Even Arminians Believe in Limited Atonement

The Arminian, in an effort to present God as the epitome of what they see as fairness, tries to make the case that Christ died for everyone's sins. After all, 1 John 2:2 says that he died for "the sins of the whole world," and Hebrews 2:9 tells us that he tasted death "for everyone." Of course, the Arminian interpretation of such passages is at odds with the rest of scripture.

When it comes to limited (or particular or definite) atonement, God's word is quite clear on the subject. In Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 we read that Christ gave his life as a "ransom for many." In John 10:11-15 Jesus talks about laying down his life "for the sheep." Contrast that with Matthew 25:32-33, where we see the shepherd separating "the sheep from the goats."

There are many other references to limited atonement. In John 6:39 Jesus says it is the Father's will that he "should lose nothing of all that he has given me." The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25 that "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Paul reminds believers in Colossians 3:5–6 that the wrath of God is coming as judgment for the specific sins of individuals, sins like "sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Obviously, the sins of these people were not covered by cross.) John 11:52 says that the Messiah's death was not for Israel alone, "but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." In 1 Timothy 4:10 Paul says that Christ is "the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."

A clear reading of scripture proves that Christ's atonement is limited to the elect. Even 1 John 2:2, the Arminian "proof-text" for indefinite atonement, demonstrates this basic truth. The entire verse reads as follows: "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." Note the key word "propitiation." In its theological context this term means the satisfaction of God's demands. God demands perfection, and sinful man can never hope to live up to that standard. Sin must be punished, which is why man is born under condemnation. Christ's perfect life and substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, however, satisfied God's demand for justice. In short, he paid the price for our sin, giving us eternal life.

But wait... If Christ died for every individual as the Arminian would argue, then why do people end up in hell? If the price of everyone's sin has been paid in full, then why does God feel the need to punish that sin again?

In essence, for one to insist that Christ died for the sins of all people, and yet believe that people still go to hell as punishment for those sins, is to say that God is unjust. And we all know that God is nothing if not just. So, if we follow Arminian theology to its logical conclusion, we end up with universalism: all go to heaven because Christ died for all.

But even the most devout Arminian would deny universalism. No true Christian believes that everyone goes to heaven. The only way around this is to admit that there are certain sins for which Christ did not die -- namely, the sin of rejecting Christ as Savior and Lord. The Arminian, then, is left with a stark realization: if that one sin was not paid for on the cross, then Christ's atonement cannot be considered limitless.

This has to be disconcerting because it leads these enlightened Arminians to an even more harrowing realization: they're one step closer to embracing Calvinism!

This Week in Calvinism - July 27, 2007

David Heddle reminds us that "worrying if one is chosen" ain't just a Calvinist "problem." It's just as bad or worse for Arminians. Better to stop worrying and enjoy your salvation.

Dr. Nelson Price has a problem with "covert Calvinists" who are sneaking into church leadership positions by not being open and honest about what they believe. One of the telltale signs that a church has suffered such subversiveness: "Many no longer conclude worship with an invitation or promote soul winning." *Gasp!* I'm sure Charles Finney is rolling over in his grave.

Andrew, over at Strange Baptist Fire, responds to Dr. Price's charges (Part 1 - Part 2).

How do you maintain a fair and balanced approach to the Calvinism-Arminianism debate? Why, interpret Calvinist doctrine from an Arminian perspective, of course. And remember: God chose you because you first chose him.

James M. Hamilton Jr. reviews the book A Piety above the Common Standard: Jesse Mercer and Evangelistic Calvinism, by Anthony L. Chute.

If God has the time and power to save all people, and if he is absolutely good, is he not obligated to do just that? So begins this discussion at TheologyOnline.com.

Seth McBee, blogging at Contend Earnestly, is hosting an e-mail debate on Calvinism. You can read Part 1 here.

John Hendryx discusses a few of the doctrinal errors that can arise when we fail to see Jesus Christ as the interpretive key to scripture. (I would add dispensationalism to his list.)

John Shore, writing for Crosswalk.com, thinks he has solved once and for all the age-old debate of free will vs. predestination: "When we're outside of God's grace -- when we've chosen to be Fallen Independent Types -- we have free will, because we've then placed ourselves outside of God's purview. But when we're with God -- when we've surrendered ourselves to the reality of God's presence within us -- then we don't have free will, because then our will is subsumed by the larger will of God." Sounds like someone needs to read Luther's The Bondage of the Will.

Even some non-Calvinists realize that faith is not a choice.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

This amazing 48-minute video gives us a glimpse at just how "fearfully and wonderfully made" we are (Psalm 139:14):

And to think that some people still insist that this kind of genius reflects not the glory of an infinite and all-powerful Creator, but merely the result of a random evolutionary process. As David wrote, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" (Psalm 14:1).

This Week in Calvinism - July 20, 2007

Bryan Lair is encouraged to see the resurgence of Reformed theology.

