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Is Universal Atonement True? (7)

(16) Another argument against unlimited atonement flows from the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The Father chose to save the elect alone and not the reprobate, the Spirit applies redemption to the elect alone and not the reprobate, but the Son (allegedly) died for the elect and the reprobate. Thus there is a radical disjuncture between the extent of the saving work of the Father and the Spirit (elect but not reprobate) and the extent of the saving work of the Son (elect and reprobate). Where then is the unity between the three Persons of the Godhead? They are not all of "one mind" and they do not all have one purpose. In fact, one Person of the Trinity (the Son) is working for a goal (the salvation of the reprobate) not shared by the other two Persons (the Father and the Spirit). The Father elects His people to be redeemed, the Spirit applies this redemption to the same elect people, but the Son (allegedly) dies to redeem some whom the Father chose not to redeem and some to whom the Spirit wills not to apply redemption. The teaching of a death of Christ for all men head for head is forbidden by the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity and runs counter to Scriptural statements regarding the unity of the extent of the saving work of the Father and the Son (John 10:15-17; Rom. 3:25-26; II Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 1:4-7), the Son and the Spirit (Gal. 4:4-6; Heb. 9:14), and the Father, the Son and the Spirit (II Thess. 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-6; Rev. 1:4-6).

(17) Universal atonement is contradicted by the Biblical presentation of Christ’s atonement as a work which actually saves. Christ delivered us from the kingdom of the devil (Heb. 2:14-15). He propitiated God’s wrath against us by bearing God’s righteous indignation against our sins (I John 4:10). He reconciled us (Rom. 5:10) and redeemed (Gal. 3:13) and ransomed us (Matt. 20:28). Scripture does not teach that Christ makes salvation possible by His death. Nowhere does it say that. The Bible teaches that Jesus actually delivered, reconciled, redeemed and ransomed us by His cross. He did not merely make it possible for all men to be delivered, reconciled, redeemed and ransomed. On the cross, He turned away God’s punitive wrath against us forever. It is not true that Jehovah’s wrath is only potentially turned away from all men so that all can be saved if they, by an act of their "free will," choose Jesus. Furthermore, this view would make entrance into God’s kingdom depend on man’s decision and not on God’s election.

If Jesus paid the price for all men yet some men perish in Hell, then Christ’s atonement does not save all for whom it was made. Then too it is not substitutionary, for if He bore the punishment of the reprobate —in their stead!—why do they perish? If some end up in Hell for whom Christ died, then God punished their sins twice, once on Christ and once on them. How can the infinitely just God require payment for sins twice? How can He demand punishment of the sinner in Hell when satisfaction has already been made for his sins? And how can some whom Christ delivered, reconciled, redeemed and ransomed dwell forever as God’s enemies in the prison of Hell? Remember there is no condemnation for those for whom Christ died (Rom. 8:34).

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 2
Stewart, Angus

Rev. Angust Stewart (Wife: Mary)

Ordained - 2001

Pastorates: Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland - 2001

Website: www.cprf.co.uk/

Contact Details

  • Address
    7 Lislunnan Road
  • City
    Ballymena
  • State or Province
    Co.Antrim
  • Zip Code
    BT42 3NR
  • Country
    Ireland
  • Telephone
    (01144) 28 25 891851

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