Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 3, 2008

Limited Atonement

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Romans 5:6-9.  There were some subtle minor points supporting the Reformed doctrine of “Limited Atonement” in this Scripture. 
 
“Limited Atonement” is the “L” in the acronym “TULIP”.  See the “TULIP” link in the right “LINKS” column for more explanation.  “Limited Atonement” means that Christ died for a limited number of specific people;  Christ did not die for everybody.      
 
Romans 5:6-7:  “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.” 
 
Although the major point in these two verses is that there was nothing in us that deserved Christ dying for us, the minor point is that the specific personal nature of such extreme death sacrifice.  One just does not die generally for anyone or for everybody.  One dies for a specific intended person or specific intended group of people.
                                                       

Romans 5:8:  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Although the major point is that Christ loves us, the minor point is how God demonstrates His love.  The demonstration of God’s love is the death of Christ for us.  If you accept the premise (which is wrong) that God loves everybody, then applying this Scripture, it would logically follow that premise that Christ died for everybody.  However, if you accept the premise (which is right) that God only loves His elect, then applying this Scripture, it would logically follow that premise that Christ died only for His elect. 

Romans 5:9:  “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” 

Although the major point is that Christ’s blood does more than just justify us, it saves us from God’s wrath, the minor point is that for whomever Christ shed his blood, those people are justified.  If Christ died for everyone (which is wrong), then everyone would be justified.  However, if Christ died for only the elect (which is true), then only those elect are justified.   

In conclusion, The Canons of Dort, Article 8 states the following about “Limited Atonement”:  “… it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  (Emphasis added.)  See the following link which will bring you right to this Article 8, but which you can also use to access the rest of the Canons of Dort – http://www.prca.org/cd_text2.html#a8

Posted in Uncategorized

«
»

Categories