"A strict substition for the elect is the primary benefits. Are there secondary benefits that even the reprobate reap?"
Perhaps my answer is too simple. If we believe that God's glory through Christ and the cross is the climax of God's plan, and the primary reason God created the universe, then 100% of all things that angels, humans and animals enjoy are secondary benefits of Christ's death. Paul tells pagans the gifts of God to them are "life and breath and everything," and "he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Paul told pagans who it was that they had been enjoying their whole lives–and if they turned toward Christ and his cross they would glorify and enjoy this same God forever. I believe there is no other reason that we enjoy anything but because of Christ's death.
It seems to me that to say otherwise would be to lower Christ and the cross from its central place in God's plan as the means by which God is glorified, and imply that all things were originally created with another focal point in mind. The cross ends up being plan B. It would be like a Calvinist pulling the rug out from under his own feet.
Perhaps my answer is too simple. If we believe that God's glory through Christ and the cross is the climax of God's plan, and the primary reason God created the universe, then 100% of all things that angels, humans and animals enjoy are secondary benefits of Christ's death. Paul tells pagans the gifts of God to them are "life and breath and everything," and "he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Paul told pagans who it was that they had been enjoying their whole lives–and if they turned toward Christ and his cross they would glorify and enjoy this same God forever. I believe there is no other reason that we enjoy anything but because of Christ's death.
It seems to me that to say otherwise would be to lower Christ and the cross from its central place in God's plan as the means by which God is glorified, and imply that all things were originally created with another focal point in mind. The cross ends up being plan B. It would be like a Calvinist pulling the rug out from under his own feet.