Limited Atonement
All doctrinal systems place some limits
upon the atonement of Christ. Those who believe that Christ shed his blood to
make atonement for all, those who are saved as well as those who perish, of
necessity LIMIT THE MERIT OF CHRIST'S BLOOD AND THE EFFICACY OF HIS ATONEMENT.
They tell us that Christ died to redeem everyone, that his blood was shed to
make atonement for everyone. Yet, many for whom Christ died, according to their
doctrine, are lost forever in hell. That limits the power and merit of Christ's
blood! It makes the power of his blood and the efficacy of his atonement to be
dependent upon the decision of the sinner! Such a limitation is contrary to the
Scriptures and contrary to the character of God. It must not be tolerated.
We who believe the gospel avow that THERE
IS NO LIMIT TO THE POWER OF CHRIST'S BLOOD OR TO THE EFFICACY OF HIS ATONEMENT.
Jesus Christ is God. All for whom he made atonement must be saved. Therefore,
we assert, according to the Scriptures that THE DESIGN, INTENTION, AND SCOPE OF
THE ATONEMENT MUST BE LIMITED. It is limited to God's elect, to those who are
actually saved by it. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR AND EFFECTUALLY
ACCOMPLISHED THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION OF GOD'S ELECT. Is this the doctrine of Holy
Scripture? Indeed it is! It is written, "For the transgression of MY
PEOPLE was he stricken." "By his own blood he entered in once into
the holy place, having OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US."
Wherever you find the subject of
redemption and atonement by the death of Christ discussed or illustrated in the
Word of God, it is always presented as an effectual work accomplished for a
particular people. It is never suggested or implied that Christ died for all
men, or made atonement for all men. Just as the paschal lamb
was sacrificed only for the people of
The Arminian theory of the atonement is
like a very wide, but incomplete bridge. It is wide enough for everyone, but it
only reaches halfway to heaven. Such a bridge is altogether useless! The gospel
doctrine of the atonement is a bridge somewhat more narrow, but it reaches all
the way to glory. Nothing is lacking. Nothing is left for the sinner to complete.
FOR WHOM DID
CHRIST DIE?
Without question, one of the greatest of
the Puritan theologians was John Owen. He was chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, Vice
Chancellor of Oxford University, and a pastor in
"The Father imposed His wrath due
unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either: (1) All the sins of all
men; (2) All the sins of some men; or (3) Some of the sins of all men. In which
case it may be said: that if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer
for, and so none are saved; that if the second be true, then Christ, in their
stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this
is the truth; but if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the
punishment due unto their sins?
You answer, `Because of unbelief.' I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ
suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that
hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not (die
for this sin), He did not die for all their sins!"
Do you see the necessity for the doctrine
of limited atonement, or particular redemption? Any theory of redemption other
than this (which is not a theory at all, but a matter of stated biblical
truth), makes redemption to be ultimately determined by and dependent upon the
will of man! Universal atonement robs Christ of his redemptive glory and makes
room for the flesh to boast before God. Let this blessed gospel truth, this
fact of divine revelation be firmly established in your heart and mind - ALL
FOR WHOM JESUS CHRIST SHED HIS BLOOD WERE REDEEMED BY HIS BLOOD FROM THE CURSE
OF THE LAW AND MUST BE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IF NOT, THEN CHRIST DIED IN
VAIN!
Don Fortner