Limited Atonement
The doctrine of limited atonement states that Christ died for the sins of the elect only and not for the sins of all mankind. Under this doctrine, the sins of all the elect were atoned for by the sacrifice and shed blood of Christ. The blood of Christ was offered to God for the elect only.
This doctrine is consistent with the covenant of redemption stated for us in Rom. 8:29, 30: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” In this covenant, there is an equality of each action verb. The same ones that God foreknew are the same ones that he predestinated, which are the same ones that he called, and are the same ones he justified, and that he glorified. There is no addition or loss from verb to verb. Thus, the ones that God foreknew before the world began are the ones that he justified by the blood of Jesus. We will study the covenant of redemption in much greater detail in subsequent essays.
The conclusion of the covenant of redemption is given to us by a question in verse 33: “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.” God justified the elect. He did not justify the non-elect.
The next proof text for the doctrine of limited atonement is found in Matt. 1:21: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The message the angel carried from God to Joseph was that this Jesus would save his people from their sins. Thus, salvation from sins is limited to the people of God. He did not come to save those who were not his people.
There were a number of people that the Father gave to the Son to save as set forth by the following verses:
1. John 17:1 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”
2. John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
The phrase, “as many as,” means not one more or one less, but the exact same number. That Jesus gives eternal life to “as many as” the Father gave him teaches us that the atoning blood of Christ is only for those that the Father gave him. If Jesus died for more than the Father gave him, then his blood for them was in vain. However, Jesus has never done anything in vain. Further, Jesus loses none that the Father gives unto him. If he lost any that the Father gave him, then he failed to do the will of the Father. Again, this is impossible.
Next, Jesus blood is said to be shed for many. If Jesus had died for all the fallen race of Adam, then is should be said that he shed his blood for all, not many:
1. Matt. 20:28 “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
2. Matt. 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
3. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
4. Mark 14:24 “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
5. Heb. 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
Paul tied together the elect and the redemption work of Christ in the first chapter of Ephesians: Eph. 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Thus, it is plain that the elect have redemption through his blood. No where do we find that the non-elect have redemption through his blood.
In the New Testament, the elect are referred to as God’s sheep. In John chapter ten we read where Christ made a distinction between who he gives eternal life to and who he does not give eternal life to: John 10:26 “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Christ gives eternal life to the sheep (elect), but not to those who are not of his sheep. Further, Christ told us that he laid down his life for the sheep only: John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
In the book of Hebrews, we are told that Christ redeemed those who are sanctified or called:
1. Heb. 10:12 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Therefore, his offering was for those that were sanctified only.
2. Heb. 9:15 “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Once the testator has died, names cannot be added or removed from the testament. The testament is fixed as to who is heir once the testator has died. The promise of eternal inheritance was inalterably fixed to the elect upon the death of Christ. This testament cannot now be changed. Therefore, Christ atoning blood was limited to those named in the testament before his death. The names were placed in the testament before the foundation of the world and written in the lamb’s book of life.
Peter tied the atoning blood of Christ to the elect in 1 Pet. 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” Clearly, the elect are tied to the atoning blood of Christ.