When does Jesus' payment for sin take effect for a person?
Christ's payment for sin is sufficient for every human being, but it takes effect for an individual only when that person personally believes it. Until then, the payment goes for nothing for them; upon believing, they cash in on what Christ accomplished. This aligns with the context's emphasis on personal faith appropriating the finished work.
Les explains that at the heart of the Gospel is not merely that Christ died a martyr's death, but that God had eternally set in motion that He would shed His blood and pay the sin debt for the whole human race. Les rejects limited atonement, teaching that Christ paid the debt for every person who has ever lived. However, that payment goes for nothing until the individual believes it personally; then they cash in on it. So the payment is universal in provision but effective for a person only through personal faith.