Limited Atonement: God's Power to Save

[Humble_Disciple]

Limited atonement is the hardest doctrine of Calvinism to accept. For this reason, there are four-point Calvinists:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Amyraldism.html

Everyone limits the atonement in some way. Those who believe in unlimited atonement limit the atonement’s power, that Jesus died for people who end up in hell.

Those who believe in limited atonement limit its extent, that Jesus died only for His elect, who will without fail be saved, so not a drop of Jesus’ blood was wasted.

In His torture and death, Jesus suffered the full measure of God’s wrath for sin. Limited atonement means that not an iota of Jesus’ suffering was endured in vain.

The Bible speaks clearly of Jesus laying down his life for his sheep (John 10:11-13). In that context, he says of certain people, ‘Ye are not of my sheep’ (v. 26). Scripture also speaks of Christ laying down his life for the children of God (John 11:51-52); dying for his church (Eph. 5:25-27, Acts 20:28); saving his people (Matt. 1:28); giving his life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28); seeing his seed (Isa. 53:10, Psa. 22); and redeeming his own from iniquity (Titus 2:14) – all as having already happened (Rev. 5:9).
In sum, Christ died to satisfy the justice of God for his people’s sins. He saved a definite number of people whom he refers to as his people, his sheep, and his elect (Matt. 1:21, John 10:11-15, Rom. 8:28-39).
https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2009/definite-atonement/

Until they repent and believe, it's impossible to tell who God's elect might be, so the Gospel must be preached indiscriminately. Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 14:23

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as innumerable as the stars:

Genesis 15:5
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Christians, by faith, are children of Abraham:

Galatians 3:7
Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

While the atonement is limited in extent, it covers innumerable children of Abraham.

Unless you are a universalist, you believe that only Christians will be saved. That's what Calvinists believe as well, and the number of saved Christians will be many, as Jesus promised. Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45

Limited atonement is the teaching that Jesus didn't die for non-Christians who never accept the Gospel. It's not some scary teaching. Jesus died as a "ransom for many," those who accept the Gospel, not for those who reject it.

Limited atonement is simply the teaching that Jesus didn't die for those who live their entire lives rejecting the Gospel, so that not a drop of Jesus' blood was wasted. The more we sympathize with the sufferings of Jesus, the more likely we might be to accept limited atonement.

https://tubitv.com/movies/550864/the-passion-of-the-christ

Tubi is a legal source to watch free movies online.

If you are among God's elect, His people, Jesus purchased you with the shedding of his blood.

Luke 1:68
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed His people

Redeem
to buy or pay off; clear by payment:
to redeem a mortgage.
Definition of redeem | Dictionary.com

The only proper response is your love and obedience. If Jesus died for the full weight of your sin, then the more you sin, the more you add to His sufferings.

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

If your apartment building was burning down, and a firefighter died while saving you but not your neighbor, what would your proper response be?

Should you gripe and grumble about how unfair it was that the firefighter gave up his life for you, but not your neighbor? Or should you be thankful for his sacrifice?

There is nothing unfair about God’s sovereignty in election.(Romans 9:21) No one who desires to be saved will be turned away. (John 6:37) If you sincerely care about your salvation, that’s a sign you are among God’s elect.

It's because I love Jesus that I believe in limited atonement, that not a drop of His blood was shed in vain. Also, the doctrine of unlimited atonement seems to put the Persons of the Trinity at odds with one another:

The Lord Jesus prayed in John 17 and repeatedly referred to those people that the Father had given Him. From eternity past, the glorious Father gave a particular, a special, a peculiar people to the Son. These are particular souls. These are divinely chosen ones. The Son came in human flesh to live for & die for these particular ones that the Father gave Him. All that the Father gave to the Son were fully pardoned at Calvary. The Spirit of God grants life to all who are elect. He gives life to them. The Father and the Son give life to a particular group of individuals. And thus, the Son came to redeem them. To pit the Son of God against the Father and the Spirit would make the members of the Triune Godhead to be at odds with each other. And this cannot be. The Godhead always works in glorious concert, beauty, happiness, and harmony together.
Why Definite Atonement (Particular Redemption) Must Be True - The Aquila Report

John 3:16 and 1 John 2:2 are interpreted to mean that God intends to save all people without exception, but they must be read in context of other passages of John’s writings:

John 11
51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

John 17:9
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

John 11:52 says that Jesus died, not for all people without exception, but for “the children of God who were scattered abroad,” just as Jesus says in His priestly prayer of John 17:9 that He wasn’t praying for the whole world, but to those given to Him by the Father for salvation.

