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Is Universal Atonement True? (8)

(18) If Christ died for absolutely everybody, then why are not all actually saved? Romans 6 makes it clear that those who are united to Christ in His death are dead to sin (6-7) and "alive unto God" (11), and will be raised bodily to glory (5). But many spend all their days "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1) and will rise in the "resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29). We can only conclude that they were not united to Christ in His death (i.e., Christ did not die for them). For if the reprobate were united to Christ in His death (i.e., if Christ died for them), they would live unto God.

Scripture teaches that both faith (Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 1:29) and repentance (Acts 5:31; 11:18; II Tim. 2:25) are gifts of God's grace. Faith and repentance are instances of "spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). God's blessings in Christ come through Christ's cross (Rom. 8:32; Gal. 3:13-14). But "all men have not faith" (II Thess. 3:2) nor do all repent (Rev. 16:11). Thus faith and repentance were not purchased for everybody head for head on the cross and so Christ did not die for all.

Titus 2:14 explains that Christ's purpose in His redemption on the cross is the sanctification of His own "peculiar people" that we would be purified and be "zealous of good works." But many die "filthy" (Rev. 22:11) because of their "ungodly deeds" (Jude 15). Since the purpose of the omnipotent God always stands (Rom. 9:11) and can never be resisted (II Chron. 20:6), it was not Christ's purpose to sanctify and redeem the reprobate by His cross. Thus He did not die for them.

(19) If Christ shed His blood to redeem everyone head for head, then the creeds of the Reformed churches, on the continent and in the British Isles and all around the world, teach false doctrine at this point. The Canons of Dordt—the most international assembly of Reformed Protestants ever—clearly state that Christ redeemed the elect "and those only" (2.8) and that those who teach that He died for absolutely everybody speak "contemptuously of the death of Christ" and "bring again out of hell the Pelagian error" (2.R.3). B. B. Warfield writes that the Canons were "published authoritatively in 1619 as the finding of the [Dutch] Synod with the aid of a large body of foreign assessors, representative practically of the whole Reformed world. The Canons ... therefore ... [possess] the moral authority of the decrees of practically an Ecumenical Council throughout the whole body of Reformed Churches" (Works, vol. 9, p. 144). The Westminster Confession of Faith states, "Neither are any other redeemed by Christ ... but the elect only" (3.6; cf. 8:1; 11:4; 13:1). These articles were copied in the Savoy Declaration and the Baptist Confession. Thus the creeds of Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Baptists all teach Limited Atonement or Particular Redemption. Remember too that all who recite theWestminster Shorter Catechism confess that Jesus Christ is the "only Redeemer of God's elect" (A 21). As we have seen in the last few issuesthe Reformed creeds simply set forth the Bible's teaching on this subject. Let us hold fast to Scriptural truth and honor the crucified and victorious Christ!

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 3
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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