Limited Atonement - TULIP

[JLB]

What does limited atonement mean?

The Doctrine Of Limited Atonement: The Five Points Of Calvinism​

This article can be found in it’s entirety at the link below.

The Doctrine of Limited Atonement: The Five Points of Calvinism – Dr. John Jackson Communications

drjohnjackson.com

In this thread I would like to discuss the different facets of the teaching called: Limited Atonement

 

[JLB]

Let’s look at the first line in the breakdown and start there.

Breakdown of Limited Atonement​

Limited atonement, also referred to as definite atonement, is the belief that Jesus Christ died exclusively for the sins of a particular group of people—the elect.


Limited Atonement is the belief that Jesus Christ died only for the elect.

This of course means that anyone who is not within the particular group of people called “the elect” will not benefit from the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.


Let’s examine this idea from the scriptures.


My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2

• And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

• For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved

It seems that scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ died for the world (of unsaved people), desiring that the unsaved people of the world would become saved… not just limited few.


For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 Timothy 2:3-6




JLB

 

[Tenchi]

www.soteriology101.com - Provisionism.

www.evangelicalarmininians.org - Armininianism.

www.reasonablefaith.org - Molinism.

 

[JLB]

www.soteriology101.com - Provisionism.

www.evangelicalarmininians.org - Armininianism.

www.reasonablefaith.org - Molinism.

I would simply like to discuss what the scriptures say about this subject.

Possibly find some common ground.

 

[Tenchi]

Possibly find some common ground.

Calvinists don't like "common ground"; they want conformity to their view. Period.

 

[Fish153]

Let’s look at the first line in the breakdown and start there.

Breakdown of Limited Atonement​

Limited atonement, also referred to as definite atonement, is the belief that Jesus Christ died exclusively for the sins of a particular group of people—the elect.


Limited Atonement is the belief that Jesus Christ died only for the elect.

This of course means that anyone who is not within the particular group of people called “the elect” will not benefit from the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.


Let’s examine this idea from the scriptures.


My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2

• And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

• For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved

It seems that scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ died for the world (of unsaved people), desiring that the unsaved people of the world would become saved… not just limited few.


For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 Timothy 2:3-6




JLB

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2:16)

It's interesting how this verse is worded. it doesn't say that he took on him the seed of Adam. It says he took on the seed of Abraham. This is one verse that may point to Limited Atonement. I have never believed that as I believe that John 3:16 is the message of the Gospel. But Hebrews 2:16 is very interesting to consider.

 

[electedbyHim]

Let’s look at the first line in the breakdown and start there.

Breakdown of Limited Atonement​

Limited atonement, also referred to as definite atonement, is the belief that Jesus Christ died exclusively for the sins of a particular group of people—the elect.


Limited Atonement is the belief that Jesus Christ died only for the elect.

This of course means that anyone who is not within the particular group of people called “the elect” will not benefit from the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.


Let’s examine this idea from the scriptures.


My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2

• And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

• For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved

It seems that scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ died for the world (of unsaved people), desiring that the unsaved people of the world would become saved… not just limited few.


For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 Timothy 2:3-6




JLB

Limited Atonement is the belief that Jesus Christ died only for the elect.

You will need to identify who the elect are from a Biblical definiton, not just isolated verses.

 

[JLB]

Calvinists don't like "common ground"; they want conformity to their view. Period.

You will need to identify who the elect are from a Biblical definiton, not just isolated verses.

The elect is a reference to the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and specific individuals whom were chosen by God to be the generational bloodline of the Messiah.

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”
And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), Romans 9:1-11

• of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came

• that the purpose of God according to election might stand

Election biblically speaking refers to purpose. The purpose is specifically whom God chose, elected, to be the generational bloodline of the Messiah.

Plainly the context here in Romans 9 is election for purpose.

Also we see in Isaiah 42 that Jesus Christ is referred to as the Elect one. So in that sense those who are in Christ are in the Elect one. This is inclusive of Gentiles.

Here we see, the Spirit of Christ (God) speaking about the Man Jesus Christ in whom He would dwell and accomplish the promise He spoke to Abraham, concerning all the nations (Gentiles) of the world being blessed.
See Genesis 12:1-4, Galatians 3:8


“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
Isaiah 42:1-6

Paul in writing to Timothy speaks about his passion to see the Jews, elect, to also obtain salvation.


Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10


It’s imperative to see the context of each reference to the elect in whatever passage is being studied, and not project into the text a preconceived idea.

 

[JLB]

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2:16)

It's interesting how this verse is worded. it doesn't say that he took on him the seed of Adam. It says he took on the seed of Abraham. This is one verse that may point to Limited Atonement. I have never believed that as I believe that John 3:16 is the message of the Gospel. But Hebrews 2:16 is very interesting to consider.

The reason it says Abraham because Jesus made covenant with Abraham before He became flesh.

This covenant extended to all the families of the earth.

 

[electedbyHim]

Calvinists don't like "common ground"; they want conformity to their view. Period.

As a former Calvinist, do you consider yourself elect?

 

[Tenchi]

As a former Calvinist, do you consider yourself elect?

