I think that of all the five points of Calvinism, limited
atonement is the most controversial, and the one that engenders perhaps the
most confusion and consternation. This doctrine is chiefly concerned about the
original purpose, plan, or design of God in sending Christ into the world to
die on the cross. Was it the Father’s intent to send His Son to die on the
cross to make salvation possible for everyone, but with the possibility that
His death would be effective for no one? That is, did God simply send Christ to
the cross to make salvation possible, or did God, from all eternity, have a
plan of salvation by which, according to the riches of His grace and His
eternal election, He designed the atonement to ensure the salvation of His
people? Was the atonement limited in its original design?
I prefer not to use the term limited atonement because
it is misleading. I rather speak of definite redemption or definite
atonement, which communicates that God the Father designed the work of
redemption specifically with a view to providing salvation for the elect, and
that Christ died for His sheep and laid down His life for those the Father had
given to Him.
THE REDEMPTION OF SPECIFIC SINNERS WAS AN ETERNAL PLAN
OF GOD…ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ATONING WORK OF
CHRIST. —R.C. SPROUL
One of the texts that we often hear used as an objection
against the idea of a definite atonement is 2
Peter 3:8–9: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the
Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord
is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient
toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach
repentance.” The immediate antecedent of the word any in this passage
is the word us, and I think it’s perfectly clear that Peter is saying that
God is not willing that any of us should perish, but that all of us should
come to salvation. He’s not speaking of all mankind indiscriminately; the us is
a reference to the believing people to whom Peter is speaking. I don’t think we
want to believe in a God who sends Christ to die on the cross and then crosses
His fingers, hoping that someone will take advantage of that atoning death. Our
view of God is different. Our view is that the redemption of specific sinners
was an eternal plan of God, and this plan and design was perfectly conceived
and perfectly executed so that the will of God to save His people is
accomplished by the atoning work of Christ.
This does not mean that a limit is placed on the value or
the merit of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It’s traditional to say that the
atoning work of Christ is sufficient for all. That is, its meritorious value is
sufficient to cover the sins of all people, and certainly anyone who puts his
or her trust in Jesus Christ will receive the full measure of the benefits of
that atonement. It is also important to understand that the gospel is to be
preached universally. This is another controversial point, because on the one
hand the gospel is offered universally to all who are within earshot of the
preaching of it, but it’s not universally offered in the sense that it’s
offered to anyone without any conditions. It’s offered to anyone who believes.
It’s offered to anyone who repents. Obviously the merit of the atonement of
Christ is given to all who believe and to all who repent of their sins.
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