My point in the last post was that Calvinists do not limit the Atonement in power, sufficiency, or scope. That may have been a little misleading, but what I tried to point out was that unbelievers benefit from the death of Christ 'for the sake of the elect'.
Here's something Jesus said:
"And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." (Mat 24:22)
This quote comes in the context of Jesus explaining to His disciples the coming destruction of Jerusalem. And He reminds them in this verse that without God holding back the destruction that was to come, no human being would be saved, or, left alive. But for the sake of the elect, who have been definitely bought and sealed with Christ's atoning death, the end would come quickly.
So the blessing of the preservation of humanity comes as a result of Christ's atonement for the sins of His elect. But there are other benefits that come 'for the sake of the elect' as well. What are these blessings? Everything.
Any good thing that exists is for the enjoyment of the elect, but the non-elect participate in these temporal blessings as well. It rains on the just and the unjust.
So the question does come down to scope in a sense, not in the sense of who benefits from Christ's death, but who benefits spiritually form Christ's death. Calvinists affirm, along with Arminians,that Christ's death pardons the sins of only those who believe and repent. Limited Atonement should not even really be an issue in Arminian/Calvinist debates. The issue is God's purpose of grace. Calvinists believe that the election of individual sinners to salvation is the God's purpose of grace. This purpose is accomplished through the Atonement for their sins.
5 comments:
Hi Dox
How does God pick His elect? If they don't need to love Him or want His help, then how does He pick?
I'm saying this not try to be disrespectful at all.
Excellent two posts Jeremy! Thanks for blessing the blogosphere with them!
Its funny how Arminians think Calvinsts limit the atonement. Their atonement is much more limited because its sems like its power only is only activated if someone "chooses to become a believer". Until then it would seem like the power of atonement is stopped and depends on our reaction to it. This is much a more limited atonement than one that blesss all mankind (though in different ways) and its power is not diminish based on the desicions of men.
Really good posts! I want to give you an award or hug or something for them!
-John
Thanks for your post, I've linked it in my blog.
Forgiven,
I'm not sure I understand your question. Calvinists believe that all men are in rebellion against God. It takes a work of God in their hearts to see their need of Him and make them love Him.
As for how God in eternity past chose certain individuals, I don't know what criterian He used other than His own pleasure. That's all we're told in Scripture. And we're told that it is not because of anything in us. It is all of grace.
John,
An award will be fine. I'm not really a 'huggy' kind of guy.
MXU,
Thanks for the link love. (I learned that from Centuri0n)
This is very interesting site...
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