If John meant the whole world without exception, then the entire world must have been following Jesus in John 12:19, rather than just a large crowd.

John 12:19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

John’s references to Jesus dying for the world’s sins includes people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, rather than every individual without exception.

Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands

When John 12:32 is interpreted as referring to all people without exception, rather than all kinds of people in every ethnic group and station of life, the conclusion is universalism, which is an unbiblical teaching.

John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.

The Greek word translated as “draw” is “helko,” which means “to drag.” John 12:32 must be read in context of John 6:44, which promises that all who are drawn to Jesus will inherit the resurrection unto life on the last day:

John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

When 1 Timothy 2:4 says that God desires “all people” to be saved, this must be read in context of 1 Timothy 2:2, “kings and all who are in high positions.” God desires to save all kinds of people, regardless of their station in life.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

If God is not willing that anyone in the world, without exception, should perish, then He seems to be failing miserably with so many ending up in hell. The “any” and “all” in 2 Peter 3:9 seem to be referring only to the elect.

The Epistle to the Hebrews presents Jesus as high priest of the New Covenant. Just as the high priest in ancient Israel presented the sacrifice for Israel alone, and not everyone in the world, Jesus offers up Himself on behalf of the elect:

Hebrews 2:17
For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 13:12
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

John 10
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep

If you truly care about the salvation of the lost, you should support evangelism, since the preaching of the Gospel is the means God has ordained to awaken faith in His elect. Some of the greatest missionaries have been Calvinists.

John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

When John 12:32 is interpreted as referring to all people without exception, rather than all kinds of people in every ethnic group and station of life, the conclusion is universalism, which is an unbiblical teaching.

The Greek word translated as “draw” is “helko,” which means “to drag.” John 12:32 must be read in context of John 6:44, which promises that all who are drawn to Jesus will inherit the resurrection unto life on the last day:

John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

If Jesus were drawing all people to Himself without exception, then so many wouldn’t have turned away:

John 6
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

If Jesus were drawing all people to Himself without exception, He wouldn’t have said this to the Pharisees:

John 10:26
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.

John 3:16 and 1 John 2:2 are interpreted to mean that God intends to save all people without exception, but they must be read in context of other passages of John’s writings:

John 11
51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

John 17:9
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

John 11:52 says that Jesus died, not for all people without exception, but for “the children of God who were scattered abroad,” just as Jesus says in His priestly prayer of John 17:9 that He wasn’t praying for the whole world, but to those given to Him by the Father for salvation.

If John meant the whole world without exception, then the entire world must have been following Jesus in John 12:19, rather than just a large crowd.

John 12:19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

John’s references to Jesus dying for the world’s sins includes people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, rather than every individual without exception.

Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands

According to Arminian theologian Kenneth Grider, the Arminian rejection of limited atonement ultimately leads to rejecting penal substitution altogether:

A spillover from Calvinism into Arminianism has occurred in recent decades. Thus many Arminians whose theology is not very precise say that Christ paid the penalty for our sins. Yet such a view is foreign to Arminianism, which teaches instead that Christ suffered for us. Arminians teach that what Christ did he did for every person; therefore what he did could not have been to pay the penalty, since no one would then ever go into eternal perdition. Arminianism teaches that Christ suffered for everyone so that the Father could forgive the ones who repent and believe; his death is such that all will see that forgiveness is costly and will strive to cease from anarchy in the world God governs. This view is called the governmental theory of the atonement.
Arminianism

 

[TheWhat?]

Interesting comparison. I hadn't heard the point that everyone limits the atonement in some way.

