Joel Garver has a really interesting article here outlining a generally oriented FV position and I think rightly identifying it within the bound of orthodoxy. However my question would be 'Is the salvation that all covenant members, including those who will finally fall away experience, a benefit that is purchased by Christ's atonement and if so what does this do for our doctrine of limited atonement?' All of the benefits of salvation that come to the eschatologically saved are purchased by Christ’s blood. Do the temporal and yet shared and real benefits that come to those covenant members who will finally apostatize come to them in the same manner, as purchased by Christ, or is this merely God’s ‘common grace’, with the shared benefit’s that the ‘temporarily faithful’ gain merely by association.
Maybe this could be a false dichotomy, but while not all traditional Reformed thinking would not want to affirm the former, the later appears to prompt difficulties for FV proponents who want to promote an objective covenant where all within that covenant receive blessings by virtue of their own real and full inclusion.
Interestingly I think this is where the marriage analogy just doesn’t help. All those who receive the sign of the ordinance are truly found within that relationship and are recipients of such benefits as the objective relationship entails. But as the elect receive all of the benefits of the objective relationship they have entered into as the purchased gifts of Christ’s death – on what grounds do those in the covenant who will fall away receive the benefits that come to them. The marriage analogy does not seem to fit this at all.
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But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
