The Extent of the Atonement HISTORICAL CHALLENGES

The Extent of the Atonement HISTORICAL CHALLENGES

Arminianism and the Canons of Dort 1571 Creation of the Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism 1581 Netherlands gains independence from Spain 1602 Jacob Arminius becomes professor of theology at the University of Leiden

Arminianism and the Canons of Dort Supralapsarianism 1.the election of some men to salvation in Christ (and the reprobation of the others) 2.the decree to create the world and both kinds of men 3.the decree that all men would fall 4.the decree to redeem the elect, who are now sinners, by the cross work of Christ 5.the decree to apply Christ's redemptive benefits to these elect sinners Infralapsarianism 1.the decree to create the world and (all) men 2. the decree that (all) men would fall 3. the election of some fallen men to salvation in Christ (and the reprobation of the others) 4.the decree to redeem the elect by the cross work of Christ 5.the decree to apply Christ's redemptive benefits to the elect

Arminianism and the Canons of Dort Libertarianism The state in which a free human decision has no cause at all, either outside or within the agent.

Historical Perspectives on Election Divine cause to human decisions Exodus 34:24 For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God. Isaiah 44:28 It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'" Daniel 1:9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials John 19:24 So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; this was to fulfill the Scripture: "THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS." Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Historical Perspectives on Election Human decisions governed by the heart Luke 6:45 "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Historical Perspectives on Election Jacob Arminius "The providence of God is subordinate to creation; and it is, therefore, necessary that it should not impinge against creation, which it would do, were it to inhibit or hinder the use of free will in man..."

Historical Perspectives on Election 1610 Remonstrants Article 1: That God, by an eternal, unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ, his Son, before the foundation of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ's sake, and through Christ, those who, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his Son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John iii. 36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him," and according to other passages of Scripture also.

Historical Perspectives on Election 1610 Remonstrants Article 2: That, agreeably thereto, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption, and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins, except the believer John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 1 John 2:2 "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Historical Perspectives on Election The price of the redemption which Christ offered to God his Father is not only in itself and by itself sufficient to redeem the whole human race but was also paid for all people, every individual, according to the decree, will, and grace of God the Father.

Historical Perspectives on Election 1618 The Council of Dort 1.Election is not conditioned on faith, but the sovereign grace of God, 2.Christ s atoning work is limited to the elect, 3.Man s will has been so affected by the Fall that he does not have the capacity within his nature to exercise faith, 4.The grace of God effectually works to regenerate the elect, and 5.The elect will persevere in faith until the end.

Historical Perspectives on Election The death of the Son of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sins, and is of infinite value and worth, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world The death, therefore, is of such great value and worth because the person who submitted to it was not only truly man and perfectly holy, but also the begotten Son of God, of the same eternal and infinite being with the Father and the Holy Spirit, which it was necessary for our Saviour to be.

Historical Perspectives on Election For this was the most free purpose and most gracious will and intention of God the Father, that the life-giving and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone justifying faith, thereby to bring them unfailingly to salvation; that is, God willed that Christ through the blood of the cross (by which he confirmed the new covenant) should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen for salvation and given to him by the Father; that he should bestow upon them faith (which, together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he acquired for them by his death); that he should purify them by his blood from all sins, both original and actual, whether committed after or before believing; and having faithfully protected them even to the end, should finally establish them glorious before him, free from every spot and blemish.

Definite Atonement and the Preaching of the Gospel The Genuine-Universal-Gospel-Call Objection to Definite Atonement [T]he Bible makes clear that Jesus payment for the sins of all people, elect and nonelect, was necessary for the universal gospel call to take place. One of the primary intentions God had in sending the Son to die for the sins of all people was to render the gospel genuinely and rightly offered to all people. Even though not all people will be saved, Christ did to provide the basis by which all people could be saved if they would trust in Christ. Particular redemption, by limiting the atonement only to the elect, is unable to account for the universal gospel call. Therefore the truth of the universal gospel call offers strong support for understanding the atonement as unlimited in its extent.

Definite Atonement and the Preaching of the Gospel Definite Atonement, the Two-Wills Theory of God, and the Preaching of the Gospel Scripture often represents God as desiring things that never take place he wants all people to repent of sin but we know that many people never repent God desires that all people will turn from false gods and idols, hold his name in reverence, remember the Sabbath, honor their parents, and so on. But those desires are not always fulfilled. The reason is that God s desires in this sense are expressions of his perceptive will, not his decretive will. His decretive desires always come to pass; his perceptive desires are not always fulfilled.

Definite Atonement and the Preaching of the Gospel Definite Atonement, the Two-Wills Theory of God, and the Preaching of the Gospel Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

John Piper Jesus can really and sincerely invite all people to come to him, while knowing that in the infinite wisdom of God it has been determined that some will not come. God will pass over them, and not give them the gift of repentance. The spread of the gospel to all people, even the non-elect, is an expression of the general love of God for the whole world. But this general love is not what is offered to the world in the gospel. The offer of the gospel is the fullest and most glorious achievement of God s love for his elect.

Definite Atonement and the Preaching of the Gospel My Personal Response to the Genuine-Universal-Gospel-Call Challenge Christ s High Priestly Role in the New Covenant Indicates an atonement that is definite The Divine Purpose of the New Covenant Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:3, 4; 2 Peter 1:3; Romans 8:37 The Command to Preach to All Creation Mark 16:15, 16; Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 24:47; Romans 10:9-15

J.I. Packer The basis on which the New Testament invites sinners to put faith in Christ is simply that they need Him, and that He offers Himself to them, and that those who receive Him are promised all the benefits that His death secured for His people.

John Piper All the benefits that his death secured for his people. The sure and all-satisfying experience of the electing, regenerating, faithcreating, justifying, sanctifying, preserving, glorifying love of God. Every blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). All the promises of God (2 Cor. 1:20). All things working together for their good (Rom. 8:28). No good thing withheld (Ps. 84:11). And in the end, sinless and all-satisfying fellowship with God (1 Pet. 3:18). This is the gospel offer. And it cannot be offered like this where its definite and irreversible achievement for God s people is not believed. The glory of our human offer in preaching is the glory of Christ s full achieving in dying.