The Definite Atonement of Christ

          Atonement of Christ (Definition by Theopedia) - "The sacrificial work of Jesus
     for sinners.  In His death on the cross, Christ atoned for the sins of humanity such
     that God is satisfied and reconciliation is accomplished for all who will be redeemed.
         "Though Christ's death is of infinite value and is sufficient to redeem every man
     (had this been God's intention), the true intention of Christ's death was to accomplish
     effectively the full salvation of His people, and His people only (a definite or limited
     atonement)."




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          John Owen (1616-1683) was a church leader, theologian, and academic admini-
     strator at the University of Oxford.


          The following are his comments on "Limited or Definite Atonement."


          "If Jesus atoned for the sins of ALL men, then why are not all free from the pun-
     ishment due because of their sins?  You answer, 'Because of their unbelief.'

          I ask, 'Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not?  If it is, then Christ suffered the punish-
     ment due unto it, or He did not.  If He did, why must that hinder them more than
     their other sins for which He died?

          'If He did not, He did not die for all their sins.' "

                                                           
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          Unbelief is a sin.


                                      " ... everything that does not come from
                                        faith is sin."
                                                                         Romans 14:23b


          Refusal to believe is a sin.


                                    "And this is His command:  to believe in
                                     the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and
                                     to love one another as He commanded us."
                                                                        1 John 3:23


                                   "See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks."
                                                                       Hebrews 12:25


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          Possible options for  the effect of Christ's atonement.

     1. Christ died for some of the sins of all men.

          If this is true, then all men are still in their sin, and have not been reconciled to God.
         None has been saved.

     2. Christ died for all of the sins of all men.

          If this is true, then all men have been reconciled to God and are saved.


          Neither of these options can be true because the Bible consistently teaches that some
     will be saved, while some will die and spend eternity in hell.
    


     3. Christ died for all of the sins of some men.  This is the only biblical option.

        
                                                   " ... and with your blood you (Jesus)
                                                     purchased men for God from every
                                                     tribe and language and people and
                                                     nation."
                                                                                Revelation 5:9b


          Christ paid the ransom and is the mediator for those who are called to salvation by God.


                                                  " ... Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
                                                    that those who are called may receive the
                                                    promised eternal inheritance - now that He
                                                    has died as a ransom to set them free from
                                                    the sins committed under the first covenant."
                                                                                         Hebrews 9:15


          Jesus purified a certain group of people with His death on the cross, and calls them
     His own.


                                                  " ... while we wait for the blessed hope - the
                                                    glorious appearing of our great God and
                                                    Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for
                                                    us to redeem us from all wickedness and to
                                                    purify for Himself a people that are His very
                                                    own, eager to do what is good."
                                                                                          Titus 2:13-14


          His people are sanctified through Jesus' death.


                                                  "And by that will (God's) we  have been
                                                    sanctified through the offering of the
                                                    body of Jesus Christ once for all."
                                                                                          Hebrews 10:10


          His people are perfected through Jesus' death.


                                                  "For by a single offering He has perfected
                                                   for all time those who are being sanctified."
                                                                                         Hebrews 10:14



          Jesus' death was an actual, definite, limited atonement, that saves, sanctifies,
     redeems, purifies, and perfects His people.