Q1. Savior of the Nations

[Chris Colaco]

Q1. (Isaiah 53) From how large a group of people does God remove sins in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12? In what sense is this a universal sacrifice of salvation? 

Is 52:15 so he will sprinkle many nations..

This passage specifically speaks of the Nations...

As far as "my people" repeatedly mentioned by Isaiah..this refers to all those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord in other words every Christian ..the new Israel. But as mentioned He did not die for Christians alone but also for the "many nations". How do these members of the Nations claim the saving Power? By accepting Jesus too.

 

 

[Krissi]

I remember reading a description of how the number of people that God saves (via Christ or otherwise), is like a set of concentric circles. At first, in the centre of the circle, God saves only individuals, perhaps those who represent larger groups, but still individuals. Noah comes to mind. But then God's concern widened to include the Israelites, and eventually, God's salvation expanded to include all people, thus the universalistic thrust of Isaiah's passages.

The tension between our desire to think that ALL people will make it into the kingdom, and the reality of the Bible which clearly teaches that the road is narrow and the saved are few, isn't resolved in these passages. Here, universal salvation is presumed.

Jesus' sacrifice isn't wasted on anyone. Secular people and unbelievers, in contrast, waste His sacrifice.

[crissy464]

Of many, a portion of people who accept God will remove their sins.

The whole world

When people don’t accept him 

When they don’t accept his gift