Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.
Christ had to pay for every single sin of every single person who ever has or ever will live. He could not leave a single sin unaccounted for. If he had missed even one tiny sin, and that sinner chose to repent, Christ could not offer him perfect forgiveness and perfect salvation. God would be a liar. He has commanded all men to repent, and he must provide a way for them to keep the commandment. Therefore, if for no other reason, God must know everything. If we could surprise him even once, he would cease to be God, and we would be lost. As we are reminded elsewhere, however, God does not cease to be God, and so he knows all, and has atoned for all, and thus all can be saved.
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