LIMITED ATONEMENT

Let's start our study of the third point of the doctrines of Calvinism. This third point is called "Limited Atonement" - but is also called by some - "Particular Redemption" - same doctrine. "Limited atonement" simply put means that Jesus died for only certain people - His elect that He had chosen for this purpose before the foundation of the world.

"Limited atonement" is the hardest point for people to believe. People just do not want to give up their natural instinct that Jesus died for every single person who ever walks this world of ours.

It is understandable why it is so hard for the human mind to get rid of this idea of a universal atonement - which is the way the Arminians term their belief that Jesus died for everyone without exception. The idea of Jesus dying for just a limited number of people goes against the very grain of the intellectual mind's concept of what God can do to us humans. On top of that of course is the bombardment from all around us from every side by most religions of the world including so called Christians - that teach Jesus died for all.

Even many who say they believe in Calvinism balk at this idea that Jesus did not die for everyone without exception of those who pass through this world of ours

This is where the expression " four point Calvinist" comes from. Many say they accept 4 of the 5 points but just will not accept this one - Limited Atonement. But the four point Calvinist poses a problem - one that I have seen and I have noted that others with any amount of experience have also seen. And that is that if you fail to accept any one of the 5 points of Calvinism then eventually - oh, it may take years, but eventually, that person will end up tossing them all into the garbage and in essence become an Arminian if not in fact. At the very best a so watered down Calvinist that you could hardly recognize him as such. He would not have any idea of the true meaning of any of these doctrines even though he may speak about them the real meaning alludes him. This is why I believe it is so important to understand what was meant by each point - from the men who coined this system.

Why do men fall away from this system if even one point is not accepted? I liken Calvinism (or the doctrines of Grace) to a building with five columns supporting it. That building is dependent on all five columns - take any one away and the whole building come crashing down. Oh - maybe not immediately - but eventually the strain on the other four columns will be so great they will collapse and the building will fall. This is true of the Doctrines of Calvinism. Either all five points are true, or none of them are. One is dependent on all the rest.

In what way is one dependent on the others? Let's take a look at the one under discussion. If Limited atonement is not true I think any thinking person would soon realize that if that is the case there can be no unconditional election. Why? Well - If there was an unconditional election that would mean that God did elect for His own purpose certain ones out of the world population - yet Christ died for everyone according to the Arminian!! So the vast majority of the people Christ died for are in fact going on to an eternity in hell - but the ones God elected were saved in God's own time and will spend eternity in heaven with God. And yet God and Jesus knew that this would take place all along. So any body with any thinking power would recognize that this can not be so. So they do one of two things - accept the fact Jesus died for only the elect of God - OR - God did not elect anyone. That salvation is totally up to the decision of each individual. So there goes the second column of Calvinism.

Now comes another dilemma. If salvation is up to the decision of each individual then he cannot be Totally depraved - for Total Depravity means that a person cannot make a decision like that on his own. So down goes column number three. Now they fall real fast - because we must see that if Total depravity is wrong, if unconditional election is wrong - if limited atonement is wrong - then salvation must be up to the decision of each individual - then irresistible grace is wrong because God only calls but has to leave it to the decision of the individual. And last of course is the Perseverance of the Saint. It only stands to reason if the decision is all left up to the individual to be saved - to stay saved also is up to the individual. In other words if his perseverance was up to himself.

So as you see now all five columns have come tumbling down - all because of the unbelief in the one fact - Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for a select group of people - those same people that the Godhead had agreed to choose, ordain to salvation, elect, seek out in life and cause to persevere through life and eternity.

So once again I repeat - either all the five points of Calvinism/Doctrines of Grace are correct - or none of them are.

So the question is: When we speak of the meritorious work of Christ on the cross, do we rightfully say He died for all men equally and alike (as the Arminians say), or do we Calvinists more accurately state that Christ died for the elect only?

Let's see what the Bible has to say - and abide by its teaching - not base our conclusion on our emotions or denominational tradition on this vitally important issue.

Before going on to search scripture to see what it says I would like to make this observation on something I touched on back a bit.

If God died for everyone without exception then there are many whom Christ died for in hell right now, and many more in the future will end up there - and will be there for all eternity. Does that sound right to you???