All those who are in The Elect, who is Christ, are the elect in him. See Ephesians 1:1-13. Note how many times "in Christ" or "in him" appear in the passage.

 

[electedbyHim]

While the term chosen is used in Scripture of both divine and human initiative (Ge 18:19; De 7:6; Jos 24:22; Lu 10:42; 2 Th 2:13), it usually refers to the privileged status of certain persons as a result of God’s sovereign and gracious action on their behalf (De 7:6–8; Eph 1:4–6; 1 Pe 2:9).

The more specific and prominent NT usage of the term concerns individual persons elected by God’s eternal decree for salvation in Christ (Eph 1:3–5; 2 Th 2:13; 2 Ti 1:9; 2:10). God’s purpose of salvation for the chosen is accomplished “through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Th 2:13).

of Israel t basis: De 4:37; 7:7–8; Is 49:7; 65:9, 15, 22 t purpose: De 7:6–8; 14:2; 1 Ki 3:8; 1 Ch 16:13; Ps 33:12; 105:6, 43; 106:5; 135:4; Is 41:8–9; 43:10, 20; 44:1–5; 45:4; Am 3:2 t concerning the remnant: Ro 11:5, 7

of Jerusalem: 1 Ki 8:44, 48; 11:13, 32, 36; 14:21; 2 Ki 21:7; 23:27; 2 Ch 6:6, 34, 38; 12:13; 33:7; Ne 1:9; Ps 132:13; Zec 3:2

of the temple: 2 Ch 7:12, 16; 33:7

of Christ: Is 42:1; Mt 12:18; Lu 9:35; 23:35; 1 Pe 2:4, 6

of individual believers
limitation: Mt 22:14 t basis: Jn 13:18; 15:16; Ro 8:29; 9:11; 1 Co 1:26–29; Eph 1:3–5, 11; 2 Th 2:13; 2 Ti 2:9; Tit 1:1; 1 Pe 1:1–2
purpose: Jn 15:16; Eph 1:4, 6, 12, 14; Col 3:12; 2 Th 2:13; 2 Ti 2:10 t
privileges: Mt 24:22, 31; Lu 12:32; 18:7; Ro 8:33; Eph 1:4–5; 1 Pe 2:9; 5:13; 2 Jo 1, 13; Re 17:14
results: Mt 22:24; 1 Th 1:3–4; 2 Pe 1:5–11

for special service: Ge 18:19; Le 18:5; De 21:5; 1 Sa 10:24; 2 Sa 21:6; 1 Ch 16:41–42; 28:4–6, 10; 29:1; 2 Ch 6:6; 29:11; Ps 89:3, 19; 105:26; 106:23; Hag 2:23; Lu 6:13; Ac 1:2, 24; 9:15; 10:41

of a fast: Is 58:5–6

of the good angels: 1 Ti 5:21
The NASB Topical Index. 1998

 

[electedbyHim]

All those who are in The Elect, who is Christ, are the elect in him. See Ephesians 1:1-13. Note how many times "in Christ" or "in him" appear in the passage.

I understand that.

So, that is a yes.

 

[JLB]

I understand that.

So, that is a yes.

How does a sinner, a person who is separate from Christ, come to be in Christ?


For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; Hebrews 7:26

 

[Tenchi]

understand that.

So, that is a yes.

Well, yes and no. Yes, I am of the elect, since I chose to trust in Christ as my Savior and Lord and, as a result, I am in Christ who is The Elect. But, no, I'm not the elect in the sense in which a Calvinist thinks he is, arbitrarily chosen of God to be His child before the foundations of the earth were laid.

 

[JLB]

Yes, I am of the elect, since I chose to trust in Christ as my Savior and Lord

Amen.

 

[electedbyHim]

How does a sinner, a person who is separate from Christ, come to be in Christ?


For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; Hebrews 7:26

How does a sinner, a person who is separate from Christ, come to be in Christ?

They do not come to Christ.

God draws His people to Christ.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

God predestines His people.

Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

[electedbyHim]

I like the term definite atonement and how it refers to the day of atonement, this really pulls the whole doctrine together.

Lawson did a great job on this.


DEFINITE ATONEMENT

Because God is absolutely holy, He requires that man be equally holy in order to fellowship with Him. But man is utterly depraved, so he cannot be accepted into God’s presence. Sinful man can approach the holy God and be received by Him only by means of a sacrifice—one that has been prescribed by God and offered by a God-appointed high priest of Israel. This was the divine purpose for the Day of Atonement—a special day observed annually for making sacrifice for sin—and the institution of the priesthood. Both of these necessities—a substitutionary sacrifice and an intermediary priest—prefigured the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was both the perfect sacrifice and Great High Priest for His people. The Day of Atonement included:

1. Sin Offering. The high priest offered a sin offering once a year on the Day of Atonement, a vicarious sacrifice that pictured the death of Christ for His chosen people:

“And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering.… Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering.… Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil … sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.”

