Tripping TULIP Part 4: Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption)

Please find Part 3 here.

Here’s what GraceNET has to say: Put simply, Christ died only to save the elect, securing with absolute certainty their salvation. This is not to teach that there is anything lacking in the power of God, perhaps suggesting that he is not able to save all men. Rather, God's Word indicates that it was the Father's intention that his Son was to suffer and die only for his chosen people, atoning for their sins alone. Christ's atonement was limited only in extent, not in power, according to the sovereign will of God.

In the Bible we read that the Lord's servant (Jesus) would see the results of his work (his atoning sacrifice) and "be satisfied" (Isaiah 53:11). But also, Jesus stated plainly that there are many who are heading for eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13). We can only reconcile these two statements if we understand that Christ died only for a limited number of people - for God's elect.

Scripture references: Acts 20:28; John 3:14-15; Galatians 1:4-5; Revelation 13:8; John 6:38-39; John 17:9-10; John 17:24; John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:21; Romans 5:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 8:33-34; Luke 1:68; Revelation 5:9; Isaiah 53:11

Here are my initial thoughts about Limited Atonement: At the beginning of my discussion of the doctrines of TULIP I stated that I would not argue from emotionalism. I must however confess that this doctrine is one of the most offensive that is taught in the Church. That it offends me does not invalidate it or even diminish it. Offended or not my intellect must bow to Scripture.

The primary issue I have with this doctrine is that it violates the plain reading of Scripture, invalidates the types and shadows of Christ in the Old Testament and makes a mockery of the qualification of the Gospel as being “in accordance with the Scriptures.” Isaiah 53:6 tells us that Christ was to take on all the sins of all people, if He did not then His death for our sins was not as Paul claims it was “in accordance with the Scriptures” 1 Cor 15:3

Isa 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.

1Co 15:3

For I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;

Many Christians unfortunately think that Christ was a Christian, and that His sacrifice wasn’t in accordance with anything other than God’s desire to have satisfaction for sin.

Propitiation is the appeasement of God the Father for sin, Atonement is the whole process of God forgiving and cleansing based on the appeasement. A study of Leviticus will show what God set forth as the process for Atonement. He must be appeased and the sins must be confessed and born away. The spotless lambs were merely types and shadows of Christ. One could not both die and carry away the sins so the Law demanded a spotless lamb to die and have its blood sprinkled at the Mercy Seat. Then the sins had to be confessed on the head of the scape goat which then bore the sins away. All the sins of Israel were propitiated, those that were confessed were born away and so atoned for.

The reality of the Cross is that Christ was the spotless lamb, and the scape goat. His blood propitiates the Father for all sins of all the world 1 John 2:2, and He bears the sins of those who depend on Him as far away as the East is from the West. No sin can be born away unless God the Father has been appeased for it. Christ says that any can come to Him for Eternal Life, because He is the “lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

The primary issue with Limited Atonement is that the doctrine confuses how atonement is limited. Christ died for all sins, but only those who put their faith in this propitiation have their sins atoned for. It is not limited by God, it just that not everyone takes advantage of what is available.

Here are the scriptures referenced by GraceNET:

Acts 20:28

The Church is the pearl of great value that Christ bought (or purchased) the whole World to secure. Matthew 13 shows how Christ bought the whole world so as to get the Church out of it. Further verses such as 2 Peter 2:1 show that God purchased even those who are not saved. This verse does not give support to the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

John 3:14-15

This is right in the middle of Christ explaining Salvation to Nicodemus. He says that any who look to Him on the Cross will be saved. There is absolutely nothing limiting who may look. This was done for the whole world, as we read in the continuing verses, and any (in the world) who look will be saved. The purpose of sending Christ to do this was so that “the world may be saved through Him.” It is available to everyone, but only those who look will be saved. Nowhere does it say that God only died for those who look. The limiting factor is looking or not. Thus this passage does not offer support for the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

Galatians 1:4-5

This identifies Christ as the one who gave Himself for our sins. It doesn’t say that He didn’t give Himself for all the sins of the world, just that He did indeed give Himself for our sins. Paul’s primary issue with the Galatians was that they were believing a false gospel. He’s reminding them of the truth that they are saved by His work not theirs. He is not limiting the availability of Salvation, he is showing the completeness of it for those who believe. Thus this passage does not offer support for the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

Revelation 13:8

This doesn’t say that Christ didn’t die for all the sins of the World, as we read He actually did in 1 John 2:2 it says that only those who are saved have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who have not believed have never, since the foundations of the world, had their names written in that book. There is some debate about which was since the foundations of the world – the Lamb or the writing. Revelation 17:8 uses the phrase similarly. I do not believe (this is a weak statement of course) that this indicates the names were written before and have been there ever since, but that they have been written progressively since. Regardless if this verse indicates Election to Eternal Salvation or not, it does not offer any support for a Limited Atonement as it does not limit who Christ died for.

