In actuality, those who hold to limited atonement do not believe
that faith saves. The death of Christ saves. Jesus died to secure the
salvation of the elect. They accuse Arminians of believing in an
atonement that does not actually save anyone but merely provides the
means to salvation. However, consider the limited atonement view for a
moment. If Jesus died for the sins of the elect and if He did in fact
secure their salvation on the cross, the elect then are sinless since He
died for their sins and provided the perfect righteousness of God on
their behalf. The sin of unbelief nor any other sins do not apply to
the elect since God predestined the elect and sent His Son to atone for
their sins on the cross. Justification is not then by faith but unto faith since
God must regenerate the elect for them to believe in the first place
and since their salvation has already been accomplished and applied in
Christ.
From the viewpoint of the reprobate, limited atonement means that they are not lost for rejecting Christ or their unbelief but simply because Jesus didn’t die for them. His blood was not shed for them and they are lost because God simply chose to reject them and save only the elect. The non-elect then are in destroyed in an eternal hell not because of their sins or unbelief in Jesus and the gospel but because Jesus simply did not die for them. As one Calvinist noted that even in hell the people there will be there for the glory of God. I am not sure how that is glorious?
Over and over again we are called to place our faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation. Belief is the heart of John’s Gospel (John 1:12; 5:24; 20:31) and belief/faith is the heart of the book of Acts.
--Romans 10:9-10 is a clear statement regarding salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and His cross. --Romans 3:23-25 is another place where faith is the key to salvation.
Notice Romans 3:25-26:
“whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
The sinner then, according to the above passage, is declared justified through faith as Romans 5:1 says later. Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners but by faith in Jesus (verse 1) we are now reconciled to God through Jesus (Romans 5:9-11). Romans 5:18 even says,
“Therefore, as one trespass led to the condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”
The key is that this gift of salvation must be received through faith according to Romans 5:17. The universalist loves to read Romans 5:18 but they ignore verse 17 that says that we must receive this free gift of God’s Son.
Ironically, Calvinists use Romans 5:18 to teach universal total depravity but deny universal redemption in the Son. They believe that Adam’s sin affected all as Romans 5:18 says but they deny the second part of the verse that says that Jesus’ sacrifice leads to justification and life for all men. Romans 10:14-17 says that this salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ who must be preached.
Bear in mind that no person has ever been saved or ever will be saved apart from faith. This is the design of God (Hebrews 11:6). Galatians 3:24 says that we are justified by faith and verse 26 says that we are sons of God through faith. Jesus said in John 6:29 that the work of God (for salvation) is to believe or have faith in the Son. There is no salvation but through faith. The Calvinist statement then toward Arminians that belief in a unlimited atonement must lead to universalism is false unless you hold to the Calvinist view of the cross where Jesus died for the salvation of the elect apart from faith. If that is your view of the cross then yes the atonement of Jesus would be a universal redemption. But this is not the Arminian view. Arminians believe that a person must believe to be saved. Arminians believe that the saving work of Jesus on the cross is sufficient only for those who believe the gospel and repent. They become the elect of God at that point (1 Timothy 4:10). The elect believe the gospel (Acts 13:48). Those who reject the cross are lost in their sins and unbelief (John 3:17-18; Revelation 20:11-15; cf. Matthew 25:46).
From the viewpoint of the reprobate, limited atonement means that they are not lost for rejecting Christ or their unbelief but simply because Jesus didn’t die for them. His blood was not shed for them and they are lost because God simply chose to reject them and save only the elect. The non-elect then are in destroyed in an eternal hell not because of their sins or unbelief in Jesus and the gospel but because Jesus simply did not die for them. As one Calvinist noted that even in hell the people there will be there for the glory of God. I am not sure how that is glorious?
Over and over again we are called to place our faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation. Belief is the heart of John’s Gospel (John 1:12; 5:24; 20:31) and belief/faith is the heart of the book of Acts.
--Romans 10:9-10 is a clear statement regarding salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and His cross. --Romans 3:23-25 is another place where faith is the key to salvation.
Notice Romans 3:25-26:
“whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
The sinner then, according to the above passage, is declared justified through faith as Romans 5:1 says later. Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners but by faith in Jesus (verse 1) we are now reconciled to God through Jesus (Romans 5:9-11). Romans 5:18 even says,
“Therefore, as one trespass led to the condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”
The key is that this gift of salvation must be received through faith according to Romans 5:17. The universalist loves to read Romans 5:18 but they ignore verse 17 that says that we must receive this free gift of God’s Son.
Ironically, Calvinists use Romans 5:18 to teach universal total depravity but deny universal redemption in the Son. They believe that Adam’s sin affected all as Romans 5:18 says but they deny the second part of the verse that says that Jesus’ sacrifice leads to justification and life for all men. Romans 10:14-17 says that this salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ who must be preached.
Bear in mind that no person has ever been saved or ever will be saved apart from faith. This is the design of God (Hebrews 11:6). Galatians 3:24 says that we are justified by faith and verse 26 says that we are sons of God through faith. Jesus said in John 6:29 that the work of God (for salvation) is to believe or have faith in the Son. There is no salvation but through faith. The Calvinist statement then toward Arminians that belief in a unlimited atonement must lead to universalism is false unless you hold to the Calvinist view of the cross where Jesus died for the salvation of the elect apart from faith. If that is your view of the cross then yes the atonement of Jesus would be a universal redemption. But this is not the Arminian view. Arminians believe that a person must believe to be saved. Arminians believe that the saving work of Jesus on the cross is sufficient only for those who believe the gospel and repent. They become the elect of God at that point (1 Timothy 4:10). The elect believe the gospel (Acts 13:48). Those who reject the cross are lost in their sins and unbelief (John 3:17-18; Revelation 20:11-15; cf. Matthew 25:46).
Yes Jesus died for All. Yes Jesus Died for our sins but we must exercise faith to be saved
(John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7). And This call goes out to All
(Acts 2:38-39).
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