The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of....

Now I believe in Limited Atonement or Particular Redemption or Effectual Something or Jesus Death Works (really) or whatever we're meant to call it.

And no doubt From Heaven He Came And Sought Her would have sorted out every conceivable issue for me if I was strong enough to lift it.

But John 1:29 might look like a "problem text" for the doctrine: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

All the sins of all the world? Of course not. But why not? World in contrast to what?

Lamb of God suggests the Ultimate Passover Lamb which God has provided.

Whose sins did the Passover Lamb take away?

The sins of all those in Israel who had the obedient faith to avail themselves of the sacrifice.

Whose sins does Jesus the Lamb of God take away?

Not only those of believing Israel but those of all those in all the world who will put their trust in him. World is in contrast to Israel, not to Church here.

Simple and obvious when you think about it, really. Or at least, that would be one exegetical option!

Sunday's Gospel also fits nicely with the Epistle, of course: Isaiah 40:6

P.S. I'm told that Lee Gattis' little paperback, For Us and for Our Salvation: 'Limited Atonement' in the Bible, Doctrine, History, and Ministry, may also solve all issues!