John 6:38-39

Christ will not lose anything from that which the Father has given Him, the world. The Lord hasn’t lost anything in the World though it will be judged. He has become worthy to judge because He has redeemed (bought back from slavery) the whole world. He is the one who alone is worthy to take the scroll. Then He says that the will of the Father is that any who behold Him and believe will be given Eternal Life. The Lord does not say that it is the will of the Father that some should believe, but that those who do will be saved. Thus this passage offers no support to the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

John 17:9-10, 24

Some reading my response to the citation of these verses and claim “foul play” however go with me, I would not intentionally go against Scripture for any cause let alone to save my wretched pride. Who are “these who You have given Me” that the Lord is referencing? These are the Disciples. There are many who believed in Christ who along the way fell away because the teachings were very hard, or the risk of being shunned in the culture was too great for them. Verse John 17:12 shows us that He is talking about the Disciples and not all the people who have believed in Him in His ministry. The verses cited in isolation appear to support Election to Eternal Salvation but, even if that were true they do not at all limit Christ’s work on the Cross to only the Elect. This passage does not support the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

John 10:11

This doesn’t limit, it merely states the purpose. Much like was discussed above Christ bought the world so that He could secure the Church. This verse does not limit Christ’s work on the Cross so it does not support the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

1 Peter 2:21

Again this does not limit the work of the Cross but simply applies it to the believers. 1 Peter 2:25 says that we were going astray but now have returned to the Shepherd. He died, and we responded in faith. This verse does not support Limited Atonement.

Romans 5:8-10

As I was writing response to the citation of 1 Peter 2:21 I was going to quote extensively from Romans 5, but then I noticed that this chapter was the next citation. I think a person ought to read from the beginning of this chapter. God says He died for the ungodly. And that we have been justified on the principle of faith, not Election.

Calvinists tend to play havoc with the words “all” and “many.” Romans 5 gives us opportunity to shut those arguments down. Verse 15 says that death came to “the many”, and that Christ brought grace to “the many” as well.

This passage does not therefore offer support to the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

1 Thessalonians 1:10

As we spoke of before Paul explains to the Thessalonians that Jesus will deliver us from the Great Tribulation. We have been saved from the appointment with Wrath that the rest of the world has. This verse does not limit the work on the Cross, it limits God’s promise that those who believe have been saved from Wrath. This verse does not support Limited Atonement.

Romans 8:33-34

This is about election to purpose in life again. It is about being provided for through tribulation and distress. This chapter is about the blessed life of the believer, Eternal Salvation is not being explained. He is talking about walking in victory through this world in the knowledge that God provides for all the things we have been called to do and endure. This does not limit the work on the Cross, it shows the fullness of its blessing and protection for all who believe. Thus it does not support Limited Atonement.

Luke 1:68

“His people” is not individuals, but the Nation of Israel which is “His people.” Do I even need to show Scripture about this? The truth of it is found in the very verse cited. I find Limited Atonement offensive enough, but the intentional abusive quoting of Scripture is beyond ugly. It dishonor’s God, which is in complete violation of what the Calvinist claims to want to do, and it preys on the young believer who probably has not read the Old Testament. My offense does not disqualify this citation, it’s being completely wrong and either intentionally, or wildly blindly so is what disqualifies it from giving support to the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

Revelation 5:9

The Lamb is only worthy to take the Scroll because He is the Kinsman Redeemer. This is a large study that Christians ought to undertake. Under Law the Jews could sell the land for a period of 7 years, but then it would have to be bought back, or “redeemed” by either the person or a kinsman redeemer. The whole had to be purchased back. You could not just buy back the portions that you wanted. This was to preserve God’s plan, not to please the people. We cannot sell the land for it does not belong to us. Likewise the Earth was put in our care but it did not belong to us. Christ the Kinsman Redeemer has come to redeem the World. Since He has, He now has the authority and is worthy to take the Scroll and exercise that authority over the World.

This verse says that people “out of” every nation because it is true that not everyone on the planet is going to receive Salvation. This doesn’t mean it’s not available to them, it is not been limited. They have not received is all it says. The whole was redeemed, salvation is available for the taking. Come buy and drink. This verse does not limit the work on the Cross so it does not support Limited Atonement.

Isaiah 53:11

This is one of those creative uses of the word “many” that I wrote of above. Isaiah 53:6 shows that the iniquities of all who have gone astray were put on Him.

Isa 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.

The cited verse not limit the work of the Cross at all and so does not support the doctrine of Limited Atonement.

My closing thoughts on Limited Atonement: As I said at the beginning of this section, this is probably the most offensive portion of TULIP. It is offensive because it diminishes the work of Christ, but it is wrong because it is not Scriptural. My emotional reaction to this false doctrine is not the basis for my rebuttal of it. In fact if this doctrine were to be supported by Scripture I would have to submit my intellect and surrender my offense before the pure truth of Scripture.

Please find Part 5 here.