Limited Atonement

Here is probably one of the most hated doctrines by Arminians today, Limited Atonement. Have you ever heard the phrase Four point Calvinist? Obviously one who denies one of the five points of Calvinism, usually the denied doctrine is Limited Atonement. Sometimes they refer to themselves as Christmas Calvinists since NOEL as in No L in T.U.L.I.P. My Father refers to them like this "A four point Calvinist is just another word for an Arminian." Reason being that all five points work together and if even one is missing then they don't add up with Scripture. OK I'm rambling, back to Limited Atonement.

Calvinistic View

Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation.

Arminian View

The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted
The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit's call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man's contribution) proceeds and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man's free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ's saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God's grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.

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OK, first thing I notice when I read the the Arminian doctrine is this, "The all powerful God is limited in power and forced to submit to the wishes of His creation and cannot interfere with them in the matter of redemption." Please forgive the sarcasm, but it kind of makes me frustrated. I mean man limiting God on what God can do with the SALVATION WHICH HE GAVE US! Look at the Scripture I used in the Unconditional Election post Romans 9:17-23. It seems very clear to me that God does what He wants with His creation. But the response to such a statement is usually this, "It wouldn't be fair for God it interfere in humans lives, He should let them make their own decision." *Blinks* Umm.. OK, where in Scripture does it say that? If you find it I would really like to see it. Also, who are you oh man to say what God should do? Number one, if God just set salvation in front of us so that we would accept it, we would not. We have no ability to do so. When our Representative Adam sinned the Original sin we were all made unclean and unable to seek for the things of God, slaves to sin. Number Two, not fair, really, you know what fair could have been? Fair is sending every single human in existence to suffer the penalty of sin for eternity in hell, that would have been fair. Which also would be what would happen if God had left salvation up to us. Number Three, like I said before, this idea takes away some of God's glory! God provides, man chooses a fifty fifty deal. But our existence is to only bring Glory to God, nothing else. So basically we are taking the glory due God and giving it to us! I have heard some say that "If God where to choose whom would be saved and Whom would not then that would interfere with Man's free will." First off, man does have a free will, not human ability. We have the free will to choose what we will wear, what we will eat and so on and so on, which of course all happens under God's Sovereignty. But we do not have human ability, that is the human ability to choose God. We lost that in the fall, and now only are able to choose one thing, sin. You see in the fall our nature changed, from a Godly nature, to a sinful nature. We cannot change our sinful nature, if we could then we could say that we are going to stop sinning and actually be able to do it! That just shows you how impossible it is for us to change our nature. God can change our nature however, and He changes those of whom He has chosen.

Lets look at this from a different view, God has three choices.

1. Save absolutely no one and let everyone receive their just punishment. This would be fair and just.

2. Save everyone by His grace and compassion. This also would be fair and just.

3. Save some by His grace and compassion and let some receive their just reward. This is just and fair.

So, which one can you find fault with? I can't find anything wrong with any of them. To quote R.C. Sproul in his teaching series "What is Reformed Theology" he says "I don't know why God doesn't save everybody, I don't know why He saves anybody!" Personally though I'm not going to try to figure it out either. I'm sure mostly all Christians (including me) wish God would save everybody. It seems right to our depraved human minds. But we are humans and do not have the same reasoning as God, not even close.

Lets look at the word "can" and "may" for a second. The Arminian doctrine is stated as this "Any human, of his own ability, CAN choose Christ and save himself." The Calvinistic doctrine says this, "Any human, of his own ability, MAY choose Christ and save himself." Can you tell the difference? Can has to do with ability, may has to do with permission. So basically we may choose Christ, but we can't choose Christ. God gave us permission to choose Him, but we do not have the ability to choose Him.

One more fact before I close. There is a question that remains un-answered in the Arminian theology. If Jesus died for every one's sins and payed the penalty for every human being how can God justly sentence anyone to hell? He can't, if Jesus died for every one's sins then everyone is pure and clean in God's eyes, so no one can go to hell, their sins are all payed for. But Scripture plainly tells us that some will go to hell, take Luke 16 for instance. A contradiction is plainly set forth, it doesn't add up. Whenever I debate Limited Atonement my opponents have never been able to give me a straight answer on this question. Why? Because there is none. Its simple, Jesus did not die for everyone, or everyone would be saved.

In closing I would like to share some Scripture supporting my belief:

John 5:21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.”

John 17:1-2 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.’”

John 17:9, 20 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours…I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”

Romans 8:32-34 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

Hebrews 2:14-17 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham . Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Hebrews 9:15 “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

1 Peter 1:1-2 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

1 Peter 1:20-21 “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

If you have any questions or objections feel free to contact me at andrew32693@yahoo.com. God bless you