But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
John 10: 26-28
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Can there be a more basic question for Christians than for whom did Christ die? Paul did not think there was.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I Cor. 2: 1-2
What was so important about the crucifixion that Paul determined to make it his exclusive message? Do we understand the significance for us of Christ's death over 2000 years ago? How can we truly worship Him and gratefully give Him the glory He deserves if we don't understand what He did for us?
How can we be His ambassadors, if we don't know for whom He paid this awful price? How can we fulfill the Great Commission if we don't understand why we are making disciples? In short, how can we be The Church if we don't understand for whom Christ died?
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. . .
I Cor. 15: 3
How can we find peace and comfort in our Christian faith, if we don't understand that which is of first importance? If you don't know for whom Christ died, go and talk to your pastor. If he doesn't know, or can't explain the answer to you, logically and Biblically, find another church!
Don't all denominations believe the same thing about Christ's Atonement?
No! Some church people do not seem to think the crucifixion of Christ has any lasting importance.
The Rev. Geoff Crago, communications officer for the Anglican diocese of Gloucester, told the paper (the Church Times, an Anglican weekly) he doubted the film (Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ) would revive religious faith."It's not saying the sort of things I believe are right for presenting the gospel in the 21st century," he said.
H. Richard Niebuhr described sarcastically the preference of many in the church today: "A God without wrath brought man without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without cross."
The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, have a place on their web site where they explain the differences between their beliefs and others. Here is what they believe:
The nature of Christ's atonement. Lutherans believe that when Jesus died on the cross He atoned for the sins of all people of all time-even those who have not or will not come to faith in Christ and will spend eternity in hell. Some Presbyterian churches teach a "limited atonement" of Christ, i.e., that Christ's death on the cross atoned only for the sins of "the elect"--those who have been predestined from eternity to believe in Christ and will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Everyone believes in "limited atonement." The question is: Do you believe Christ's atonement is 'limited' in its power to save or in its scope of those who are saved? Lutherans believe that Christ died for those in Hell. While they believe Christ died for all -- unlimited -- they believe His power to save is limited.
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Heb. 9: 11-12
Either Christ, by His death on the cross, obtained eternal redemption for those unconditionally chosen by God, and no one else, or He failed. If there is one person in Hell for whom Christ died, then He failed to obtained eternal redemption for that person.
As I said, everyone believes in 'limited' atonement. That may be exaggeration. Some people have never given much thought to their Christian beliefs. Three Mainline pastors wrote me:
In my former congregation no one could even tell you what reformed was, and if you ask who Calvin was they would have all told you he was the kid with the tiger named Hobs. In fact in my last reformed theology class there were only two of us out of 20 who believed in predestination. The stated clerk of our presbytery when I asked him what reformed meant to him said" It means as a denomination we are open to change and have the ability to reform the way we do things "The reason the PCUSA is in the mess it is in is because they abandon reformed theology a long time ago.
Yes, I am working to bring the church to Westminster theology. When I first came to the church in May 03, the head of session did not know that Jesus had existed prior to his birth in Bethlehem. She has attended this church for about 60 years. And this is pretty typical for the entirety of the church. Gross ignorance of all Christian doctrine. No idea of even the existence of Reformed Theology. We're "just like the Methodists" syndrome. Stiff resistance to the idea that the Shepard chooses the sheep. I have made some progress but most are not even aware that there is a problem in the PCUSA.
Blessings,
I am slowly putting the word out about it. It would not be a quick
decision for our congregation. In many ways they are still learning how
to define what they believe and how it is different from many other
religious sounding beliefs. It would take at least our elders actually
reading the Westminster confession and Catechisms* and then learning what
they mean before they'd sign on to anything binding them to uphold
them. But knowing about WF has helped begin the learning process and
we've been having some interesting session meetings.
In Christ,
[*How many elders in your congregation have actually read the Westminster Standards and know what they teach?]
Among those of us who have thought about the meaning of Christ's atonement, we just disagree on what's limited. I have only used the Lutheran church as an example of the differences in beliefs about Christ's atonement. Does your church believe Christ's atonement is limited in power or scope? Has anyone taken the time to think about this question of "first importance?" Believe it or not, there are pastors in pulpits today who don't "subscribe" to a doctrine of Atonement, or who do not "feel called" to preach about the doctrine of Atonement. Is your pastor one them?
What the Bible Teaches
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep . . ."
John 10: 11
The Bible teaches us that Jesus laid down His life for a definite group of people. This is the Biblical doctrine of Limited Atonement. Limited not in its power or value, but in reference to the number of people for whom Christ died.
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. . .
The best way to understand this doctrine is to contrast it with two other prominent views: universalism and general ransom.
General Ransom and Limited Atonement both affirm that the offer of the Gospel is genuine to all who hear the Good News of Christ. Universalism insists that everyone is saved, regardless of faith in Christ.
