Imperishable Inheritance

No question has raised more controversy (inside orthodox Christianity) than this question. In the following essay, I will present and defend the doctrine that Christ died efficaciously for those whom The Father put Him on the cross for (Acts 2:23). To bring it right to the forefront, unless you are a Universalist (belief that all have received salvation) then you in some way limit the atonement of Christ. Even though the title is the classical question, I prefer: "Did Christ die for anyone or for the possibility for everyone?"

This question is of course a point of contention within Soteriology (most often between Covenant Theologians). So, which is it: the Synergistic (Arminian) Unlimited Atonement or the Monergistic (Calvinistic) Limited Atonement?

Let there be no misunderstanding at this point. The Arminian limits the atonement as certainly as does the Calvinist. The Calvinist limits the extent of it in that he says it does not apply to all persons...while the Arminian limits the power of it, for he says that in itself it does not actually save anybody. The Calvinist limits it quantitatively, but not qualitatively; the Arminian limits it qualitatively, but not quantitatively. For the Calvinist it is like a narrow bridge that goes all the way across the stream; for the Arminian it is like a great wide bridge that goes only half-way across. As a matter of fact, the Arminian places more severe limitations on the work of Christ than does the Calvinist.
Lorraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination

Also, I also want to deal with a typical Arminian emotional argument. The Arminian would say, "why should I bother evangelizing when God has already predestined those who He wants to be saved and they don't have the ability to respond?" The fact is that whether your Arminian or Calvinist there are still an "elect" today in this world. The Arminian believes in conditional election, or that God reciprocates our choice for Him before the foundation of the world. The Calvinist believes that God alone makes the choice, because humans, due to the Fall, do not have the moral ability to respond. So, there are still an "elect" whether you proscribe to either system. The Arminian is forced to admit that this is indeed true if he is to be theologically consistent. Also, with using this Arminian argumentation, which usually is on the basis of a verse such as 1 John 2:2 or 1 Timothy 2:1-4, then that makes God out to be a miserable failure! The only acceptable interpretation of these Scriptures is that it is a will of command and not a will of decree. So, let us not back ourselves into emotional arguments that will get us nowhere.

"If ever there should come a wretched day when all our pulpits be full of modern thought, and the old doctrine of substitutionary sacrifice shall be exploded, then there will remain no word of comfort for the guilty or hope for the despairing."
Charles H. Spurgeon

Was Christ's Death to be an Offer or to be Effectual?

"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."
Matthew 18:11

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
John 3:17

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
1 Timothy 1:15

It is quite apparent that The Father put His Son on the cross to be an effectual saving act. It encompasses one intent and that intent will be fulfilled. It was not meant to simply come off as an "offer," but Christ's death was meant to save a people. It is possible, when dealing just with Unlimited Atonement, that Christ could have died for no one and no reason. But the Arminian contends, "but God knew who would come to Him." Exactly! You are, in a circular fashion, validating the Monergistic concept of election.

Christ's Death as Assistance or the Primary Causal Agent?

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Acts 3:14-15 (ESV) (emphasis added)

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10 (emphasis added)

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (emphasis added)

From these passages, is Christ simply an assistor? No. Jesus Christ is the author and the perfecter of our faith. Furthermore, I find it very troubling, both textually and philosophically, that Christ's death did not secure the faith of anyone (as in the classical definition of Unlimited Atonement). What a travesty that would be!

The Wrath of God on the Cross

I question the Arminian, what encompassed the wrath of God onto Christ on the cross? Was it unlimited? Was it general?

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elijah.
Matthew 27:45-47 (KJV)

A Case for the Penal Substitutionary Atonement

It is the thesis of this essay to contend that Christ's death (the atonement) was in fact penal (of relating to punishment) and substitutionary (in place of).

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:11

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5:25-27 (emphasis added)

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;
John 17:1-2, 9

Who are those that The Father has given to Christ? His death was for the elect, those who are to receive salvation. Each of these passages (and many more) speaks clearly of Christ as the substitute for God's holy and just wrath.

The Necessity of Evangelism in Light of Limited Atonement

Again, to re-iterate the first argument usually posed by Arminians is that of the necessity of evangelism. The doctrine of Limited Atonement has magnified my desire for evangelism, and it does this for the following reasons.

1. I am assured that God will overcome human depravity (Matthew 16:17).
2. I am assured that there are those out there who will still believe (1 Peter 1:1-5).
3. The gospel is the very means to which we are saved (Mark 1:15).
4. The most important is that I am to obey Christ's commands for my life (Matthew 28:18-20).

It should also be noted that Limited Atonement in no way deters the genuiness of the gospel call.

Conclusion

James White declares: "[w]e have seen, then, that the Word teaches that Christ died for many, for His sheep, for the Church, for the elect of God, for His friends, for a people zealous for good works, for His people, for each and every Christian."¹

To this I completely agree. If it were left to humans to come to Christ—Christ would have died for no one (Ephesians 2:1, 1 John 3:14). The death on the cross was for a particular redemption, the true and only intention of the cross. This doctrine is meant to magnify God's glory and majesty. Let Him be exalted. Soli Deo Gloria!

Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way," to fulfill the word which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one."
John 18:8-9

Suggested Reading

• Was Anyone Saved at the Cross? by James White
• Monergism.com: Atonement