FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?
HE DIED . . .
1. For all (1 Tim. 2:6; Isa. 53:6).
2. For every man (Heb. 2:9).
3. For the world (John 3:16).
4. For the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
5. For the ungodly (Rom. 5:6).
6. For false teachers (2 Peter 2:1).
7. For many (Matt. 20:28).
8. For Israel (John 11:50–51).
9. For the Church (Eph. 5:25).
10. For "me" (Gal. 2:20).
1. For all (1 Tim. 2:6; Isa. 53:6).
2. For every man (Heb. 2:9).
3. For the world (John 3:16).
4. For the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
5. For the ungodly (Rom. 5:6).
6. For false teachers (2 Peter 2:1).
7. For many (Matt. 20:28).
8. For Israel (John 11:50–51).
9. For the Church (Eph. 5:25).
10. For "me" (Gal. 2:20).
It is evident that the extreme Calvinist must ignore the clear language and obvious
sense of many passages and he must force the Scriptures and make them fit into his own
theological mold. Limited atonement may seem logical and reasonable, but the real test is
this: IS IT BIBLICAL? "What saith the Scriptures?" (Rom. 4:3). In
childlike faith we must simply allow the Bible to say what it says. Those who promote this erroneous doctrine try to tell us that "world" does
not really mean "world" and "all" does not really mean "all"
and "every man" does not really mean "every man" and "the whole
world" does not really mean "the whole world." We are told that simple
verses such as John 3:16 and Isaiah 53:6 must be understood not as a child would
understand them but as a theologian would understand them. That is, we must
reinterpret such verses in light of our system of theology.
The true doctrine of the atonement could be stated as
follows:
The Scriptures teach
that the sacrifice of the Lamb of God involved the sin of the world (John 1:29) and that
the Savior’s work of redemption (1 Tim. 2:6; 2 Pet. 2:1), reconciliation (2 Cor.
5:19) and propitiation (1 John 2:2) was for all men (1 Tim. 4:10), but the cross–work
of Christ is efficient, effectual and applicable only for those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10;
John 3:16). We could even say it in a simpler way: "Christ’s death was
SUFFICIENT FOR ALL but EFFICIENT only for those who believe." The cross–work of
Christ is not limited, but the application of that cross–work through
the work of the Holy Spirit is limited to believers only.
Because God did not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance,
He sent His only begotten Son, His Spirit, and His Word to tell us!
He sent His only begotten Son, His Spirit, and His Word to tell us!
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