Though I get the sense that much of these interpretations hinge on philosophical presuppositions, of which I may not share -- although I can't confirm. All I know is I've disagreed with modern Calvinists on these points, but low and behold, I found I was taking a position similar to Aristotle's. It would be nice to see someone pick that apart, to determine if Calvinism shares the same presuppositions as Augustine, and Aristotle.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

It would be nice to see someone pick that apart, to determine if Calvinism shares the same presuppositions as Augustine, and Aristotle.

Martin Luther and John Calvin quoted Augustine more than they quoted any other theologian. The only reason why it's called "Calvinism" is because John Calvin popularized the doctrines of grace, he did not originate them.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

Why do I post things in favor of Calvinism? Because of things like this:

If there weren't so many anti-Calvinists mislabeling us as heretics, there wouldn't be such a need to clarify what Calvinism actually teaches.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as innumerable as the stars:

Genesis 15:5
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Christians, by faith, are children of Abraham:

Galatians 3:7
Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

While the atonement is limited in extent, it covers innumerable children of Abraham.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

Limited atonement is simply the teaching that Jesus didn't die for those who live their entire lives rejecting the Gospel, so that not a drop of Jesus' blood was wasted. The more we sympathize with the sufferings of Jesus, the more likely we might be to accept limited atonement.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

Since it would be utterly tragic if even a drop of Jesus' blood was shed in vain, the only acceptable alternative to limited atonement would be universalism, which the Bible clearly teaches against.

If you are among God's elect, His people, Jesus purchased you with the shedding of his blood.

Luke 1:68
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed His people

Redeem
to buy or pay off; clear by payment:
to redeem a mortgage.
Definition of redeem | Dictionary.com

The only proper response is your love and obedience.

If your apartment building was burning down, and a firefighter died while saving you but not your neighbor, what would your proper response be?

Should you gripe and grumble about how unfair it was that the firefighter gave up his life for you, but not your neighbor? Or should you be thankful for his sacrifice?

There is nothing unfair about God’s sovereignty in election. (Romans 9:21) No one who desires to be saved will be turned away. (John 6:37) If you sincerely care about your salvation, that’s a sign you are among God’s elect.

It's because I love Jesus that I believe in limited atonement, that not a drop of His blood was shed in vain.

John 10
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep

 

[bling]

Limited atonement is the hardest doctrine of Calvinism to accept. For this reason, there are four-point Calvinists:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Amyraldism.html

Everyone limits the atonement in some way. Those who believe in unlimited atonement limit the atonement’s power, that Jesus died for people who end up in hell.

Those who believe in limited atonement limit its extent, that Jesus died only for His elect, who will without fail be saved, so not a drop of Jesus’ blood was wasted.

In His torture and death, Jesus suffered the full measure of God’s wrath for sin. Limited atonement means that not an iota of Jesus’ suffering was endured in vain.



Until they repent and believe, it's impossible to tell who God's elect might be, so the Gospel must be preached indiscriminately. Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 14:23

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as innumerable as the stars:

Genesis 15:5
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Christians, by faith, are children of Abraham:

Galatians 3:7
Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

While the atonement is limited in extent, it covers innumerable children of Abraham.

Unless you are a universalist, you believe that only Christians will be saved. That's what Calvinists believe as well, and the number of saved Christians will be many, as Jesus promised. Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45

Limited atonement is the teaching that Jesus didn't die for non-Christians who never accept the Gospel. It's not some scary teaching. Jesus died as a "ransom for many," those who accept the Gospel, not for those who reject it.

Limited atonement is simply the teaching that Jesus didn't die for those who live their entire lives rejecting the Gospel, so that not a drop of Jesus' blood was wasted. The more we sympathize with the sufferings of Jesus, the more likely we might be to accept limited atonement.

https://tubitv.com/movies/550864/the-passion-of-the-christ

Tubi is a legal source to watch free movies online.

If you are among God's elect, His people, Jesus purchased you with the shedding of his blood.

Luke 1:68
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed His people


The only proper response is your love and obedience. If Jesus died for the full weight of your sin, then the more you sin, the more you add to His sufferings.

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

If your apartment building was burning down, and a firefighter died while saving you but not your neighbor, what would your proper response be?