Another thing we should consider along this line is this. If Christ died for everyone, what about those Old Testament unbelievers who were ALREADY dead and in hell long before Jesus died for their sins!! That would be absolutely pointless wouldn't it? And they are still there and will be throughout eternity. So you can see how limited the thinking of these Arminians are to be able to think in such an ungodly manner.  They are limited to the thinking of the inillectual mind - which falls far short of truth in spiritual matters.

Personally - and I admit this is my personal opinion - although I know of many others who share the same opinion - including C.H. Spurgeon - that this idea of people whom Jesus died for are now - or will, end up in hell is the grossest insult you can charge against Jesus Christ who suffered beyond human comprehension - and died in order for us NOT to end up there. This means also that Jesus was to a large extent a failure. The vast majority of those He died for are going to hell for eternity!!! What does that do to His credibility? Ruins it completely - how could you ever trust anything Jesus ever said or promised again? That is total - absolute blasphemy. I don't know how anyone - especially one calling themself born of God could insult God so.

The biggest obstacle concerning how to believe on this matter comes from how we view the word world.

In the gospel of John the word world has special significance. This word can be used in any one of seven difference ways. Let's look at each of these 7 possibilities.

1 - in its classical sense - namely, the orderly universe about us.

2 - the earth itself

3 - the human inhabitants of this earth.

4 - mankind under the creator's judgement, alienated from this life in the ethical sense. (The world of the ungodly).

5 - the public or general population of the territory around which Jesus lived and taught - the Jews in particular.

6 - the kingdom of evil forces - angelic as well as human related to the earth. (The evil kingdom of Satan on this earth now including human as well as Satan's angels.(the earth and its system under Satan's control).

7- And finally the word world can be use to pinpoint the certain individuals picked out of every tribe and nation. Note: certain ones picked - but not every one in those tribes or nations without exception.

Lets go over that again in a little more detail - the word world could mean - to all that God has created concerning the universe we come in contact with - or to the earthen sphere upon which we dwell - or to mankind as a whole - or to the Palestinian contemporaries of our Lord - the Jews in particular - or, to the evil forces related to the earth and in rebellion against God - or, to persons selected out of every tribe and nation upon the face of the earth.

Where ever the word World is used it must be dealt with in the context of the surrounding text - and if still in doubt consider other scripture on the same subject elsewhere and never let one contradict the other - never let an obscure passage contradict the plain teachings found elsewhere.

This word world should be dealt with in much the same way as the word "all". These are two small words that are a large obstacle to gaining the true meaning of a text because the reader can personally only assign one meaning to them despite the fact there are more than one meaning to the word as there is to most words in the English language,  and will not alter its meaning despite when obviously not meant in the context they are using them.

Let's take a look at an example: Let's read:

JOHN 12:19 -- Behold! The world is gone after him

Now - obviously it can not mean all of mankind without exception was following Jesus - for the speaker himself belonged in that category of belonging to the world, and he sure were not following Jesus, nor was everyone in the general population surrounding where Jesus was teaching following Him.

So we know that every human on the face of the earth was not following Jesus, and not even everyone of the local population - for the speaker also belonged to that category. .

So we must conclude that "the world" in this case includes only those - both Jews and Gentiles - who were from among the general population surrounding where Jesus was working at the time- who were identifying themselves with Jesus.

Notice: by looking at the text around the scripture we just read, why was it that so many were being drawn to Jesus? It was because they had just learned that He had raised Lazarus from the dead. That they liked and were willing to follow Him knowing He could do miracles. But remember what happened later when He started teaching Man's depravity and election. They changed their mind about following Him quite quickly.

JOHN 3:16 -- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

As mentioned before the word world does provoke a lot of controversy in the interpretation of many verses - and that is true of this verse before us. The Arminian logically, without due regard to context or scriptures elsewhere - assumes that the word "world" here means all of humanity without exception because he believes in a post-destination election - which means destiny determined after God foresees men's work of positive volition toward Christ.

But Calvinists logically assumes "world" here to be people out of a variety of tribes and nations of the world - but not every individual of those tribes or nations. Who is right? Let's study closely to see what scriptures say - including the ones Arminians use to prove their point.

This Calvinist assumption grows out of the conviction that the scriptures teach that election is based on God's eternal purpose which is not influenced by any condition on the part of man since man's will is not free, but bound by Satan, sin and death.

