Definite Atonement

url“The Arminians say, ‘Christ died for all men.’ Ask them what they mean by it. Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men? They say, ‘No, certainly not.’ We ask them the next question: Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular? They answer ‘No.’ They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent. They say, ‘No; Christ has died that any man may be saved if ?’ and then follow certain conditions of salvation. Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you. You say that Christ did not die so as infallibly to secure the salvation of anybody. We beg your pardon, when you say we limit Christ’s death; we say, ‘No, my dear sir, it is you that do it.’ We say Christ so died that he infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ’s death not only may be saved, but are saved, must be saved and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved. You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it. We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.”

– Charles Spurgeon, “The Death of Christ: What Did it Accomplish?”

(HT: Jared Wilson)

Peter serves as a pastor-teacher, at home and abroad, resourcing gospel-centred communities.

3 thoughts on “Definite Atonement

  1. Doesn’t this verse say that Jesus died for everyone?

    Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

    By the way, nice picture.

    glasseyedave
    thegospelaccordingtothegospel.com

    • Dying for everyone in the sense that no one else could, yes. But securing salvation for everyone, no.

  2. I am not saying that everyone is saved. There are many on the narrow path who will not make it in, let alone nobody making it in on the wide path.

    Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

    What scripture is saying though is that Christ did die for everyone, and we already know that God is not willing that any shall perish.

    2Co 5:18-19 KJV And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

    The verse above says that God in Christ reconciled the world unto Himself. This world “them” not the word “us” or “we” as in believers, but the world “them” are not having their sins imputed unto them,

    This is why Paul is a minister of the gospel (good news) to the lost. Good news for jew and gentile alike,

    So salvation is not secured in the sense that everyone makes it to heaven, But “able to save” as is the testimony of scripture, yes.

    Are we on the same page that Christ died for everyone? Many are not.

    glasseyedave
    thegospelaccordingtothegospel.com

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