Bible Question:
Before I ask my question, I would first like to provide you with some personal back-ground information concerning myself. When I first received Christ into my heart and life, God instilled within me a hunger and a thirst to read His written word. I just couldn't get enough of it. I began attending a Reformed church, and adopted all their beliefs as my beliefs. I read Calvin, and others of the reformed faith, and was in unity with their thinking. But the more I read God's word and allowed God's Holy Spirit to teach me from His word, the harder and harder it became for me to any longer accept the teachings of Calvinism represented within TULIP. Today I especially have trouble accepting the "L" of TULIP which stands for "Limited Atonement" So my question is: Do you personally believe "Limited Atonement is Bibical, or not? And why not. What Scripture do you use to support your beliefs. I know this is a highly and hotly debated topic, but I think it is one that with some discipline on our part, can be fairly discussed In Christ zach† |
Bible Answer: Hello Zach, I will answer your question, but I will say that this will never be resolved here. It is too easy for emotions to get in the way (for those on all sides). I do not intend to persuade you. I only want to present my view. (Do watch yourself, you are not at fault, but you aren't the first person to bring this up.) I do not agree with those who hold to particular redemption (aka "limited atonement"). I base this on verses like John 3:16; Romans 5:6; 1 John 2:2; et al. I do, however see strong Biblical support for the other four points. The definitions come primarily out of "The Potter's Freedom" by James White (good author, and I thought the definitions were good, but I disagree with his view of Particular Redemption). Total Depravity - Man is dead in sin, with every aspect of his being affected by the fall, unable to save himself. (Romans 3:10ff; Ephesians 2:1) Unconditional Election - God's choice is not based on anything man has done, but on Himself, alone. (Romans 9:15-16,18) Limited atonement - I touched on why I disagree with Particular Redemption at the top. Irresistible Grace - Luke 14:23, John 6:44. Note that God "compels" them to come in. "nobody comes to me unless he is drawn by My Father" Perseverance of the Saints or Eternal Security - Philippians 1:6 - He who began a work will perfect it until the day of Christ. Romans 8:28-39 - As far as God is concerned, even our glorification is assured, and that hasn't happened yet. (I view "glorified" as being proleptic (past tense to describe something that is assured, even though still future)). I would love to hear your thoughts. In Him, Benjamite |