I forgot where it was but there's something I read somewhere that since not all the elect will be benefited with timely blessings because not all will obey the gospel then LIMITED ATONEMENT is proven.
Now I know this sounds like a question only for PB's since on this board we are the only ones (so far) that speak of, and espouse, the doctrine of Gospel salvation as distinct and separate from eternal salvation.
Nevertheless, I'd like to hear from other than PB's who also say they hold to the Doctrine of Grace.
PLEASE, let us keep the discussion focused on LIMITED ATONEMENT within the context of the questioned premise as stated in the intro,
Thank you.
honest question to PB's and Reformed's
Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by pinoybaptist, Feb 1, 2014.
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pinoybaptist Active MemberSite Supporter
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Bear with me as this is from personal experience and an opinion about certain scripture.
Early on in my salvation experience I felt that the "elect" had been given a predispositioning to faith which preceded their flesh birth though I never thought it through as to what would happen if there were those who went through this life and never heard the gospel with no opportunity to respond.
I wondered about this because when I came around to actually reading through the scripture (Book of John especially) for the first time, I knew Him in a personal manner, not just about Him but I knew Him and I heard Him calling me personally. Where did this personal knowledge come from? Was it implanted, when? In this life or from the foundation of the world?
Or was it my imagination?
Granted, my life was turned upside down from what it was before the - He found me/I found Him - experience which proved it was not anything I had conjured up because I certainly had a deep realization of my sinful self.
It was easy for me to identify this experience with being "born anew".
HankD -
pinoybaptist Active MemberSite Supporter
hey, thanks for the reply, HanKD.
I appreciate it.
Now, do you think because you, personally, understand the gospel, and obey it, then the atonement was only for you, and those like you, who do the same ?
Let me explain why I ask this.
My view of limited atonement is that the blood was shed for the elect, and only for them, and that this shed blood, both of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and the Lamb slain at Calvary in time, covered and atoned for the sins only of the elect (these being those whose names are in the Lamb's book of life), regardless of whether they were born and lived in time before, during or after the cross, and regardless of their social, cultural, geographical, and credal circumstances.
However, the view which I read from one of my fellow PB's (not on this board) is that Limited Atonement is proven when someone obeys the gospel here in time.
That excludes anyone, even the elect (from what I understand about the comment), who does not hear the gospel, or obey the gospel.
And so I'd like feedback from my fellow PB's here on this board, even those who simply lurk around, as well as those who say they hold to the Reformed view of the doctrine of grace.
Again, thanks for the response.
addendum: I DO NOT CARE TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHOSE HATRED OF THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE AND OF CALVINISM IS SUCH THAT THEY COMMENT WITH SO MUCH SARCASM IT DRIPS THROUGH THE LETTERS ON MY SCREEN. THEY CAN KEEP AWAY, FOR ALL I CARE. -
Very, very few of those that He redeemed with a strong hand from the House of Bondage believed and obeyed God to go in and possess the Land of Milk & Honey, no, with most of them God was not well pleased, and He swore in His wrath that they would not enter into His rest. He 'shut the door' on them, Moses and Aaron included, and caused them to wander in the Wilderness for the remainder of their lives.
Yet during all their wandering/chastening in the Wilderness He still yet gave them shade by day and light by night, He fed them manna, gave them water, their clothes never wore out, their feet didn't blister, etc., He was with them always. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Yea.....what the heck...... most of us Old Schoolers believe that our faith has nothing to do with our eternal destiny but everything to do with the benefits to be had from obedience to the gospel here, now, in this realm.
As you were saying, God Himself has settled all eternal aspects of our salvation. It's up to us to believe that, to rest in it, trust Him, adhere to Him, rely on Him, love Him, love our neighbor, and enjoy the table He has set before us. And this is where I stand....firm in that belief. -
But a case can also be made from scripture which says the opposite, that it is available to all.
I think we can all agree that there is no limit to the power of the blood of Christ to take away sin both in kind and number.
This is why I shrink from "limited atonement" especially in light of John 3:16.
We are told to test the spirits.
If a person's life is producing the fruit of the Spirit (which the flesh cannot produce) then in my mind that outweighs the C&A controversy concerning whether one holds to limited or universal atonement.
If you held a gun to my head I would go with universal atonement but limited appropriation.
HankD -
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pinoybaptist Active MemberSite Supporter
Gospel salvation is not for all because not all will obey therefore not all will benefit from the natural results of obedience.
However, my question is about the scope of the atonement.
does it cover ALL the redeemed from the house of bondage, whether obedient to the gospel, or does it not ?
(I am looking for the article. I remember now that I saw it in one of the PB publications. once I find it I will quote it here, without mentioning the author). -
pinoybaptist Active MemberSite Supporter
but the thing is with what I read, IF I UNDERSTOOD IT CORRECTLY (maybe I was wrong, once I find the article I can quote it with no errors), atonement is limited WITHIN, as opposed to "TO", the elect.
Like, if you're not obedient to the gospel here in time, then the atonement does not apply to you.
This is something new to me.
But like I said, once I locate the article, I'll be a little more accurate. -
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Jehovah his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them. Nu 23:21
(Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin. Ro 4:8)
But the Exodus Generation still yet reaped (IN THIS TEMPORAL REALM) for their wickedness after being redeemed from Egypt, they wandered for forty years in the waste places when they could have possessed the promised land. -
Am I understanding you PB right that there are people here on earth that have the atonement of Christ blood on their soul's yet they come from the womb and go to the grave and never know it and further more never care for it ?
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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pinoybaptist Active MemberSite Supporter
because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" is a principle that stands even for the elect of all ages whose eternal salvation was entirely PASSIVE all of the Lord and by the Lord, none of them nor by them, in any way. Unless of course, God did not do his electing from the foundation of the world, as the Bible implies, or the "foundation of the world" began when the preaching of the gospel began and the requirement of obedience to it began.
now, since 'faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Paul asks a logical question, regarding the elect among the Jews who "have a zeal for God, but NOT according to knowledge" (Romans 10:1-2) which is why following his arguments linearly he asks "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? And how shall they preach , except they be sent ? as it is written , How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith , Lord, who hath believed our report? (Romans 10:13-16), and notice he was not referring to the "chosen national people of his time" but to Old Testament Israel since in the next verseverse 16 he quotes Isaiah. -
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ETA:I have no idea how this----->:cool: ended up in the "post title" at the very top of this post. :confused:
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