Faith by Hearing is a web site "designed to collect and categorize the ever-growing availabilty of great Reformed and conservative evangelical audio preaching & teaching that has a high view of God and Scripture." That isn't an easy task, but they're doing a great job. Here, they present the best MP3’s of first half of 2007. Enjoy!

James Swan gives us 10 reasons "why Dave Hunt's Berean Call should change its name to something else."

This high school Calvinist points out some of the errors of Greg Boyd's open theism as found in his popular book Letters From A Skeptic.

Daniel explains the weight of Calvinism.

Douglas Groothuis with some lessons we can learn from Francis Schaeffer.

John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

I think this also demonstrates the proper view of the sovereignty of God in all things. For if God is not completely sovereign, and if he must rely on our cooperation in order to accomplish his divine plan, then there is no hope for us whatsoever.

HT: Audience One

Bad Theology + Bad Singing = Arminian Hymn

When you mix bad theology and bad singing, you end up with something like this:

I Give You Freedom (The Whippoorwill Song)

I set the boundaries of the ocean vast,
Carved out the mountains from the distant past,
Molded a man from the miry clay,
Breathed in him life, but he went astray.

I hold the waters in My mighty hand
Spread out the heavens with a single span,
Make all creation tremble at My voice,
But My own sons come to Me by choice.

CHORUS:
I own the cattle on a thousand hills,
I write the music for the whippoorwill,
Control the planets with their rocks and rills,
But give you freedom to use your own will.

Even the oxen knows the master's stall,
And sheep will recognize the shepherd's call
I could demand your love - I own you twice,
But only willing love is worth the price!

And if you want Me to, I'll make you whole,
I'll only do it, though, if you say so.
I'll never force you, for I love you so,
I give you freedom - Is it "yes" or "no"?

HT: Pastor Gene Cook, who featured this heretical hymn on his latest show.

What's funny is that the song, though presented as biblical truth, contradicts itself. Note verse three, which talks about the sheep hearing the shepherd's call. This is a reference to John 10:27, where Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." The sheep, and no one else, are the ones who hear and respond to the voice of the shepherd.

But who are the sheep? Those chosen and placed in the care of the shepherd (John 10:28-29). We know this because of what Christ says in Matthew 25: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' ... Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels'" (verses 31-34, 41).

In short, those who do not follow the shepherd were never considered to be sheep in the first place and were never part of the flock. The sheep, on the other hand, recognize the shepherd's voice and respond accordingly. Unless we accept the premise that goats have the ability to choose to become sheep, we must conclude that there is more to the decision to follow Christ than mere "free will."

This Week in Calvinism - July 13, 2007

I would apologize for not posting in a while if I were sorry, but I'm not, so I won't. My wife and I were on a road trip for the last couple of weeks that took us through eight states and two countries. Needless to say, it was a welcome break from the blogosphere.

But I'm back now, so I guess I'll jump right into it. Here's what's happening this week in Calvinism...

P. Andrew Sandlin leads us "toward a Catholic Calvinism."

The Florida Baptist Truth Project was formed in response to the blatant Calvinist-bashing going on in the SBC. "The goal of this Project is to distribute the DVD Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism to every pastor within the Florida Baptist Convention." By the way, if you haven't seen this DVD, order it today.

Chad is a Calvinist, but that does not define who he is. He warns us not to let Calvinism become a distraction from the gospel and reminds us to "be wise in how we use Scripture to defend our beliefs, knowing that these truths from Scripture are never divorced from their redemptive-historical setting in which they are first given and then later developed."

Despite the fact that Calvinists and Arminians disagree on who has the final say in salvation (remember, Arminians believe that sinful man has the inherent ability to accept or reject God), Peter Lumpkins insists that both theological camps are pretty much equal when it comes to embracing God's Sovereignty.

And if I had to guess, I would say that Mr. Lumpkins probably owns this t-shirt.

Earl, blogging at MetaSchema, has begun what should be an interesting series of posts on the topic of limited atonement.

Ergun Caner is The Calvinator. His mission: stop the Westminster Assembly of Divines and put an end to Calvinism forever!

Hank, over at Think Wink, is answering some objections to the doctrines of grace that he has encountered over the last couple of years.

On this edition of the Narrow Mind, Gene Cook and his guest, Jonathan Goundry, discuss Covenant Theology and why it presents problems for theonomists and postmillennialists.

This Week in Calvinism - June 29, 2007

Morris H. Chapman's message to Calvinist dissenters in the SBC: "Some of us believe in a compassionate, harmonious, synergistic approach to the topic of salvation, while you prideful, ignorant, intolerant trouble-makers keep harping on God's sovereignty -- like it's a big issue or something. Can't we all just get along?"

(Okay, so I'm paraphrasing just a bit.)

This "Christian Hedonism" thing really rubs some people the wrong way. I happen to believe that God really is most glorified in the elect when the elect are most satisfied in him.

Kerry Gilliard, a.k.a. "BlackCalvinist," has some great book recommendations.