Should you gripe and grumble about how unfair it was that the firefighter gave up his life for you, but not your neighbor? Or should you be thankful for his sacrifice?

There is nothing unfair about God’s sovereignty in election.(Romans 9:21) No one who desires to be saved will be turned away. (John 6:37) If you sincerely care about your salvation, that’s a sign you are among God’s elect.

It's because I love Jesus that I believe in limited atonement, that not a drop of His blood was shed in vain.

John 10
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep

If you truly care about the salvation of the lost, you should support evangelism, since the preaching of the Gospel is the means God has ordained to awaken faith in His elect. Some of the greatest missionaries have been Calvinists.

It takes a lot of words to cover atonement, but what we need to realize is the idea: “Christ being the atonement sacrifice does not mean “Atonement” took place. In other words: “There is more to atonement then just the sacrifice”, it is a process, which humans are part of, so Christ can be the sacrifice for all humans, but that does not mean atonement took place for all humans. Many people think atonement is something between God and Christ, with Christ helping God out some way, but man plays a part in atonement.

There is a part the sinner plays (again this would be understood best by those Jews who had experienced the atonement process for (minor unintentional sins). Jesus and God have both done their part in the atonement process, but the individual sinner has to complete his part or atonement is not completed and if atonement is not completed the forgiveness is not assured. (God’s forgiveness for minor (unintentional sins) came after the correct completion of the atonement process (Lev. 5)).

Lev.4 starts atonement off giving details of what the priest must do, which you should read and understand, but Lev.5 gets into more detail about the individual, so please read Lev. 5 with much thought. I find people with pet theories of atonement skip Lev. 5 all together and might go to Lev. 16, but the day of atonement has some lite symbolic references to Christ, while Lev 5 is a closer representation. I will discuss Lev. 16 if you want to take the time, but it takes some explaining of what and why it was needed by itself. Please read Lev. 5 before going further.

Atonement is much more than the sacrifice itself; it is a process which we can see from the Old Testament examples of the atonement process.

We can start with Lev. 5: 3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; 4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin. … 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

Lev. 5 is talking about some really minor sins almost accidental sins and very much unintentional sins, there is no atonement process at this time for major sins, intentional direct disobedience toward God (these require banishment or death of the sinner).

The atonement process includes confessing, securing a good offering, personally bringing the offering to the priests at the temple altar, the priest has to offer it correctly and after the atonement process is correctly completed the sinner’s sins will be forgiven.

Note also the relationship between the sinner and the offering, the offering is “as a penalty for the sin” and not a replacement for the sinner. The idea of “penalty” is a “punishment” for the sinner, yet punishment of your child is better translated “disciplining”.

Reading all of Lev. 5: we have a lamb, two doves and a bag of flour all being an atoning sacrifice for the exact same sin, but vary with the wealth of the sinner, yet God does not consider the wealthy person of great value then the poor person, so what is happening? We can only conclude there is an attempt to equalize the hardship on the sinner (penalty/punishment/discipline). In fact, this might be the main factor in the atonement process at least with Lev. 5. God is not only forgiving the sins, but seeing to the discipling of the sinner (like any Loving parent tries to do, if possible). The problem is it can only be done for minor sins at this time.

Please notice there is an “and” just before “they will be forgiven”, suggesting a separate action, so the forgiveness is not part of the atonement process, but comes afterwards (this will be discussed more later).

Do you see the benefit for the Jewish people (nothing really to help God out here) going through this atonement process? That rich person had to water, feed, hang on to a lamb, he is not the lamb’s shepherd, so for hours waiting in line to get to the priest he fighting this lamb and the poor person may have skipped meals to get that bag of flour, so he has an equal hardship also. They are going to be more careful in the future and those around them will not want to go through the same thing. Yes, they can experience worship, forgiveness, and fellowship in the process.

We should be able to extrapolate up from extremely minor sins to rebellious disobedience directly against God, but that is a huge leap, so the hardship on the sinner will have to be horrendous, the sacrifice of much greater value (penalty for the sinner), and this will take a much greater Priest.