If one believes that the Bible teaches that God is sovereign, His plan immutable, and His election unconditional, you would have to conclude that the atonement is limited to those whom God freely wills to make the objects of His grace - or favor as used in this case. But of course it is those He shows favor to that He chose - predestinated - calls and will glorify through another usage of Grace - The influence of God's Holy spirit living in our hearts.

The Arminian view insists that it is man's own act of faith that merits his being elected according to the foreknowledge of God.

If that is so - then man is saved by his own works - not by God's grace - because he has done at least one thing pleasing to God - stirring up faith to believe - and all on his own! Paul understood the error of this and says clearly in:

ROMANS 3:24 -- Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Let's return to John 3:16 for a moment. Ask ourselves this question: "For whom did Christ die?"

Backtrack the verse with:

Who is it that will not perish but have everlasting life?

Who will it be that believe, according to scripture?

Who then is included in the word "world"?

Nearly everyone will agree that the answer to the first question is - "whosoever believeth on Him" One can't very well dispute that - it is written right there in clear language as part of John 3:16.

The Arminian will answer the second question this way: "Whosoever, of his own free will, chooses to trust in Christ"

The Calvinist will answer this way: "Those whom the Father chose in Christ of HIS own free will God will cause to come unto Him".

Now note something amazing. Both Calvinist and Arminians agree that "world" in terms of those for whom Christ died - here means out of every tribe and nation but not tribe and nation as a whole, since every one knows that not all will trust in Christ.

The Arminian must at least agree that although the blood of Christ is sufficient in value since it is the blood of Christ, and His death is of infinite value in the eyes of God - it is still only efficient or effectual only so far as the elect are concerned - whether one believes in conditional or unconditional election.

Really - if one would only stop and think - the Arminian view of universal atonement does not make sense. I have already given reasons for saying this. We know that all are not saved despite what the Arminians says - that Jesus died for everyone without exception. His only way out of this dilemma of lowering Jesus work to almost nothing is to do something even worse - lower God to a nothing. How do they do this? By saying that the will of God is foiled by finite man - because Christ - according to them - wanted to save everyone - but couldn't because of finite man's all powerful will.

Where does that leave God? As nothing but a week failure - a weakling that no one could trust ever again to get anything done. I hardly think thinking along these lines is a way to gain favor with God!!

It would mean of course that God is not omnipotent, or sovereign - that Christ gained only a small victory at the cross, since far more of mankind has died in unbelief than those who have gone to glory through faith in the Savior's finished work at Calvary.

Then there is another verse that someone is bound to bring up - they remind us of this verse, or this part of it:

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not willing that any should perish!

True - as far as it goes. But let's be fair and read the whole verse and adhere to the basic use of language and interpretation.

Begin by answering the question - "To Whom is this 2^nd epistle of Peter in which this statement is found directed to? Take a look at the apostle's introduction to this letter - who he is directing this letter to:

2 PETER 1:1 -- Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, TO THEM THAT HAVE OBTAINED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH WITH US through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

Jesus is talking to believers - both to the particular people who the physical letter was written to plus any one after, down through the ages who qualifies under - "TO THEM THAT HAVE OBTAINED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH WITH US" - WHOSE FAITH RESTS UPON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF God, and not on some condition of righteousness in and of themselves!! I doubt if Peter knew when he wrote that letter that it would become part of this book we know as the Bible. So directly he was talking to this church - saved people. But the Holy Spirit took it further and added it to the Bible and by doing so includes you and I and all those down through Christian history who come under his express address -"to them that have obtained like precious faith with us".

The next question - What is the context of the passage around which the verse in question is found? Now let's read the whole verse:

2 PETER 3:9 -- The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to US-WARD, not willing than any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Take a moment to study closely this scripture - Peter's statement is clear enough to an unbiased mind.

Give a fair answer to the question - "To whom is Peter addressing himself to when he uses the personal pronoun "US"? Does he mean everyone without exception - elect and lost alike?

Or - does his statement make more sense accepting that he is referring to the same "US" of 2 Peter 1:1 which we have already read about in the salutation of this letter.

The answer is obvious - Peter is speaking of believers ONLY when he says "US" - (or us-ward). Notice also that US-ward is the word just before the phrase the Arminians like so much to flaunt to prove their point. The answer to who he is talking to is right there - yet they just ignore that little detail. Is that practicing Christian honesty?

