False Doctrines and the Atonement by John N. Quinn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 9, 1907

False Doctrines and the Atonement

By John N. Quinn

JOHN N. QUINN

FROM the beginning, Satan’s determined purpose has been to make of no effect the atonement of the Lord Jesus. His methods have been various—by instilling doubt into the mind of the believer; by arousing a spirit of opposition and persecution, causing timid souls to refrain from deciding for Christ.

One of his shrewdest, most deceptive ways has been to introduce doctrines which completely annihilate even the possibility of an atonement. Among these are the natural immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness.

The Lord Jesus was made in all points like unto his brethren, partaking of flesh and blood with them. Now if all men possess inherent immortality, so also did Christ; this would mean that when he came to the cross, only his body died, the soul continuing in existence in the presence of God. Thus we would have but a human sacrifice, which is altogether insufficient. To illustrate: Murder is committed, and after a just trial, the murderer is sentenced to die. He pleads for life; but the law has been transgressed, and demands satisfaction—he must die. In his desire to live, he suggests that if the taking of life is all that is necessary, the constable be sent to his home, where a dog may be found to which the condemned man is much attached. “Then, judge, erect your scaffold; place the rope around the dog’s neck; hang him till he dies.”

This would be regarded as contempt of court. No, the one offered must be equal to the law transgressed. Sin is the transgression of divine law, and a human being can no more satisfy its demand upon the transgressor than the dog’s death could satisfy the human

law. Jesus poured out “his soul an offering for sin,” which proves clearly that immortality is not inherent in the flesh.

The doctrine of eternal life in misery, based upon the doctrine of the soul’s immortality, also aims at the atonement; for if eternal life in misery is the penalty for disobedience, it would be utterly impossible for Jesus or any one else to meet it. The penalty unpaid, means the doom of the sinner. That the doctrine of eternal suffering had its origin in the mind of Satan is demonstrated by the mere statement of the doctrine, as witness the following:—

“Only conceive that poor wretch in the flames. See how his tongue hangs from between his blistered lips. How it excoriates and burns the roof of his mouth, as if it were a firebrand! Behold him crying for a drop of water. Suffice it for me to say that the hell of hells will be to thee, poor sinner, the thought that it is to be forever! Thou wilt look up there on the throne of God, and it shall be written ‘Forever!’ When the damned jingle the burning irons of their torment, they shall say ‘Forever!’ When they howl, echo cries ‘Forever!’

“ ‘Forever’ is written on their racks, ‘Forever’ on their chains; ‘Forever’ burneth in the fire, ‘Forever’ ever reigns.”—Spurgeon.

“The woes of sinners in hell will not be a cause of grief to the saints in heaven, but of rejoicing. Though they hear you groan, and sigh, and gnash your teeth, these things will not move them at all to pity you. After your godly parents have seen you lie millions of years, or ages, in torment, day and night, they will not begin to pity you then. The torments in hell will be immeasurably greater than being in a glowing oven, a brick kiln, or a fiery furnace.”—Jonathan Edwards.

“We are amazed to think of the brutality of Phalaris, who roasted men alive in his brazen bull. That was a joy in respect to that fire of hell. What comparison will there be between burning for a hundred years and to be burning without interruption as long as God is God.”—Bishop Jeremy Taylor.

Sunday sacredness is the third one of the satanic trinity, for once it is admitted that the day is sacred, then no one can be saved. Every soul in the world has broken the Sunday, and, admitting its holiness, has thus transgressed the divine law, and atonement is necessary. Atonement involves complete obedience, perfect righteousness. God declares his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. The Sunday-breaker confesses his supposed sin, inviting God to declare Christ’s righteousness for his sin. In order for God to do so, Jesus must have observed Sunday. No one believes that he did, therefore he has no Sunday righteousness to declare for Sunday-breaking. Consequently it is as clear as the sun at midday, that if Sunday became a holy day after the death of the cross, the world is without a Saviour. Christ by his death, made atonement for all sin; he made no atonement for Sunday work, therefore Sunday work is not sin, and Sunday not a sacred day.

How different with the seventh day! True, all have transgressed, but when confession is made, how quickly God declares Christ’s seventh-day Sabbath-keeping for the remission of the sinner’s Sabbath-breaking. The seventh-day Christian magnifies the atonement, while the Sunday observer makes it void, excluding the blessing which comes only from perfect righteousness.

Takoma Park, D. C.