Secondly: The part the sinner plays are nothing: worthy of anything, righteous, deserving of anything, or honorable. It is more like criminal, horrible and disgraceful, but necessary.

Christ Crucified is described by Paul, Peter, Jesus, John and the Hebrew writer as a ransom payment (it is not even said to be like a ransom payment, but it was a ransom payment).

I find the ransom description more than just an analogy and an excellent fit and I am not talking about the “Ransom Theory of Atonement”

(The “Ransom Theory of Atonement” has God paying satan the cruel torture, humiliation and murder of Christ but: Does God owe Satan anything? Is there some cosmic “law” saying you have to pay the kidnapper? Would it not be wrong for God to pay satan, if God could just as easily and safely take back His children without paying satan?)


Would a ransom as those in the first century might understand it (it was well known Caesura at 21 had been kidnapped and a ransom paid for him) included the following elements:


1. Someone other than the captive paying the ransom.

2. The payment is a huge sacrificial payment for the payer, who would personally prefer not to pay.

3. Since those that come to God must come as children, it is the children of God that go to the Father.

4. The payer cannot safely or for some other reason get his children any other way than making the payment.

5. The kidnapper is totally undeserving.

6. The kidnapper can accept or reject the payment.

We can agree on most of the parts with the atonement process being just like a ransom experience: The children of God be held out of the kingdom; Deity making the huge sacrificial payment; Christ’s torture, humiliation and murder on the cross being the payment; and the freedom given the child to enter the kingdom after the ransom is paid. But who is this unworthy kidnapper God will pay to release His child?

We can only come to our Father as children, so who is keeping the nonbeliever in the unbelieving state (who is this kidnapper)?

There is the one ransom, but could there be many unworthy kidnappers holding the children of God back?

Does not the nonbeliever himself hold the potential child of God (within them) back from the kingdom?

If the kidnapper does accept the payment does that mean he/she done something worthy or virtually criminal?

When we go to a nonbelieving sinner we are not trying to get him/her to accept a doctrine, book, church, theology or religion, but we are trying to get the nonbelieving sinner to accept “Jesus Christ and him crucified” and if he does a child is set free to enter the kingdom and be with God, but if the sinner refuses “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” then a child is not set free. “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” is described in the Bible as the ransom payment, so does this sound like a kidnapping/ransom scenario?

Look at a real “Christ crucified” sermon of Peter Acts 2 and he says nothing about Christ taking our place on the cross.

That is just an introduction to think about, we really need to at least start with Lev. 5 and go through every Bible reference to the atonement process.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

We have gone through a pandemic in which over 600,000 Americans have died. We need assurance of salvation now more than ever before.

Other than its support in the Bible, assurance of salvation is why I find Calvinism important. Because of unconditional election and irresistible grace, we can have assurance that God will preserve His saints.

Without the second and fourth points of Calvinism, we cannot have assurance of the fifth. This is why I've done my best to clarify what these doctrines actually mean, as well as their Biblical basis.

When you have the assurance of salvation that Calvinism provides, you can go on to humbly serve the Lord in love and gratitude, no matter what happens in life.

What is Calvinism and is it biblical?

Did the Early Church Believe the Doctrines of Grace?

This is from Martin Luther’s 97 Theses, almost twenty years before John Calvin’s The Institutes of the Christian Religion:

29. The best and infallible preparation for grace and the sole disposition toward grace is the eternal election and predestination of God.
30. On the part of man, however, nothing precedes grace except indisposition and even rebellion against grace.
The 97 Theses | Union Resources

It’s only called “Calvinism” because John Calvin popularized the doctrines of grace, he did not originate them. It’s the same doctrines that Augustine taught against Pelagius and Luther taught against Rome.

 

[bling]

We have gone through a pandemic in which over 600,000 Americans have died. We need assurance of salvation now more than ever before.

Other than its support in the Bible, assurance of salvation is why I find Calvinism important. Because of unconditional election and irresistible grace, we can have assurance that God will preserve His saints.

Without the second and fourth points of Calvinism, we cannot have assurance of the fifth. This is why I've done my best to clarify what these doctrines actually mean, as well as their Biblical basis.