Why is the Lord long suffering? For the simple reason that He is not willing that any of "US" should perish - but that all of "US" should come to repentance.

We could read this verse in this manner - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness: but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any of us should perish, but that all of us should come to repentance.

And "US" in each case is referring to the "US" of verse 1:1 we looked at.

I think an even clearer meaning of this passage could be made if we read this passage:" The Lord is not slack concerning His promise , as some count slackness: but is longsuffering to us of HIS elect, not willing that any of His ELECT should perish, but that all of His ELECT should come to repentance."

I think if we look closely this is exactly what the Holy Spirit through Peter is saying.

A short distance back we were looking closely at a couple of verses which are the strongholds of the Arminians - John 3:16 and 2 Peter 3:9.

But on looking closely at these two scriptures we find that we can't honestly use these verses to support the Arminian position at all. To do so one would have to totally abuse the basic rules of interpretation of both the English and Greek texts by taking it out of context, or by just misapplying its meaning to their advantage not caring it contradicts the plain teaching of scripture elsewhere. Not a very Christian thing to do!!

Peter's position here is plain - as everywhere else his position is that Christ died for "US" (the elect) and not for the whole world.

Peter agrees with Paul who wrote:

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 -- For He hath made Him to be sin for US, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousnes of God in Him

ROMANS 5:8 -- But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Again - who is the US? He can not be talking about the world for he says immediately after this that we were once sinners. The WE is the same as the US spoken of earlier. They had been sinners, and while yet sinners Christ had died for them. But it says while we were YET sinners - which implies that now they are no more sinners - but saved by what Christ had done for them. The WE that had been sinners are the US that are not sinners any more but saved ones whom Jesus died for. Very plainly talking about saved people only - not the world as a whole. Scripture never is talking about the world as a whole when it speaks of US, or WE - it is always about the person who is writing the letter and those identifying themselves with that writer - very plainly - saved people only, the same as he is.

The only definition of the word world as used in scripture, that will fit every passage dealing with the salvation of the elect - is men out of every tribe and nation - but not every single one out of those tribes or nations - in other words not all mankind as a whole.

ROMANS 8:31-33 -- If God be for US, who can be against US? He who spared not His son, but delivered Him up FOR ALL OF US, how shall He not freely give US all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?

Who is the "US" in each case here. I think it is made clear in the last few words of these verses - "who shall lay anything to the charge of God's ELECT? Does it make sense that he would be talking about the whole world in the first part of these verses then suddenly without warning switch to talking about God's elect. Not one bit!! That is not a good use of language at all - and according to experts the Bible is an excellent book with excellent use of language.

Christ did not die for all men. Atonement is Limited - redemption is particular!! Only the elect was the object of God's love. Paul says specifically in:

EPHESIANS 5:25 -- Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it (the church)

For the church - which is made up of saved people - not everyone that walks through this life.

The "all" for whom the Saviour died are the elect whom the Father chose to give Christ as His bride "Holy and without blemish" before the foundation of the world.

He did not elect us because we're holy and righteous - or because He saw any righteousness in us or might in the future be in us - - but simply because of His own purpose and grace - without any other condition other than God wanted too. Paul says in:

EPHESIANS 1:4 -- That God hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame

Note that we are not chosen "because we are holy and without blemish before God" - but chosen "in order that" we will become Holy and without blemish before God. He is choosing us for the purpose of becoming Holy and without blemish. He will do what is necessary for us to become what He has designed for us. God has predestinated the circumstances that will lead each individual to what He has designed for that person.

We were predestinated "in love". No place in scripture is the term "loved by God" applied to anybody but saints. It is never applied to the world at large where the reprobate could be included.

On the latter - the world at large - the wrath of God abides. On the former - the world of the Godly - there is no condemnation.

Only the elect are the specific objects of the love of God. Let's take a look at:

GALATIANS 1:3-5 -- Our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for OUR sins, that He might deliver US from this present evil age according to the will of God our Father; to whom be the glory for ever and ever! Amen.

Who is the "OUR" and "US" here. I think a fair look at Paul's statement one would have to conclude that he is talking about US Christians - the elect. If he meant the population of the world as a whole then how could he deliver the whole population of the world out of itself? Foolish? You bet it is!!

