Limited Atonement: God's Power to Save

Either Christ died for the ungodly or he didn't die for the ungodly. It doesn't say some of the ungodly. Christ either died while we were yet sinners or he died while we were not yet sinners, not just some of the yet sinners.

 

Although all 5 points of Calvinism are heretical (The P is not truly about eternal security) and some blaspheme God, yet 5 point Calvinists are right in that the 5 logically stand or fall together.
The T or the L alone give logical birth to the rest. That's how it developed historically.

 

The Calvinist view of Christ not laying down His life as a ransom for all is obviously false doctrine. Christ became the means of salvation for the whole of humanity, 1 John 2:2. He bought those heading for swift destruction, as we as those to be saved, 1 Peter 2:1. Since God desires all people to be saved, His plan provided the opportunity to be saved according to His plan to everyone exposed to the gospel of Christ.

 

Christ provides the means of salvation by means of God accepting His sacrifice for all humanity. That does not mean all humanity will be placed into Christ by God, only that anyone whose faith God credits as righteousness will be placed into Christ, thus saved forever. So simple a child could understand it.

 

I would say I have much harder times with Unconditional Election and Irresistible Grace rather than Limited Atonement. I think it makes sense that Christ's blood was ultimately shed for His sheep and not for His sheep and the goats. I would say if His blood was truly shed for the goats too then they would all be "paid for" and you arrive at Universalism.

From my Christian experience I am more of a TCLPP (Conditional Election and Prevenient Grace) rather than TULIP. Perhaps I've just experienced too much Free Will haha.

 

Question? Is the Lord Jesus only Lord over the saved or Lord over all?
Isaiah 45:23, ". . . I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. . . ."
Romans14:11, ". . . For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. . . ."
Philippians 2:10-11, ". . . That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. . . ."
Romans 14:9, ". . . For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. . . ."

 

John 3:15-18 says that the teaching of any "limitation" on the Death of Jesus Christ is a heresy. Not a single Calvinist/Reformed person has ever been able to show from this passage, that the Death of Jesus Christ is not for the entire human race. Even John Calvin himself said, that Jesus' Death is for "everyone without exception", on this passage, which is 100% Biblically correct. Neither is there a single verse in the Bible that teaches that Jesus Christ died only for the "elect". The fact that in Luke 22, and the Lord's Supper, Jesus tells the 12 Disciples, including Judas, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (verse 20), is very clear that Jesus Himself says that His blood was shed for Judas. That Judas actually took the Bread and Wine, that represents the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross, is also acknowledged by John Gill and Matthew Henry, on this passage, both Reformed theologians. In fact, Calvin, commenting on Mark 14:24, "And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many", which is part of the Lord's Supper, says, "Which is shed for many. By the word many he means not a part of the world only, but the whole human race; for he contrasts many with one; as if he had said, that he will not be the Redeemer of one man only, but will die in order to deliver many from the condemnation of the curse. It must at the same time be observed, however, that by the words for you, as related by Luke — Christ directly addresses the disciples, and exhorts every believer to apply to his own advantage the shedding of blood Therefore, when we approach to the holy table, let us not only remember in general that the world has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, but let every one consider for himself that his own sins have been expiated".

This is what the Word of God actually teaches, not man-made "theology" that is 100% against the Teachings of God Himself!

 

who is this directed at?

 

If "limited atonement" is correct, the passages like John 3:15-18, and Luke 22:17-22 is incorrect.

 

Disagreements more often than not are over what the text does not say. Either read into the text or a plain meaning is denied. Terminology can be a problem too. Sometimes translation used.
Romans 3:11.
1 Peter 1:2.
1 Timothy 2:6.
Acts of the Apostles 7:51.
John 10:28.

 

One of my study books: The Five Points of Calvinism, Defined, Defined, Documented. By David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas. Presbyterian
& Reformed Publishing Co.

 

Neither Calvinist nor Arminian. To me it is just to be Biblical. Using the five points as a templet. A view of a total depravity. Conditional but wholly unmerited on the elect's part. A general redemption where Christ secured redemption for the elect and to be Judge of the lost. Because of depravity many resist the sanctification of the Spirit. And as to those whom God saves He keeps. I have been a Christian since the summer of 1962.