Many Southern Baptists have been a bit schizophrenic when it comes to the Calvinism-Arminianism debate, but it is Roy Ingle's prayer "that the SBC will continue to move toward Arminianism."

Ingle would also like to point out that Arminians really do believe in the sovereignty of God. They "do not believe that man co-operates with God to be saved but that man must surrender to the grace of God to be saved." So, God can only exercise his sovereignty over salvation if and when man decides to surrender? And yet he remains "in complete control of all things"? That's a strange definition of sovereignty.

John Wesley the CALVINIST???

"Where'd all these Calvinists come from?" According to Mark Dever, they're coming from the only source "which endured throughout the 20th century in a consistent way -- the writings of C H Spurgeon."

This "nontheist" wants to warn us of the dangers of "cryptocalvinism."

Paedo vs. Credo: It's On!

On August 19, in Murietta, California, Paul Manata and Gene Cook Jr. will duke it out over the issue of infant baptism. You can listen to the official debate promo here.

This Week in Calvinism - June 22, 2007

Timmy Brister has revised and expanded his "Compilation of the Controversy over Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention."

Jerry Johnson presents the SBC Debates on the gift of tongues and Calvinist theology.

Garrison Keillor gets in another dig against Calvinism -- even though he still has no idea what it is.

Feminist philosopher Aspazia blames "damn Calvinism" and its "glorification of withstanding pain" for preventing chronic pain sufferers for getting the relief they need.

I failed to mention this last week, so I'll mention it now: My brother in Christ Craver now calls himself a Calvinist. His confession generated some interesting discussion on his blog.

The Thirsty Theologian talks about a few of the "many common misconceptions about Calvinism." He also provides links to MP3 and PDF versions of Dr. Curt Daniel's book The History and Theology of Calvinism.

Who founded America? Dr. D. James Kennedy gives much of the credit to "a humble reformer from Geneva, Switzerland."

A Brief Explanation of the Gospel

Courtesy of Kerry Gilliard, a.k.a. "BlackCalvinist."

This Week in Calvinism - June 15, 2007

It's still two years away, but how will you be celebrating John Calvin's 500th Birthday? For a few ideas, check out Calvin500.org.

Gene Bridges discusses the "Florida Baptist Inquisition."

Nathan White on the Florida flap over Calvinism.

Gene Cook Jr. in a debate on the existence of hell.

Cathi-Lyn doesn't have a lot of nice things to say about Zwingli, Luther, Calvin, or Augustine -- hey, even I have yet to meet a theologian with whom I am in 100% agreement -- but she does appreciate my sense of humour. (That's "humor" for my "overwhelmingly American" readers.)

Robb Lawson has deleted his previous posts criticizing Calvinism, but still rejects it as a man-made theological system and a false doctrine.

Still on the fence about Calvinism? Perhaps these 10 reasons will help you choose a side. I'm just not sure which one.

A Brief Thought on Matthew 5:44

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." That has always been a tough verse for me. It just isn't natural to pray for those who lie, cheat, steal, murder and seek to do harm to the Body of Christ. But Christ himself commanded us to do just that.

Therefore, I believe we can and should love our enemies. That is why we should pray continually for our leaders in Washington.

This Week in Calvinism - June 8, 2007

Steve Costley thinks he can prove that John Calvin did not teach limited atonement -- at least not the kind advocated by most modern Calvinists.

Calvinists vs. Arminians: Who's really trying to limit the atonement? I guess it all depends on what you mean by "limit."

David Hewitt shares his thoughts on what Dr. Morris Chapman had to say about the "resurgence of Calvinism" in the SBC.

According to Jeff, Calvinism "leads to irresponsibility and sin." He uses the "not quite sin" of beer-drinking as an example: "All denominations that flaunt beer drinking are hyper-Calvinist denominations. It allows an excuse to mess with sin because it's all God's fault anyway." Sounds like someone could use a tall, cold one.

Which is more loving? Calvinism or Arminianism? After reading through this analysis, the answer should be clear.

Dave Hunt's flawed theology has claimed another victim.

Anti-Calvinist Frank Page will be nominated for the customary second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

This Week in Calvinism - June 1, 2007

Meet a "one-point Calvinist."

In this discussion of free will, we learn that being free to choose is not the same as being able to choose.

Pastor Paul T. McCain doesn't like the cold, distant, and remote God of Calvinism. Instead, he embraces the warmth and compassion of Lutheranism. Maybe someone should remind Pastor McCain that Luther himself was a staunch Calvinist.

Rodney Beason explains (without any detail) his conversion from Calvinism to Catholicism. Hey, if the Catholic Church was good enough for the Apostle Peter...

Free audio downloads from the New Attitude 2007 conference, featuring speakers like C. J. Mahaney, Mark Dever, and John Piper, are now available.

Timmy Brister has put together "A Compilation of the Controversy over Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention."

Kerry Gilliard, a.k.a. "BlackCalvinist," presents another episode of "Calvinism on the Couch."

Jamey Bennett is a "Post-Calvinist."