Thursday, August 21, 2008

Limited Atonement



1 JOHN 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.


Here is an article that gives a good explanation concerning that verse:
I John 2:2 and Limited Atonement

Here is an excellent resource on the subject by John Piper

Here is another article on Limited Atonement:
Gospel Outreach

Also see my other posts concerning this issue:
My Past Posts on Election and the Sovereignty of God

Here is another article:
A Puritan's Mind

Also this:
Limited Atonement: Is is Biblical?

Here is a definition of Limited Atonement on Wikipedia

And here is an article on Limited Atonement by Loraine Boettmer

5 comments:

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

la

I have looked at Loraine Boettmer
with my PhD research...useful.

This video has views similar to my own Reformed concepts.

An aspect of atonement is both sacrifice/covering and propitiation/penalty.

All does not always mean all persons. The context must be examined.

This video is not dealing with philosophical aspects of the nature of the atonement that I discussed.

These being the infinite nature of God as Christ within the atoning work. However, the atoning work is applied to only
the predestined elect.

The last guy is funny with his stops and starts!

Jeff said...

Russ,

I have looked at Loraine Boettmer
with my PhD research


Cool!

These being the infinite nature of God as Christ within the atoning work. However, the atoning work is applied to only the predestined elect.

Yeah, that is something I still don't completely understand, and maybe never will, this side of eternity, regarding limited atonement being applied within infinite atonement. Christ died for everyone in a sense, but not all will be saved, and not all are chosen. Yet, free will takes the power from God and gives it to man, and denies the fact that God is sovereign and makes all the decisions. God wants everyone to be saved, and God is all-powerful, but not everyone will be saved. Therefore, God desires all men to be saved, but He does not choose all men. A man might desire to be rich, but he will only work within legal limits, and will not steal, just because he desires to be rich. Just because someone desires something doesn't always mean they are going to do it, because there may be something more important than the fulfilling of that desire.
If all men were saved, God would not be just. If all men went to Hell, God would not be loving. If it were left up to unregenerate, rebellious, selfish man, no one would choose Christ.

The last guy is funny with his stops and starts!

Yeah, I was laughing hard at that. That is the funniest I've ever seen him. He is the late Dr. James D. Kennedy, whom I had great respect for. He fought on the front lines against abortion, evolution being taught as fact, the revision of history (specifically, the taking of any mention of God out of school textbooks and other history books), etc. He had a TV ministry.

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

Some could state Christ's infinite divine nature does not make his atoning work of an infinite nature. Therefore the atonement would only cover the sins of the elect and no more.

So, one could also suggest the atoning work could only possibly cover the sins of the elect and no more.

This would mean that Christ only defeated sin and death in the elect.

I tend to think Christ defeated all sin and death (resurrection) and the atoning work is only applied to those God predestines.

There is room for consideration.

Jeff said...

Some could state Christ's infinite divine nature does not make his atoning work of an infinite nature. Therefore the atonement would only cover the sins of the elect and no more.

So, one could also suggest the atoning work could only possibly cover the sins of the elect and no more.

This would mean that Christ only defeated sin and death in the elect.

I tend to think Christ defeated all sin and death (resurrection) and the atoning work is only applied to those God predestines.

There is room for consideration.


Thanks, Russ.
That is helpful.

I believe that Christ's death on the cross could certainly cover the sins of all mankind (so, in that regard, He died for the sins of the world). However, no one will come to Christ unless God first chooses them, so the application is only made to the Elect.