Eternal Approach

 

The doctrine of the supposed “Limited Atonement” of Christ is held by many religious groups within “Christendom”.

But it is not a biblically-sound belief.

Some teach that there is a limit to the efficacy of Christ’s sufferings on the Cross. That His blood and death only applies to those whom God knew, before the foundation of the world, would eventually trust in Him.

In other words, Christ supposedly didn’t die for everyone – only for those whom He knew would eventually trust in Him.

Some call these people the “elect”.

What the Lord Truly Desires

But this is not what the Bible teaches since the Lord Himself has stated, in both the Old and New Testaments, of His desire for everyone to be saved.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ” (II Peter 3:9)

That He suffered and died for every man, woman, and child since the beginning of creation.

“And he is the propitation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2)

And that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? ” (Ezekiel 33:11)

Which makes absolutely no sense if He will then pour out His wrath upon those who never really had a chance of being saved; since He supposedly never really died for them!

One Incorrect Doctrine Leads Logically to Another

Some systems of theology try to force spiritual truth so that it all fits into a neat, tidy box.

Which leads to the creation of more bad doctrines – required to explain the earlier sketchy doctrines.

This is not to speak against theology or the robust teaching of doctrinal truth. Because doctrinal truth is tragically neglected in today’s Evangelical and Fundamental churches.

However, there is very little danger of modern churches emphasizing doctrine too much.

The greater danger is that doctrine is dumbed down, watered down, or just very-carefully selected so that what is taught from the pulpit is very general and very weak. So as not to offend or scare the visitors and seekers away.

Teaching an Insufficient Christ

Another variation on this theme of limited atonement is that Christ’s work on the cross was not fully or totally sufficient by itself.

Or, to put it more candidly, that the Lord Jesus Christ’s value and sufficiency is not complete. That He did not, in Himself, fully satisfy the demands of the Law.

That His work was, supposedly, not sufficient to pay the full price of Salvation and Sanctification.

Many “Christian” groups teach that this limited salvation must be “made up” by the individual in a variety of ways.

They believe that this deficiency in Christ’s work, can be paid for through a person’s personal sufferings, prayers, good works, church membership, tithing, financial offerings, taking of sacraments, etc., etc.

Meaning that, according to these groups, Christ’s sufferings, death, and blood were not sufficient to pay the full price of all sins!

Total Depravity or Total Inability?

Some groups, for example, believe that one must be baptized in order to be saved. Or that children and babies must be baptized in order to be saved.

To some extent, these ideas are the direct consequence of holding an extreme view on the total depravity of man.

Which is a theology that requires that water baptism must take place in order for a lost person to even possess the ability to exercise saving faith. Since total depravity, as they define it, would prevent a lost man from even being able to exercise saving faith.

Which could also be described as the doctrine of total inability.

Removing Man’s Free Will to Choose Salvation

In stark contrast, the biblical view is that a man chooses, as in “whosever will”, to be saved.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

This biblical view contradicts those who say that God alone chooses the men, women, and children that He wants to be saved. With man reduced to little more than a pot of clay – without any choice.

According to this “choiceless” idea, a person is therefore lost because God has chosen him to be so. And that only God’s sovereign will decides if a person goes to heaven or burns in the lake of fire for all eternity.

Which has the outward appearance of glorifying God. And which has an outward show of humility and submission to God’s will; by emphasizing God’s sovereignty and will over the choice of man.

But at what cost?

A Stone-Cold God

The cost is that this doctrine of Limited Atonement makes God out to be a cold-hearted deity.

Not unlike the pagan gods, who demanded the faithful to burn their children alive or seal them into the walls of their palaces. Deities without love or compassion that demanded only submission to their will.

Who also did not truly desire a personal relationship with their servants; but, instead, only blind submission to rules and rituals.

Which demands the response, what kind of love is this?!

To Be Continued . . .

Image by Peggy_Marco from Pixabay