We see the differences in these three beliefs when we compare two aspects of the atonement:
1. Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross by which He obtained salvation;
2. The Holy Spirit's application of salvation to individuals.
Those who believe that Jesus died for everyone -- Universalists -- believe that Christ obtained salvation for everyone, everywhere, and in every period of time. If there is a Hell, it is empty.
Those who hold to General Ransom believe that although Christ did obtain salvation for everyone, the Holy Spirit applies salvation only to those who profess their faith in Christ. Only those who make a free will profession of faith in Christ are saved.
Limited Atonement is the belief that Christ obtained salvation only for the covenant people whom God chose before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1: 4); and the Holy Spirit applies salvation only to the elect through regeneration – born again – and drawing us to Christ (John 6: 44).
According to General Ransom, Christ's death made salvation possible for everyone in the world, but it did not make salvation a reality for anyone. It remains for the individual to make a free will choice whether or not to accept Christ's sacrifice. It is not a sovereign God's providence which determines salvation, but human will. (Logically it follows that if we choose today, we can un-chose tomorrow. Humans, not God, determine salvation.)
Limited Atonement is the belief that Christ actually redeemed lost sinners by paying the full price for our salvation. Nothing more is needed. He did not make salvation a possibility; He made it a reality. The Holy Spirit regenerates all the sin-dead elect so that we are able to respond to the Gospel. Affirmation of faith is a response, not a condition.
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matt. 16: 16-18
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
The Bible teaches us that God chose for salvation a great number from the fallen human race. These are the elect, God's covenant people. Christ came into the world to redeem these people. The Holy Spirit regenerates them so that our eyes can see Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Before Christ came, the true seed of Abraham looked forward in faith to the Messiah's redemption; saints since look back in faith, with the assurance that they, too, are the true seeds of Abraham. One sovereign God. One covenant people. One plan of salvation.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6: 37
This is not a possibility, but an absolute certainty.
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, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
John 11: 51-52
The elect are not confined to one race, or one nation. Neither is it for us to define who these elect are. Our call as Christ's ambassadors is to share the Gospel with everyone so that it may please God to use our efforts to gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. . ."
John 17: 9, 20
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for the elect, for whom He would die. He knew He was not dying to make a universal atonement; He was making a general ransom. He was dying for the elect. That is the Biblical doctrine of Limited Atonement.
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . . .
I Peter 1: 20
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross was God's foreordained -- predestined -- plan of salvation for His children.
.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him; in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Eph. 1: 3-14
The elect are those whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world. We were predestined for adoption according to God's will, not ours. In Christ we have redemption. It is not a possibility, but a completed fact. From start to finish, our salvation is the work of a loving sovereign, triune God, who has accomplished this according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Nothing has been left to chance.
Nevertheless, it is important to affirm the importance of sharing the Gospel with the world.
Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
Acts 18: 9-10
Even though many abuse and ridicule us, we are called to share the Good News, and leave the results to God.
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts 13: 48
God's irresistible grace will enable all the elect to believe. Those whom the Father has chosen will respond to the Gospel message because they have been drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit, and the Son has paid the full price for our salvation.
"But how can I know if I am one of the elect?"
"But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Matt. 16: 15b-17
No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
I Cor. 12: 3
Who do you say that Jesus is? If you say, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then know for certain, this is not a "free will" conclusion, but a divine revelation. If you have responded to the Gospel message by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior it is because the Father chose you and the Holy Spirit has been working to regenerate your heart. If you can truthfully say that He is your Lord, you are one of the elect. You can rest assured, with absolute certainty that you will spend eternity with Christ in Heaven. No one -- not people who tempt you, or Satan, or even yourself . . . no one! -- can snatch you out of Jesus' hand.
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. . ."
John 14: 1-3
In Jesus Christ, we are eternally secure because He paid the full price for our sins. We know for whom Christ died. Isn't this Good News you would want to share with others?
Blessed Savior, who for our sake did suffer death upon the Cross:
Help us to die to sin and live to Thy glory.
Forbid that we should forget, amid our earthly comforts,
the pain and anguish that our Lord Jesus Christ endured for our salvation.
Grant us this day true vision of all that He suffered, in His betrayal,
His lonely agony, His false trial, His mocking and scourging, and the torture of death upon the Cross.
As Thou has given Thyself entirely for us,
may we give ourselves entirely for Thee,
O Christ, our only Lord and Savior.
In Thy precious name we pray.
Amen
Blessed are the saints who are equipped with the sound doctrines of TULIP!
The Old Gray Dog
Jim Tuckett
PS If this is new to you, if you never knew what the Bible taught about why Christ died on the Cross, talk to your pastor. If he is not aware of what the Bible teaches, show him. If he accepts the authority of Scripture, he will begin teaching all the members of your congregation the wonderful truth about our eternal security in Christ. The confidence the saints will gain from this knowledge will make your congregation more productive in doing God's work in the community in which He has placed. God will be glorified and the saints will be blessed.
The Westminster Fellowship
Clearly and Unequivocally Proclaiming What It Means To Be Reformed Christians http://www.westminsterfellowship.org
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