There is a clear example that the Bible teaches limited atonement in the tenth chapter of John, our Lord identifies Himself as Jehovah, the Good Shepherd of Psalms 23. When He speaks of "His Sheep" it is obvious He is talking about those elect ones whom the Father gave Him for His own - He says in:

JOHN 10:14 - I am the Good Shepherd, and know MY SHEEP, and am known of MINE.

Who are the sheep who know Him and He knows in return. There can be no argument to the answer to that. His sheep are the believers - the elect ones - for the point Jesus started in John 10:14 is actually finished in verse 15 - let's go to that:

JOHN 10:15 -- As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep

Who did He say He gave His life for? Very plainly He says HIS SHEEP!! And as previously stated there can be no doubt when Jesus mentions "HIS SHEEP" He is talking about His elect. In other words when our Lord gave his life on the cross He laid it down for His sheep, His elect - chosen by God before the foundation of the world - who gave them to Jesus at the determinate counsel!

Not all men are included in the term my sheep. Therefore it is obvious Christ did not lay His life down for all men. To those there about Jesus who were not of His group He speaks out thus:

JOHN 10:46 -- YE believe not. (WHY) because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Ye - you people not following me. Why do they or most people not believe - it states here plain as can be put in any language - they are not Jesus' sheep - not His elect. To qualify as one who will believe at some point they must first be of Jesus sheep - which is another word for elect. The reprobate - the non-elect - the unbeliever is not included in those for whom Christ died. He died only for His sheep and His sheep only.

When God calls His elect by name - they will follow Him just as the Father predestinated that they should. Note again what Jesus says in:

JOHN 10:27 -- MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME!!

No if ands or buts - Jesus just makes a plain statement of what happens when He speaks. No question at all of the results!! He gives eternal life as a free gift to those whom the Father gave Him before the universe was created. Salvation is the works of the irresistible, omnipotent God, the one who is "greater than all others" - angels and man included. Let's see that in:

JOHN 10:29 -- My Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all

It only stand to reason that God is greater than all - man or angels. God created them all!! I rather doubt God is going to create something greater them Himself and let that creation control Him. I think any thinking person would have to admit that is totally ridiculous.

A fair evaluation of scriptures prove that they do NOT teach that Christ died to save everyone from their sins. Instead - we are told clearly that His death was designed for the salvation of the particular group of people God the father chose for that purpose before the foundation of the world. We call them the elect of God. This is clearly put in:

1 PETER 2:9  -- But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an Holy nation, a peculiar people;     (what for?) That ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

We (the elect) are chosen by God for a purpose - that is- in our lifetime we will be sought out and separated from the world as a whole for work that He has ordained that we carry out. We will be different (a peculiar people) from the rest of the world because we will have God's Holy nature in us making us stand out as different from the rest of the world - and will be hated because of this difference. The world won't know what makes us think and act so differently and we know that in general people do not like others who are different than themselves.(especially if they are superior - they will try to belittle and make inferior) We see that in race differences, in religious differences, in politics and even those who are not up to par physically. I know this because I personally have a serious disability.

Why do Calvinists believe in Limited Atonement? The answer to that is very simple - because Jesus Himself taught it - His Holy apostles believed and taught it. If they did - then we certainly should.

MATTHEW 1:21 -- You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin

ROMANS 5:8 - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for US

Again - who does the US refer too? I believe our study of scriptures make it plain that he is talking to those who believe and identify themselves with God and His Holy apostles - in whatever age - God's elect.

Before finishing with this doctrine of limited atonement I would like to go over another verse the Arminians like to boast as supporting their universal atonement. That verse is:

1 TIMOTHY 4:10  -- For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.

The Arminians take the few words "who is the Savior of all men" all by itself and try to tell us this proves that Jesus died for all mankind without exception. I suppose if that were the only verse on the subject in the Bible they might have a point. But it is not the only verse in the Bible on the subject so if these word do teach a universal atonement it contradicts the rest of the Bible in general - and that as we have learned before - is not a good idea in interpreting scripture.. No - I believe that this verse is saying much the same thing as this verse - only in different words:

MATTHEW 5:45 -- That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God does look after all mankind - saved and unsaved alike - but specially the just - just as the Bible says here in the first verse - "specially of those that believe". This is a good case in point showing how the Arminian will take any scripture that remotely supports their belief even if they have to forget all about the rest of the Bible and what it teaches elsewhere on the same subject.