Limited Atonement Applied

Josh February 17th, 2006

Limited Atonement

L- Limited Atonement

Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, came to earth to “save His people from their sins.” His death was a vicarious sacrifice, actually purchasing the Church of God with His own blood, securing their justification before God and satisfying His demand of perfect obedience to His Law. His death was for the elect, and the elect alone. This limits the Atonement in its extent, whereas the damnable heresy of Arminianism limits the Atonement of the Lamb of God in its efficacy (but praise God only in their defective theory!) (Matthew 1:21, Acts 20:28, etc.)

I think out of the “5 Points”, it seems that the “L” is both the most misunderstood and the hardest received by most in the whole system. Many theologians and laymen alike prefer to call it something like “definite atonement” or “particular redemption”, so as to avoid the possibility of its subject matter being misconstrued. It is indeed a favorite tactic for the objectors of this biblical doctrine to point out and emphasize the term limited in the phraseology as if it somehow discredits the doctrine altogether. We’ll address this more momentarily. Having been steeped in the Arminian tradition for most all of my life, when I was introduced to the strawman version of limited atonement I was greatly appalled. All my life I’d heard about how Jesus had died upon the Cross so that I could be saved. I’d learned that He’d given His life to make salvation possible for all men. He was the sacrifice for every man’s sins. He was the ultimate martyr.

Of course, all these erroneous views stem from not having a correct definition of justification. In what I was mostly taught, the Cross had been emptied of any real power and left subject, ultimately, to the choice of man. Now, I didn’t see it in such a light, but those are indeed the implications of what I was taught and what is most taught in evangelicalism today. The Atonement, according to the Calvinism and the Scriptures, was limited in its scope, intent, and extent. The Atonement of the Arminians is limited in its efficacy, power, and accomplishment. In fact, it’s not just limited, it is defeated, emptied, and worthless. Allow me to quote from another of my articles:

Man (Adam & Eve) was created perfect. Man was given a “test”, if you will, to either pass or fail. Man failed by disobeying God’s clear command, and Adam, being the representative for all mankind, plunged all mankind into sin. In doing so, all persons born of man are born dead in their sins, unable to please God and unwilling to do so as well. Therefore, all men (and women and children, etc.) are born naturally and radically separated from God, in darkness. Man can only be right with God by fulfilling/obeying every aspect of God’s holy law. God will accept only perfection. Thus, we have the problem. Since man is born dead in his sin, only gratifying the desires of flesh, and under its dominion, he can never do that which is pleasing to God (i.e. obey all of God’s law and never disobey it). All of this is very bad news, yet a part of the gospel.

In His great mercy, God gives salvation to men by providing One Who would, as did Adam, work on behalf of all His people. But this couldn’t be a mere man. Rather, it was God’s Son Who became a man, in order to purchase men. God is righteous and just, so He requires holiness and perfection to His divine standard. So Christ, the 2nd Adam, comes to earth and is born of the virgin Mary. He does not live as merely a good example or a great teacher. He lives with one aim in mind: the will of His Father. In being representative of all God’s people, He lived, actively fulfilling and obeying all aspects of the law both ceremonial and moral), thus being perfect and holy in every way, as a man (versus Adam, the man who failed). For God’s justice to be satisfied a man would have to obey the law in its fullness, then die as a sacrifice on behalf of the people who were in rebellion to His law. Man failed legally, and man was redeemed legally.

The question is, then, on whose behalf did Christ die? His people. His sheep. Who are these? Those whom he unconditionally elected, who were given to Him before the foundation of the world (John 6, Eph 1). His death was vicarious. His death actually secured the salvation of the elect. It was a payment for their sins so that they would not have to face the just punishment that God will exact on the wicked. Why? Because Christ paid for it. Thus, the Atonement is not limited in its efficacy, but in its extent. Those who die and go to hell do so as an eternal payment for their sin against God. Those who go to heaven do so because Christ paid their price and, because of His passive and active obedience, His righteousness has been imputed into the elect at the moment of their conversion. This is a succinct definition of justification.

That being understood, in what ways should a Christian practically apply this lovely teaching? Well, they overlap quite a bit. Briefly:

Having a Proper View of Justification, We Have the Strong Foundation for Pursuing Sanctification and Good Works.

Phillipians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

If we have been justified by God, then it follows that those whom He has saved and set His seal upon will continue in good works while being “conformed to the likeness of the Son.” Knowing that Christ has secured our salvation should bring a great resolve on the true Christian to pursue good works, love mercy and justice, and hate evil. This should be true even to the point that “if anyone knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.” Such are the marks of a genuine Christian.

Understanding the Infinite Value of Christ’s Blood, and Both the Physical and Spiritual Torment of His Passion, We Ought be Moved to Fervent, Biblical Worship and Gratitude

I believe this heading speaks for itself and, obviously, each of the “5 Points” should move us to fervent worship of the Almighty. However, the truth of the Atonement brings us to the actual truth the Christ, the Son of God, willingly took upon His shoulders all the sins of His people! The Holy God, untainted by sin and wickedness, having always done nothing but the will of His Father…the only Son purposefully took our sin and subjected Himself to the wrath of God’s fury against sin, that we would (not could) bring glory to His Name in a life marked with holiness, devotion, and obedience to His Word with eternity following.

Knowing That the Cross Actually Secured our Salvation, We are Rightly Reminded of Salvation by Grace Alone Through Faith Alone

Another practical benefit is being rightfully put in our place of lowliness, never being able to boast in ourselves, but only in our weaknesses. Humility and contrition, to some measure and degree, ought to be evident in the life of all Christians everywhere. If the Holy God that is revealed in Scripture humbled Himself to come as a babe to this earth, live a perfect life of obedience to God’s law, suffer ridicule at the hands of wicked men, and die a humiliating, painful, and horrid death, how much more should we, the Redeemed Sinners of God, display a humility that confounds the world?

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