Entering or invited?

[JonC]

Jon, should I answer knowing you already know? I will for those reading.

l hold these as foundational and totally agreeable with the most Scriptures.

1) The death burial and resurrection of Christ benefit only believers.
2) The blood shed was for all iniquity for all the creation. That does not mean atonement was made for all, for the atonement had multiple facets.
3) Therefore, it is right to say to everyone, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved,” for there is no more sacrifice to be made than has been made.
4) When one believes, that person is given eternal life because Christ rose conquering death and the grave. However, one who does not believe is already condemned.

I just don’t find “only the sins of the elect” as fitting the standard of Scriptures, for we all have, do, and will sin. That results in physical death. Those that do not believe face the second death (lake of fire).

Our late TCassidy put forth “sufficient for all, efficient for some.” I just could not come that far with the whole of atonement.

The blood covers all sin, but rebellion turns the heart and mind away from the light.

What would be our Lord’s response to your question? It would not be the, “I am the resurrection and the life, anyone …”

I understand the what. But I am wondering about the how.

Calvinism depends on the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement. I realize that there is a move away from the theory within Calvinism, however that would change the system all together. Without Penal Substitution Theory Calvinism (and Arminianism) falls apart.

So, if Christ’s death is effective for the elect, and if their sins are forgiven based on their sins being laid upon Christ, then what about the “non-elect”? If Christ did not die for their sins, then Christ’s death does not substantiate a legitimate “general” call.

I get the answer that the gospel message is a “general call”. But in reality, if Christ did not die for their sins, it is a general call to nothing.

This is what I was asking @Martin Marprelate . What exactly backs up this general call (what part of Christ's work is for those who will not be saved)?

 

[Martin Marprelate]

I have made posts similar to this one so many times that is is starting to become wearisome to me, and, I'm sure, to those who take the trouble to read them. However, having been requested, I will trot it all out again in a slightly different fashion.

Definite Atonement is found in may places in the Bible, but most evidently in John 6:39 and similar verses throughout John's Gospel. God the Father has willed that a vast number of people should be saved. He has given these to the Son to redeem, and the Son will lose not even one of them.
But the very next verse tells us that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life and that this also is the Father's will, and verse 37 tells us that no one who comes to Christ will ever be turned away.

Now since it is the Lord Jesus Christ who tells us these things, It seems to me that we ought to believe them. But some people seem to be worried in case one of the non-elect sneak into heaven while God isn't looking. I think they should let God worry about that. Others raise their eyebrows like Dr Spock and say, "Captain, this is illogical." Again, it is the Lord Himself who tells us these things and it is not our place to argue with the Almighty, but to believe Him and to obey Him.

Therefore I shall continue to proclaim Christ to whomever I have the opportunity and bid them come to Him. That is my work and the work of every Christian. Salvation is God's work, but He has chosen to use the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe, who will, miraculously, turn out to be those who were chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and drawn by the Spirit..