Under the Law the fullness had to be paid. (we know this was done by our Saviour)
We just need to grasp what exactly was paid for.
There are two things to consider.
1. The law of 'wages of sin is death'.
2. God's punishment Rom 2:6 en route to those judged as wicked John 3:19.
Jesus died for point 1, He cannot help anyone with point 2.
Example, God's wrath / judgement / decision on the people of Sodom was and is final. They did not make it to Abraham's bosom in Hades. They will not escape the eternal lake of fire.
Likewise, wicked people today who die without any desire to repent, they too benefit absolutely zero from the cross.
Now we know that in the OT, before the cross, there were two homes in Hades for those failing at point 1. The sinners who would not repent were with the rich man and those sinners who did repent were with Lazarus. This split is evidence of point 2.
Point 1 and 2 are completely unrelated punishments. If Jesus never went to the cross, all would be in death, but not all would be receiving / deserving of point 2.
Back to the chicken and the egg... does one repent without first experiencing the Grace of God?
Yes. All of mankind is accountable for sin because of their intelligence level. Our brain can grasp the difference between good and evil. God paid Cain a visit after he killed his brother. Would God have paid Cain a visit if He thought Cain did not have the ability to grasp his actions and repent? I think not.
The reality / evidence / knowledge of good and evil is all around us. Wicked people have absolutely no excuse as they can all see and grasp the sweetness and innocence of babies and children for example.
They know that a judgement day is coming. It is impossible for any working brain to come to a different conclusion. Highly intelligent mind + evidence of the choice of good and evil all around us = inevitable judgment day. A fisherman who catches a fish can take the hook out and throw the fish back in the water or leave the hook in and watch the fish suffocate to death in pain. If they allow the latter, they are not ignorant to their wickedness. Our brains work to justify our actions all day. We know when we fail. Or at least we may recall such a time. As there is self induced brainwashing that takes place among the wicked. One of the reasons wicked person finds a belief like atheism attractive.
I would say, we in the NT are privileged. We can grasp and experience the love and grace of God on another level. Because the Holy Spirit is here.
It is just
paramount to grasp that we are
not given partiality over those in the OT. This privileged experience is not 'being privileged'. The revelation of Jesus happens at the
same time we repent. The thoughts of a good God (if we have them) that lead up to repentance are the same for all, from day one to today.
God is good. There is no darkness in Him at all. He shows ''NO'' partiality. He gives those living after the cross ''NO'' unfair advantage over those living prior.
oh, yes, how do we get to that place to begin with? Could it be that we are drawn to it? By Who or what?
A working brain / conscience. A mental decision to hate what is wicked and repent / make amends / deal with it. A hearts desire to be good vs wicked.
We need to grasp with crystal clarity the fact that people reject the light because they love the darkness.
Not because they were never smothered in or drawn to the light.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The light comes
to all. This can also be explained as Jesus knocking on the doors to all our hearts.
and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
