We have embarked upon a series of studies featuring
the doctrines held by
multitudes who have embraced the teachings of Calvinism whether in part or more or less
completely? The theology has a nearly five hundred year history originating
from the teaching of John Calvin and dating back to the mid-sixteenth century.
It is to be noted that he was not alone in his convictions but shared them with
contemporaries both at the time of his formalizing the doctrine and moving
forward for literally centuries afterward. Truly the principal doctrines that
emerged with the Protestant Reformation were more or less aligned with what we
now understand as Calvinism. Because, as it will be seen as we progress, these
theological concepts do not bear the scrutiny of scriptural examination. They also stand in stark contrast to another
much less acknowledged theological system identified as Armenianism. This
writer through years of study in the Bible endorses strongly the later of these
two theological opponents. In fact the apostate state of the Christian church
today is a direct result of the credence given to John Calvin when he
formalized his work in Institutes of the Christian Religion.
This
current discourse will be focused on a tenet of Calvinism which they would
identify as limited atonement. By
endorsing a doctrine of limited atonement they would assert that Christ’s
redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured
salvation for them. His death was as
substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain
specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ’s
redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith
which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit
to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.
Note
then from the above definition two very significant points. First that
salvation was only intended to reach or apply to a selected number of elect
people and was never extended for all men.
Also take note that faith is seen by them as a gift from God and not
something which has any relevance to the exercise of faith by the individual.
These conclusions would necessarily lead us to believe that God is a receptor
of persons and his character includes neither mercy nor justice. Are we then to
assent that God has caused multitudes of people to be created so that he can
subject them to eternal punishment and they have no avenue for potential
correction and are incapable of exercising either faith or repentance to escape
His eternal wrath and judgement? How much Scripture does this render irrelevant?
The
Arminian view stands in stark opposition and complete contrast to this tenet of
Calvinism. Let us examine some relevant scriptures to establish he truth and
then some commentary supported by those scripture texts. At John 1:29 we read
as follows: “The next day John seeth
Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.”
Paul in his first letter to Timothy writes:
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the
truth. For there is one God, and one
mediator between God and me, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.”(I
Timothy 2:3-6).The evidence against limited atonement continues in Hebrews at
chapter 2 and verse 9 where we read: “For
we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” We continue
the argument at II Peter 3:9 with Peter’s revelation: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness: but is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.”
And at I John 2:12 we find: “And he
is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world.”
Summarizing
from the above New Testament scriptures it becomes clear that the Calvinist
doctrine of limited atonement does not stand up under an investigation of the
scriptures. In fact we find that potentially the Lord’s death on the cross was
sufficient for anyone and everyone who would avail themselves of its redeeming
benefits through the exercise of faith and the fruit of faith which is
obedience.
Erroneous
doctrines are the product of an incomplete examination of the entire scriptural
record. Biased conclusions are derived
from taking scriptures out of a context which spans the entire scriptural
record. Adding to or subtracting from the testimony of the entire word of God
is error of the greatest consequences for it inevitably produces a distortion
of truth that becomes a stumbling block to the unwary and she uninformed. When the complete and entire body
of scriptural truth is taken into account there is a reasonable and necessary
purpose for the fact that the work of Christ in redemption is potentially
available for every individual. I
suspect that at least some of that understanding would come when we realize
that there is more than one resurrection. The eternal value of redemption goes
beyond the first resurrection and the second death and will be found to extend
beyond this age. I would suggest you review my March blog entitled A Better Resurrection which reaches truth
beyond this age and encompasses all of the biblical record on the subject of
resurrection.
David Lance
Dean Visit my website and
blogs: authordavidlance dean.com
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