Subject: Is Limited Atonement Bibical? |
Bible Note: Dear Brother Zacht, We differ on the question of whether, a Christian can lose his salvation through his rejection of Christ. You say he can, because God has given him a free will and therefore he can exercise his freedom to choose any way he wants. You said: "God will never just decide to forsake any believer, ever! Yet, the believer may decide to forsake Him. Once a believer has forsaken God He then will give them up to themselves and forsake them". In support of your arguement, you offered several quotes from the Old Testament(Old Covenant). May I point out that Christians are under the New Covenant. That is the equivalent of comparing apples and oranges. Especially as it relates to the nature of our salvation. Heb 8:6 "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises". Heb 10:11-14 "Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified". Notice! "He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified". That brings up the question of, who are those who are sanctified. I'm sure you will agree that the sanctified are those who believe. There are many promises that God has made to Believers. I will put forward just three. Rom 8:29,30 "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified". Phil 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus". John 6:39 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day". In a nutshell, I believe I have presented a convincing arguement for my position, which is based on God's promise to save me. My trust is in Christ and not in myself. Considering the fact that I am still a sinner, I would not have any peace if I believed that keeping my salvation rested in my own hands. Phil 3:3 "for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Your Friend and Brother in Christ, John |