GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #442
“A RANSOM FOR MANY”
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
In
Matthew 20:28 the Lord Jesus Christ tells us, in the plainest terms possible,
that he did not die for everyone in general, but for many in particular. He
says, he gave his life a ransom “FOR MANY”. In other words, he tells
us that his sin-atoning death was an effectual atonement for a limited, chosen
number of people.
I believe and preach without
apology the great, glorious, soul-cheering, gospel doctrine of limited
atonement. Ie declare, according to the Word of God, that our all glorious
Christ, the Son of God, effectually accomplished the redemption of his people
by the sacrifice of himself at Calvary.
The fact is all who claim to be Christians believe in
and teach limited atonement. The Arminian, free-will, works monger, who
asserts that Christ died for all men, for those who perish in hell as well as
those who are saved, limit the atonement of Christ contrary to Scripture. They
limit the merit and efficacy of Christ’s blood and the atonement made by his
blood, asserting that the blood of Christ must be supplemented by man’s
decision, man’s faith, man’s obedience, man’s baptism, etc. They teach that it is man, by his
obedience, who gives merit and efficacy to the blood of Christ. Such
doctrine is utter blasphemy!
We assert, according to Holy
Scripture, that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO
LIMIT TO THE MERIT AND EFFICACY OF CHRIST’S BLOOD AND THE ATONEMENT OBTAINED
AND ACCOMPLISHED FOR GOD’S ELECT BY IT. However, according to the Word of
God, the atonement of Christ is limited in intent, scope, design, and purpose
to God’s elect. TO SUGGEST, IMPLY, OR
TEACH, INDEED, TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME IN HELL FOR WHOM THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST SHED HIS BLOOD AND MADE ATONEMENT IS TO BETRAY AN IDOLATER’S HEART AND
BLASPHEME THE SON OF GOD, DENYING HIS VERY GODHEAD!
Such blasphemy, the
blasphemy of universal redemption, makes the Son of God a failure. The doctrine
of universal, ineffectual redemption, of universal, ineffectual atonement is
just as damning to the souls of men as any other doctrine which inherently
denies our Savior’s divinity.
The Son of God very
specifically tells us that he gave his life “a ransom for many."
It is nowhere suggested or implied in the Word of God that Christ made
atonement for, redeemed, or ransomed the entire human race, many of which were
already in hell when he died. Those for whom Christ died are described as “MANY”, not all, because these many are a distinct and peculiar people.
They are…
·
The
"many" who are ordained unto eternal life (Acts 13:48).
·
The
"many" the Father has given to the Son (John 6:37-39).
·
The
“many” whose sins he bore on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24).
·
The
"many" for whom his blood was shed for the remission of their sins
(Matt. 26:28).
·
The
"many" who are made righteous by his obedience (Rom. 5:19).
·
The
"many" sons, he, the Captain of their salvation, brings to glory
(Heb. 2:10).
THE LORD OF GLORY DID NOT MERELY MAKE
REDEMPTION POSSIBLE. HE REDEEMED US WITH HIS BLOOD! with his own blood, the son
of god actually obtained eternal redemption for all his people.
AMEN.