Calvinism: Limited Atonement Limited Atonement Defined.

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Calvinism:Limited Atonement

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Limited Atonement Defined

“Atonement is for the Elect only, since Christ died only for those whom the father gave Him to be His Bride. Only the

saints or the elect ones are ever said to be “beloved of God”, for they alone are the objects of his saving grace. The Calvinist reasons that if Christ died for all, then all

will be saved. If only the elect are to be saved, then Christ died for them, and them alone. Although it is true

that the blood of Christ is surely sufficient in value to atone for all, still it is obviously efficient only for those who are saved by His unmerited favor. – Tulip: The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture, Duane E.

Spencer p. 71

If one accepts the doctrine of Unconditional Election Limited Atonement MUST be accepted!

“You see, if you believe that the Bible teaches that God is sovereign, His plan immutable, and His election unconditional , you must conclude that the atonement is limited to those whom he freely willed to make the objects of grace…The Arminian view insists that it is man’s act of faith which merits his being elected according to the

foreknowledge of God. If such be the case man is saved by works, not by the grace of God,

because he has done at least one thing pleasing to God, and all on his own.” – Tulip: The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture,

Duane E. Spencer p. 37

Limited Atonement (Summary)1. Christ only died for the elect (those God unconditionally

predestined to be saved).

2. God does not love the non-elect.

3. One who believes in unconditional election must conclude that these things are so.

Note: • Many Calvinists have rejected this doctrine• Remember what Duane Spencer said: “if you believe that the Bible

teaches that God is sovereign, His plan immutable, and His election unconditional , you must conclude that the atonement is limited to those whom he freely willed to make the objects of grace”

• If the doctrine of Unconditional Election is accepted, Limited Atonement is the only logical conclusion. If God purposely intended for some to be lost… Then Jesus did not die for everyone!

Calvinism: “Only the saints or the elect ones are ever said to be “beloved of God”The Bible: God loves EVERYONE.

Words like “all”, “the world”,

“us”, etc. refer to mankind without distinction.

(John 3:16)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in

Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

Calvinism: “Atonement is for the Elect only… If only the elect are to be saved, then Christ died for them, and them alone.”The Bible: Christ died to offer salvation to EVERYONE.

Words like “all”, “any”, “the world”,

“us”, etc. refer to mankind without distinction.

(2 Peter 3:9)

“The Lord is…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all

should come to repentance.” (NKJV)


(John 6:33) "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives

life to the world." (NKJV)

(John 6:51) "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of

this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (NKJV)


(John 1:29)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb

of God who takes away the sin of the world! (NKJV)


(Titus 2:11)

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men…


(Hebrews 2:9) “…Jesus…He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

Would the believers of Limited Atonement deny that “all” means “everyone” in the

following verse? Of course they don’t!

(Romans 5:12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin,

and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- (NKJV)

Then let’s read on…


(Romans 5:18)

Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in

condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men,

resulting in justification of life. (NKJV)

Calvinism: “Atonement is for the Elect only… If only the elect are to be saved, then Christ died for them, and them alone.”

The Bible: Christ died to offer salvation to EVERYONE.

However many men on earth suffered judgment, the same number will receive

the free gift and be justified.

• The Calvinist sees only two options:1. Christ died the sins of everyone,

therefore everyone will be saved (obviously not taught in the Bible because of the warnings about Hell

2. Christ died for a select few

• They overlook a 3rd Option:3. Christ died for all, but all will not

receive salvation because all will not accept the conditions of salvation!

Why They Can’t Accept the 3rd Option1. Inherited Sin2. Unconditional

Election3. Misunderstanding

of “gift” “…by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” – Eph.

2:8

Calvinism: “…if Christ died for all, then all will be saved…”The Bible: The free gift of salvation is Conditional.

• The Calvinist sees only two options:1. Christ died the sins of everyone,

therefore everyone will be saved (obviously not taught in the Bible because of the warnings about Hell

2. Christ died for a select few

• They overlook a 3rd Option:3. Christ died for all, but all will not

receive salvation because all will not accept the conditions of salvation!

Why They Can’t Accept the 3rd Option1. Inherited Sin2. Unconditional

Election3. Misunderstanding

of “gift” “…by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” – Eph.

