Reproduction of my comment (with one edit) posted here, since I was unable to find a way to trackback. At any rate, there is some good discussion happening on that post.
Amen to all you brethren who are preaching the gospel and only the gospel.
Making assumptions that the whole world will not be saved = the world cannot possibly mean the world, is just that, assumptions, without any Scriptural support no less.
As Sven mentioned, even John Calvin himself did not believe in limited atonement (or so some experts say, not that it matters…only the Scripture matters).
People that jump headlong into limited atonement are no different than the arminians who believe that God cannot possibly be 100% Sovereign because the Scripture tells us to choose. Therefore, we must all have the ability to choose Salvation…bzzzt…wrong answer. Some things exist beyond humans being able to fully understand them and some answers may not be to your liking.
…let us look at the Romans for a second…If God’s will is always done, then how can He find fault with us?…
Now we want to see an answer for this…and we basically get…
illegal question…who are you to question God? We are not able to fully understand the concept of predestination with 100% accountability. Part of this is because it is impossible for any human to ever understand not being bound by time. Everything and every thought we have is shrouded by time. Most of the Scripture is even written so we can understand it (in relation to time). The other part of that thinking is just our finite minds trying to fully fit God into our comprehension level.
Stop trying to make the Scripture conform to your logic. Instead, make your logic conform to the Scripture.
Limited atonement is not taught in the Scripture, period.
AMDG
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Your right!
Jesus didn’t come to make salvation possible! He came to save “His” People (His sheep) from there sin’s. In John 10 vs 26 Jesus himself said; “the reason you don’t believe is…
“your not My sheep!” *Note* that He didn’t say: “The reason your not my sheep is… because you don’t believe!”
Ponder that one! Furthermore.
Christ died and was punished for people, who, are in hell paying for their sins too?
So Jesus suffered in vain for those who God Knew before the foundation of the world that they would never believe?
Since God knew before the foundation of the world who w/b saved, and who w/go to Hell, than why doe’s scripture say that God doe’s not desire that any should perish but all come to repentence? Why did He create them knowing they would perish? Is there a purpose?
If God know’s the absolute number of people who w/b saved,(Before creation) why doe’s He desire that none perish? or all come to repentence? Will the number of persons saved or damned change?
I sent my Arminian pastor and some other’s in my church a detailed letter on this subject two month’s ago. Still waiting for a reply…
I used to believe as you. I suggest John Owen’s book “The Death of Death In The Death of Christ.” You can read it free online (http://www.graciouscall.org/books/owen/death/toc.html )
Never been refuted! Never! Of course, that would take effort on your part.
The word “Kosmos” or “World” is used forteen different way’s in John’s writing’s alone. I quess one would need to know the context in order to know the proper definition, and to keep his theology and logic consistant. This the synergist, or Arminian cannot do.
I read “The Potter’s Freedom” by Jame’s White. As one theologian put it: “White took Norman Giessler to the thological woodshed!”
As a Giesler fan, that is an understatement!
Thanks for the blog.
Lamont.
Just a few quick comments.
“I used to believe as you.”
Wait a second here…how is it you all of a sudden know what I believe? Your comment seems to suggest that you think I hold to some arminian position, which is incorrect.
I can give you quite a few books to read counter to that book I am sure. I definitely question the “never been refuted” statement.
There is only one infallible, inerrant writing and that is the Scriptures…the Word of God has and never will be refuted.
Every book written by man has been refuted if someone bothered to take the time to refute it. You would be wrong to assume that I haven’t read countless books on the subject matter. As always, I will continue to study anything that relates to the Scripture and our Lord.
AMDG
Brian,
I’m in agreement with you, although I know that there are many nuances to the whole discussion; i.e. can still argue for unlimited atonement, and hold to particular redemption at the same time (so Calvin). Arguing with staunch hyper-calvinists, as represented on Phillip Johnson’s site, is an exercise in futility. “They” blindly imbue their variant Calvinistic construct upon the scriptures, and end up with a gospel that is synonymous with hyper-Calvinism–not with the various soteriological tensions that truly are represented in scripture; i.e. God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. Anyway gotta run, I just wanted to give my 2cents on your site–a fellow biblicist.