Evangelical and Reformed conceptions of what Jesus accomplished on the cross are so anemic.  It seems that our focus on the "limited atonement" has degenerated into a purely "religious" or "heavily" kind of outcome for the atonement.  Some individuals get saved.  But there was little or no effect on the world or general human history.  We don't seem to know how to relate the cross and resurrection to history and the larger world.  

 

As I said in my Good Friday homily this year (no posted yet), everyone who is alive is a beneficiary of the cross of Christ.  The Lord is the Savior of all men, especially those who believe.  All "common grace" is rooted in the cross and not some sort of general benevolence  of God that comes to people via some side track.  Just as Noah's sacrifices led Yahweh to be gracious to the world after the flood and promise "natural" regularities, so also God the Father, because of the death of Jesus, had mercy on the world and graciously allowed human history to continue.  

 

Perhaps if I get free some time (ha!), I’ll post a portion of my Good Friday homily.