2:8

Calvinist Argument:“If one must do anything to receive the free gift, then it is not free and

you believe in salvation according to (your own)

meritorious works.”

Calvinism: “…if Christ died for all, then all will be saved…”The Bible: The free gift of salvation is Conditional.

Points to Share With Others Who Believe in Calvinism:

• Try to help them see you completely accept EVERY PASSAGE that speaks of God’s grace and agree that salvation

is a free gift from God!

Rules to Win Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes:

1. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER (That makes it “free” by definition.)

2. One entry per person per day

3. Entries must be received by the deadline, etc.

- http://rules.pch.com/viewrulesfacts?mailid=JanTV2013Control

To Win the Free Gift You Must:

4. Enter on time

5. Abide by the rules

6. Receive the free gift

Even FREE GIFTS are conditional!

One must RECEIVE a gift in order to have it.

One must receive the gospel.

(Matthew 10:14)

"And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city,

shake off the dust from your feet. (NKJV)

One must RECEIVE a gift in order to have it.

One must receive the gospel.

(Mark 4:16)

"These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive

it with gladness; (NKJV)

(Luke 8:13)

“… the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy…”

Both of these passages are speaking of those who were not saved – but they still had the ability to

receive the word!

Ironically, most Calvinists admit that the one and only thing one must do to be

saved is to receive God’s gift

of salvation.

Note: If you must do anything (even one thing – receive the gift), then

God’s salvation is conditional. Since man

has a free will, it is conditional based upon

your own actions!

Everyone will not meet the conditions of God’s salvation:

Jn. 8:24 “…you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He…”

Will everyone believe? No!

(Matthew 28:17) “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.” (NKJV)

(Jn. 6:64) “Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who

would betray Him.”

Everyone will not meet the conditions of God’s salvation:

If all do not believe…• Will all confess their sins (1 Jn.

1:9)?• Will all repent of sins (Lk. 13:3)?• Will all confess Christ (Mat. 10:32-

33)?• Will all obey Jesus (Heb. 5:9)?• Will all endure faithfully until the

end (Mat. 10:22)?

All are CHOICES

one makes and all are CONDITIO

NS of salvation.

Calvinism:

1. “Atonement is for the Elect only… If only the elect are to be saved, then Christ died for them, and them

alone.

2. Only the saints or the elect ones are ever said to be “beloved of God”.

3. The Calvinist reasons that if Christ died for all, then all will be saved.

4. If a man believes he must do anything on his part to be saved he believes in salvation by meritorious works and the graceful salvation of the Lord is no

longer free.

What is limited atonement?

Supposed Proof-Texts Used:

(2 Corinthians 5:21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the

righteousness of God in Him. (NKJV)

Calvinism: “There was a judicial transfer of the sins of man to Jesus Christ, God’s Sin-Bearer.”1

The Bible: Our sins are washed away, FORGIVEN. Jesus took our punishment upon Himself, not our guilt.

1 http://www.abideinchrist.com/keys/imputed.html

Nothing in the text inescapably implies our sins were imputed to Christ. The text does not prove that Christ took our guilt upon us but the scriptures clearly show

He took our punishment.

How Proponents of Limited Atonement See It:



The Bible Says…

(Ezekiel 18:20)

"The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked

shall be upon himself. (NKJV)





Therefore if God only sees Christ’s Righteousness

and not my sins…

Remember our quote from Sam Morris:“We take the position that a Christian's

sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his

character, his conduct, or his attitude …all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger... The way a man lives has

nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul... The way I live has

nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of my soul"

This is the logical conclusion of

“faith alone” salvation

The Bible Says…

(Romans 6:12-13)

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not

present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to

God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

(NKJV)




(Isaiah 53:5)

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are

healed. (NKJV)





(Isaiah 53:5)

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are

healed. (NKJV)





(1 Peter 2:24)

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for

righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. (NKJV)




Calvinism: “God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the believing sinner while he is still in his sinning state.” 1

The Bible: Our sins are washed away, FORGIVEN.


Supposed Proof-Texts:

(Romans 4:1-11)

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?

"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose

lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered…

Calvinism: “God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the believing sinner while he is still in his sinning state.” 1

The Bible: Our sins are washed away, FORGIVEN.


