did, why should God tell them to stop sinning? Why would John the Baptizer have been sent to proclaim the need for repentance? After all, everyone is going to be saved regardless.
The whole idea that God will save everyone guts Scripture and makes the gospel meaningless. Bell’s view would make God all Love. It is true that God is Love, but He is also Just. He is also Righteous and Holy.
“The beginning of wisdom is to fear the LORD, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:1, NET). Yet, if God is as Bell claims, then there is no reason to fear Him. Bell’s ideas make God a harmless teddy bear that could never harm anyone. But this is not the God of the Bible.
A Lesser Son of the King
Copyright RL
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