Articles
Limited Atonement
Jesus said, "in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).
The "L" of the TULIP doctrine of John Calvin is called Limited Atonement. This false doctrine of man says "If God has elected some and not others to eternal life, then plainly the primary purpose of Christ's work was to redeem the elect" (The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, pg. 151).
This false doctrine of man simply teaches that Christ died ONLY for the elect. In other words, Jesus came to save the saved!
The Calvinists argue since God has predestinated or unconditionally elected the ones to be saved, the sacrifice of Christ would be wasted on those elected to eternal death. The Calvinists concludes that Christ's death was just for the elect. Does the Word of God teach the doctrine of Limited Atonement? NO!
The verbally inspired Word of God teaches that Christ died on the cross for ALL MEN‚ not just a limited few. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death FOR EVERY MAN" (Hebrews 2:9, emp LS). Also, we read from God's holy Word that Jesus didn't come to save the saved, rather "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
The apostle Peter, by inspiration, words it this way, "For Christ also died for sins ONCE FOR ALL‚ the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (I Peter 3:18 NASB, emp LS).
The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration as well and said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that HE DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (II Corinthians 5:14-15, emp LS).
The Corinthians WERE a bunch of wicked folks at one time (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Do these folks sound like the elect to you? However, Paul says of them, "And such WERE some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:11, emp LS).
Each and every person has free will – the right to choose whether or not to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. A person that is lost in sin, if they desire to be saved from their sins, can come to Christ and by obeying His word have every sin washed away by the blood of the Lamb. It doesn't matter who you are, what you've been or what color or race you are. Jesus Christ invites ALL to obey the gospel to be saved (Matthew 28:19-20).
Atonement is for EVERYONE that obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Come unto me, all ye..." means all of us! And yes, that includes YOU!!