—Leviticus 16:5–16

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest cast lots for two goats and sacrificed one as a sin offering for the people. He then entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of the slain goat on the mercy seat, symbolically providing a blood atonement for the people of Israel. This sin offering was given exclusively for God’s people, not generally for all the world. It was never intended to be a sacrifice for all people everywhere. Commenting on the definite nature of the offering, Pink writes, “This was an altar for all Israel—and for none else!”14 This sin offering pictured and looked ahead to the death of Jesus Christ, who would be the Lamb of God slain for elect sinners throughout the world. Louis Berkhof explains the meaning of atonement when he writes, “The Hebrew word kipper (piel) expresses the idea of atonement for sin by the covering of sin or of the sinner. The blood of the sacrifice is interposed between God and the sinner, and in view of it the wrath of God is turned aside. It has the effect, therefore, of warding off the wrath of God from the sinner. In the Septuagint and in the New Testament the terms hilaskomai and hilasmos are used in a related sense. The verb means ‘to render propitious,’ and the noun, ‘an appeasing’ or ‘the means of appeasing.’ ”15 This is the accomplishment of Christ in dying on behalf of His chosen people. Their sins are covered by His blood and the holy wrath of God is appeased.

2. God’s Scapegoat. The sins of God’s people were symbolically transferred to the other goat, the scapegoat, and it was released into the wilderness. This, too, pictured the death of Christ, who would take away the sins of His people:

“But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.… And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.”

—Leviticus 16:10–22

When the high priest laid both of his hands upon the scapegoat and confessed the sins of the nation, the gesture represented a symbolic transfer of the sins of the people to this innocent sacrifice. The goat then was released into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the people’s sins far away from them. This annual ritual prefigured the death of Christ for the sins of His people—for all who would believe. As Christ hung upon the cross, the Father transferred their sins to Him, and He carried them far away. MacArthur explains, “This ‘sin offering of atonement’ (Num. 29:11) portrayed Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice (vv. 21, 22) with the result that the sinner’s sins were removed (v. 22).… This act was more than a symbolic gesture; it was a picture of the ultimate ‘substitutionary atonement’ fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Is. 53:5, 6; 10:12; 2 Cor. 5:21).”16

3. High Priest. The high priest of Israel alone entered the Holy of Holies to represent God’s people. His intercession for Israel pictured the particular death of Christ on behalf of the elect of God:

“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil.… Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins.”

—Leviticus 16:15–16

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest of Israel entered behind the veil into the Holy of Holies. As he approached, “he carried with him on his shoulders the badge and the engraved stones that were representative of the Twelve Tribes”17 of Israel. As he stepped into the Holy of Holies, he was representing the people of God—not the Canaanites, Egyptians, or Babylonians. He ministered on behalf of those chosen by God, making atonement for their sin. All this prefigured the Lord Jesus Christ, who would be the High Priest exclusively for His people. It was not for the entire world that Christ made atonement, for if He had, all the world would be saved. Rather, Christ atoned for all who ultimately will be saved, those chosen by the Father. In eternity past, the names of the elect were etched upon Christ’s heart, and upon the cross the Father transferred their sins to Him. As the Great High Priest of God, Jesus stood before the Father on their behalf, not the world’s (John 17:9).


4. Blood Atonement. The blood sacrifice of an animal was necessary to make atonement for the sin of the people. This was yet another representation of the death of Christ for His elect:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

—Leviticus 17:11

In this verse, God stated that no Israelite could eat meat with blood in it. Blood represents life itself because it carries life-sustaining elements. That is why shedding blood means taking a human life. Blood, therefore, is the means by which atonement for sins is made. It represents one life being given in the place of another. MacArthur writes, “The Old Testament equates life with blood (Gen. 9:4; Deut. 12:23), which vividly illustrates the sanctity of human life (Gen. 9:6). According to the New Testament, ‘without shedding of blood there is no remission’ of sin (Heb. 9:22). Thus, the emphasis on blood in the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the blood that Christ would shed, i.e., the life that He would give on a believer’s behalf (Rom. 5:9; 1 Cor. 11:25–26).”18 Only shed blood, Moses wrote, from an innocent substitute atones for the sinner, allowing him to escape the death he deserves and live. Only the substitutionary death of Christ for all believers allows them to escape eternal death and receive eternal life.


14 A. W. Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1954), 1,176.
15 Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Carlisle, PA, and Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1958), 374.
16 MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, 154.
17 Ibid., 124.
18 Ibid., 159.
Steven J. Lawson, Foundations of Grace (1400 BC–AD 100), vol. 1, A Long Line of Godly Men (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2006), 86–89.

 

[JLB]

They do not come to Christ.

God draws His people to Christ.

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
John 12:32-33

• And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

Since He has been crucified, He is drawing all men, all people to Himself.

Why? Because He desires all men to be saved.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4


Why? Because God loves the unsaved people of the world.

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. John 3:16


My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2


These words are from Jesus Christ and are referred to as the truth.



JLB

 

[electedbyHim]

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
John 12:32-33

• And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

Since He has been crucified, He is drawing all men, all people to Himself.

Why? Because He desires all men to be saved.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4


Why? Because God loves the unsaved people of the world.

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. John 3:16


My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2


These words are from Jesus Christ and are referred to as the truth.



JLB

Are you a universalist?

Did Christ's blood paid for the sins of every human that ever lived?