Jim, I am being gentle and kind as I respond not angry or mean spirited. I understand that textual communication can be difficult at best for a "complete communication". So the following is just "as I see it".
The atonement achieved on the cross is sufficient for all, but efficient for some.
Forgive me but this sounds like "semantics". If it is only "efficient" for a pre-selected subset of humanity, then that can reasonably and easily interpreted as being for only some. (Limited Atonement)
This is what EVERY theologian who is not a universalist believes. Arminian theologians believe this. This is not a Calvinistic thing- this is uniformly accepted by ALL reputable scholars.
No even Arminian theologian believes other wise.
On the crosses themselves, Christ died and guaranteed one thief a place with Him upon death. But Christ was cruel not accepting the other? Or, did He pass him by to his own destiny?
Again, as I see it, the one thief was promised to be in paradise, because He recognized and acknowledged who he was in the presence of, and seems to me quite possible that he exhibited a heart of repentance, while the other "chose" to continue to rail against Jesus and all others.
And why did he have a better heart than the other thief? Was he a better man than the other thief? Was he less sinful? Was he innately wiser.
If so, who made him that way?
The limited atonement is established by God and His scriptures, and not by calvinists
Again, as I understand it, limited atonement is a theological construct attributed to John Calvin, probably more accurately Theodore Beza. It is itself and honest attempt of man to interpret meaning and purpose from the Holy Scriptures as related to atonement. It may or may not be a correct interpretation of the scriptures.
The total application of scripture from cover to cover, yields one thing in my mind, God is LOVE and he acts in creation and sustenance and redemption because of the attribute of His. (Personal musing) He did not create because He was lonely, or bored, but because He LOVED. He was under no obligation to begin the process of redemption, but did so because He is Love.
I John 4
No sir. And this is important dear brother. God is certainly love. But love is NOT what motivated him to build the universe. A desire to have a people by which he could manifest his grace thus receiving eternal glory for that grace is what motivated him to build the universe. See Ephesians 2.
Man is not the center of God's universe. Christ is. God wished to bring His Son eternal glory so he built a world which would fall so that Christ could die for it making the ultimate sacrifice for it that he might receive eternal praise and honor.
Glory is the primary motive. Love is just what God is- and it is only one aspect of what God is. He is also a consuming fire.