When you have the assurance of salvation that Calvinism provides, you can go on to humbly serve the Lord in love and gratitude, no matter what happens in life.

What is Calvinism and is it biblical?

Did the Early Church Believe the Doctrines of Grace?

This is from Martin Luther’s 97 Theses, almost twenty years before John Calvin’s The Institutes of the Christian Religion:

We are told and those who tap into the indwelling Holy Spirit know He is there. That is the guarentee we were given, to know God will fulfill all His promises.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

We are told and those who tap into the indwelling Holy Spirit know He is there. That is the guarentee we were given, to know God will fulfill all His promises.

Irresistible grace is nothing more than a way of describing the work of the Holy Spirit to unfailingly lead God's elect to ultimate salvation, no matter how many times they might rebel and fail.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

If you are an Arminian who loves Jesus, that’s awesome. As the slogan of the Reformation goes, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

1 Corinthians 8:2-3
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

 

[John Mullally]

There are numerous NT passages that emphasize that believers being bought, purchased, and ransomed What Does the Bible Say About Being Bought By A Price?.

I believe that 1 John 2:2 and 1 Timothy 2:6 demonstrated that Christ made payment for all men at Calvary, but many did qualify to receive it per Mark 16:16.

Peter talks at length about false prophets bringing in damnable heresies in 2 Peter 2. 2 Peter 2:20-22 indicate that these false prophets were once believers who had fallen away per Hebrews 6:4-6. In 2 Peter 2:1, Peter says that these deny the Lord that bought them - so therefore the ransom at Calvary was paid for them.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.​

 

[Humble_Disciple]

I believe I've made pretty much every Biblical and historical argument for Calvinism on this forum that one can possibly make.

As Jesus would say, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." My only intention has been to counter anti-Calvinist prejudice, that we are heretics rather than lovers of the Bible and Jesus Christ.

 

[bling]

Irresistible grace is nothing more than a way of describing the work of the Holy Spirit to unfailingly lead God's elect to ultimate salvation, no matter how many times they might rebel and fail.

If "Irresistible Grace" was true then God would be the cruel cause for the people in hell?

 

[Humble_Disciple]

If limited atonement is true, then Jesus' suffering will unfailingly save everyone it was intended to save, so not a drop of His blood was shed in vain. For anyone who has ears to hear, let them hear.

 

[anna ~ grace]

I believe I've made pretty much every Biblical and historical argument for Calvinism on this forum that one can possibly make.

As Jesus would say, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." My only intention has been to counter anti-Calvinist prejudice, that we are heretics rather than lovers of the Bible and Jesus Christ.

I think Calvinism appeals to a lot of people because it’s organized, presented logically, and because there are a lot of sound, conservative, well-known preachers / authors out there who are Reformed. I don’t agree with their salvation theology, but many preach well, and make good points.

So. There’s a lot to draw people in, especially guys who think logically and enjoy fitting things together based on reasons and conclusions. But there is more to Soteriology than the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate.

Catholic and Orthodox theologies don’t fit into either, and are 2,000 years old. I don’t adhere to Reformed theology, but I get who it appeals to some. And have been helped and encouraged and rebuked by some Reformed preachers.

 

[Humble_Disciple]

I can tell you from personal experience that I'm not going to choose to obey God unless He chose me first. (John 15:16) When I believed in free will, I used it as a license to sin.

If Jesus bought and paid for me on the cross, as a unique individual, then He deserves my love and obedience in return.

 

[John Mullally]

If Jesus bought and paid for me on the cross, as a unique individual, then He deserves my love and obedience in return.

I hope you aren't offended that God desires everybody to be saved because that is what Peter and Paul assert in 1 Peter 3:9 and 1 Timothy 2:4. These scripture passages are so unshakable on this point that even leading Reformist John MacArthur agrees to it in If God Desires All Men to Be Saved, Why Aren't They?

If Jesus bought and paid for me on the cross, as a unique individual, then He deserves my love and obedience in return.

Rejoice that Christ paid for you. Also realize that 2 Peter 2:1 says that the Lord died for even the false prophets who were headed for destruction.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.​

 

[Humble_Disciple]