Continued From Last Week


Calvanism Two

Limited Atonement, or Christ died only for the Elect. 4

    The word “atonement” is used only once in the KJV version of the New Testament (Romans 5:11) and twice in the NIV (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17). Many versions simply translate it 'reconciliation'. The OT explains the connection between the blood sacrifice and reconciliation. Leviticus 17:11, “The life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement (reconciliation) for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Of course, one might ask the question why is there any blood needed if one is chosen in the womb before eternity began? Nevertheless, the Calvinist point of view is as follows:

    A. If God is all powerful and Sovereign and wills all men to be saved (1st Timothy 2:4) then they will be. If all humans are not saved, then God is not all powerful. Calvin determined that for the above passage to be true, the 'all' must mean all of the Elect. In other words, 1st Timothy 2:4 says that either all people will be saved or the Elect will be saved for certain.

    B. The creator cannot be a righteous God if anyone is sent to hell since that is against the will of God (1st Timothy 2:4) and if Jesus was the atoning sacrifice ....for the sins of the whole world (1st John 2:2) and a “propitiation” (KJV) or “expiation” for all, God has already received total satisfaction for all human sin. Thus, to send anyone to hell amounts to double jeopardy. In almost all cases, Calvin's spiritual glasses saw the word 'Elect' always after the word 'all.'

    C. 1st John 2:2 reads, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins but also for the sins of the entire world. Seems plain enough to me but to the Calvinist the our is only the Jewish Christians (since they falsely maintain that from the book of Hebrews to the book of Jude, was written only for Jewish Christians) and the entire world is the Gentile Elect.

    The Covenant or Christian View

    A. Christ and His Apostles taught atonement in terms of a “Covenant.” Before the death of Christ, He instituted a memorial. In the upper room, He stated “ This is the blood of my covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28).

    B. In all covenants, there are three parts: a. parties, b. terms c. promises. The New Testament's promise of justification by faith, forgiveness, cleansing, pardon are offered

    to all who will receive them. By 'all' we mean all. Check out the Great Commission. Go into “all” the world, and teach “all” creation. God loves 'all' (John 3:16) and desires that 'all' men to be saved (not just the Elect)(2 Peter 3:9; 1st Timothy 2:4). Jesus paid the price for 'all' (1st Timothy 2:6; 1st John 2:2) and all that is needed is for us to respond and enter the covenant.

    C. The Bible says this: Whosoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17). The Elect are the “whosoever will. “

    D. Waiting for us is “Abundant mercy (1st Peter 1:3), Abundant Grace (Romans 5:20) Abundant life (John 10:10), and Abundant peace (Psalm 72:7). Abundant Joy (Philippians 1:26) Abundant strength (Ephesians 3:20) and Abundant pleasure (Psalm 36:8).” “What must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30). That seems to be the question.




  1. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE 4

    According to the Bible, you can resist the Devil, (James 4:17) but can you resist God if you are one of the Elect? The Calvinist response is 'No.' Since God is sovereign His grace cannot be resisted.

    Question? Most of us have prayed for a fallen friend, or that friend that has not obeyed the gospel. If the Calvinists are correct, the praying for the predestined is a waste of time. It is all out of man's hand. According to them, the person who has never accepted the gospel can never accept the gospel since he is predestined to be lost and the predestined to be saved does not need your prayers. God, by His “prevenient “ will, gives faith apart from the word to those He has chosen. To come to God you are 'called' by God's prevenient Grace. Calvinist misunderstand the beautiful passage found in Ephesians 2:8. In this passage, “grace” is a feminine noun, as is “faith” a feminine noun. The “it” a neuter pronoun, cannot find its antecedent in “faith.” Salvation is the gift that our Savior gives to those who come to faith and hearing (Romans 10:17).

    The question is not “Has God zapped me” or “Did you get religion at the altar?” But, are you willing to hear and obey the gospel?

    There are several points to be stressed here that are in contrast to Calvinism. One, a person is “called by the gospel,” (II Thessalonians 2:14) His preference is for all men to be saved and all to repent (II Peter 3:9).

But Calvinists refuse refuse to admit humans have a will. Notice, “ How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing (Matthew 23:37). Notice they used their will to resist God's grace. V. Perseverance of the Saints (Once saved always saved).

    Once saved always saved is simply a logical result of accepting the above tenants. If one believes that they were born totally depraved, which leads to predestination, since that is the only way any depraved person can be saved is to be predestined, which leads to limited atonement which leads to irresistible grace. After one has been through the above process, of course it is impossible to be lost, if you believe the above.

    Once saved always saved must be evaluated in light of the teaching of the Bible. The Bible claims that a believer can be “shipwrecked” (I Timothy 1:19), they can “shrink back” (Hebrews 2:1). They can “fall away” Luke 8:13), or be “disqualified” (Ist Corinthians 9:27). But there are other variations of the same doctrine.

    (1). Once in Grace, Always in Grace

    The Bible teaches that you can fall from Grace (see Galatians 5:4). Peter admonished God's people, “ If you do these things, you will never fall (2 Peter 1:10). The Hebrew writer went further. “See that no one misses the grace of God.” (Hebrews 12:15).

    (2) Once a child always a child

    While this slogan sounds good on the surface, it is more accurate than the users want it to be. Jesus said “ You belong to your father, the devil (John 8:44). Notice, if the premise is true, no child of the devil can ever be converted the Christ. If once an angel always an angel is true, it did not keep sinning angles from hell (II Peter 2:4).

    (3)Once a sheep, always a sheep.

    We must remember that the Master Shepherd called the sheep that strayed from the fold 'lost.' (Luke 15:6).

    (4) Once in Eternal life, Always in Eternal Life.

    The promise of Eternal life is found throughout the Bible. (1st John 2:25) But it is also called the “hope of eternal life,” (Titus 1:2; 3:7). Jesus taught that after the

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    judgment, the righteous will go to Eternal life (Matthew 24:46). He insisted that “those who follow Him would be given Eternal life in the age to come.” We must not mistake a future promise for a present possession. “In this hope, we were saved.” Hope that is seen is not hope at all. Hope is for the unseen. Eternal life is a promise for the future, not for the present.

    (5) Once in the Book, always in the Book

    The words of Moses ought to suffice. “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:33). The usual response is, “that is from the Old Testament but the new Testament teaches no such thing.” Wrong, The Revelator writes Jesus' promise to the church on conditional terms, “He who overcomes...I will never blot out his name from the book of life.” (Revelation 3:5).

    (6) Once in Christ always in Christ

    John 15 tells us that God as the gardener “cuts off every branch in me (Jesus) that bears no fruit.” “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (V6).