LIMITED ATONEMENT
"He was
taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for
he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my
people was he stricken.” Isaiah 53:8
We believe the doctrine of
Limited Atonement because that is clearly the doctrine of Holy Scripture. We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died as the Substitute for his
own elect. By God’s intention, design, and purpose the atonement of Christ is
limited to the elect. By his one sin-atoning sacrifice for sin the Lord Jesus
Christ actually accomplished the redemption of the chosen, securing their
eternal salvation. The redemptive work of Christ was performed for a particular
people (Isa. 53:8); and the Son of God has effectually accomplished the
redemption of those people (Heb. 9:12).
Without
question, the blood of Christ is of infinite value. Had he intended to save the
world, his blood is of sufficient value to satisfy the justice of God for all
men. But that is not the issue. The intention of Christ in the shedding of his
blood was the redemption and salvation of his elect. It never was the
intention, will, desire, or purpose of the Son of God to redeem and save all
men (John 17:9, 20). He laid down his life for his sheep (John 10:11, 15), not
his sheep and the goats (John 10:25). According to the Scriptures, the
intention of Christ’s atonement and the effects of it are the same. What he
intended to do on the cross, he has done. He intended to redeem all God’s elect
by satisfying the wrath and justice of God for them. And by his death all God’s
elect have been effectually redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13).
Their sins have been put away (Heb. 9:27). Christ has purchased his people with
his precious blood (I Pet. 1:18-19). He perfected forever all who were
sanctified, or set apart for God, in eternal election (Heb. 10:14).
Everywhere
in the Bible, when the redemptive work of Christ is spoken of and explained, it
is described as a particular and effectual redemption. There is not a single
exception (Isa. 53:10-11; Matt. 1:21; John 10:11, 14-18; Rom. 5:8; II Cor. 8:9;
Gal. 1:4; 3:13; Eph. 5:25-27; Tit. 2:14; I John 3:16; Rev. 1:5; 5:9).
The
doctrine of the Bible is particular and effectual redemption. The Lord Jesus
Christ died for and effectually accomplished the eternal redemption of his
chosen people according to the will of God the Father. “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him” (II Cor. 5:21). We reject as heresy
any doctrine that denies the efficacy of Christ’s atonement.
Really,
the question to be answered is not, “For whom did Christ die?”, but “Who died?”
If Christ died upon the cross to redeem and save all men, and all are not saved,
then he is not God, he is not the true Messiah, and all who trust him are lost
and yet in their sins! Do you see how vital this doctrine is? Without it, there
is no gospel! Without it, there is no salvation! We preach a Redeemer who
redeems, a Savior who saves, and an atonement that atones!
“Dear dying Lamb, Thy
precious blood shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church
of God be saved to sin no more!”
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor - Grace For Today Radio Message
#566
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
- Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438