Supposed Proof-Texts:

…Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or

upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a

seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who

believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

Note: Does not teach CHRIST’S righteousness is imputed to us – merely

that righteousness is.

Impute: To put to one’s account

Does NOT mean “transfer into another”

What does the Bible say?How is faith accounted or imputed for righteousness?

Confusion Over the Definition of “Works”

“Therefore, we are made right with God by faith, not by faith and our works; hence, faith alone.”1 – Calvinist View

1 http://carm.org/are-we-saved-faith-alone-or-do-we-need-works-too



Meritorious Works vs. the Works of God

Works Which Cannot Save:• Works of the Law of Moses:

(Romans 3:28)

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (NKJV)


Confusion Over the Definition of “Works”Meritorious Works vs. the Works of God

Works Which Cannot Save:• Works of the Law of Moses:

(Galatians 3:10-12)

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which

are written in the book of the law, to do them." But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall

live by them." (NKJV)

The works of the law of Moses

demanded perfection and no man is perfect.



Works Which Cannot Save:• Works of Man’s Righteousness:

(Romans 10:1-3)

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God,

but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness,

have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (NKJV)

This is trying to obtain righteousness apart from Bible authority.



Works of God:

(Ephesians 2:10)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we

should walk in them. (NKJV)

These works do not nullify grace, but rather are acts of obedience which perfect our faith…



Works of God:

(James 2:22)

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (NKJV)

No man can claim to have faith if he has no works.

(James 2:17)

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (NKJV)



Works of God:

(Romans 1:5) Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for

His name, (NKJV)

(Romans 16:26) but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all

nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- (NKJV)




Works of God: Abraham as an Example (Rom. 4)

Rom. 4:3 “Abraham believed God, and it was counted (Gk. logizomai) unto him for righteousness”

Logizomai appears 11 times in Rom. 4 and is translated: “counted” (KJV) two times (vs. 3, 5) “reckoned” (KJV) three times (vs. 4, 9, 10) “imputed” (KJV) six times (vs. 6, 8, 11, 22, 23, 24)




Works of God: Abraham as an Example (Rom. 4)

Abraham’s faith led him to obey God and was “counted” to him as righteousness

He went out of his homeland when called (Gen. 12) When he trusted the Lord to make him a great nation

(Gen. 15:5-6) When he intended to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen.

22)

Belief ALONE cannot save because many believers will be lost!Would anyone argue that these were

saved?

The Rulers Who Denied Christ:

(John 12:42-43)

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of

the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the

synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (NKJV)


saved?

Demons:

(James 2:19)

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and

tremble! (NKJV)


saved?

Demons Who Believed and Confessed Christ:

(Luke 4:41)

And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the

Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the

Christ. (NKJV)

OBEDIENT FAITH (not belief alone) is what differentiates believers from non-

believers.


believers.Romans 4 is clearly discussing

meritorious works by which no man is justified:

(Romans 4:2-4)

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed

God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now to him who works, the wages

are not counted as grace but as debt. (NKJV)




(Romans 4:2-4)




Was Paul trying to convince the Jew that one never needed to be circumcised or keep the law in order to be

justified? No!(Romans 4:10-12) How then was it accounted? While he

was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of

the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be

imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham

had while still uncircumcised.




(Romans 4:2-4)




Was Paul trying to convince the Jew that one never needed to be circumcised or keep the law in order to be

justified? No!(Romans 4:10-12) How then was it accounted? While he

was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of

the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be

imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham

had while still uncircumcised.


believers.Note both the opening and the closing of the book of Romans:

The letter begins…

(Romans 1:5) Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for

His name, (NKJV)

The letter ends…

(Romans 16:26) but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations,

according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- (NKJV)


believers.(1 Thessalonians 1:3)

remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus

Christ in the sight of our God and Father, (NKJV)


believers.(John 6:29)

Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe [i.e. faith - MM] in

Him whom He sent." (NKJV)


believers.The ONLY time the words “faith” and “only”

are found in the same verse in the Bible:

(James 2:24)

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (NKJV)

God’s Atonement Through Christ is NOT LIMITED – it is available to whosoever desires!

(Revelation 22:17)

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"

And let him who hears say, "Come!"

And let him who thirsts come.

Whoever desires, let him take the

water of life freely. (NKJV)

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Calvinism: Limited Atonement Limited Atonement Defined.

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