More Evidence for Particular Atonement

          My main source is the book, Salvation Acccomplished by the Son:  The
     Work of Christ, by Robert A. Peterson.


          Yesterday we covered one of three evidences for particular (or definite
     or limited) atonement, Trinitarian Harmony, in Ephesians 1 and John 17.

          The second piece of evidence for particular atonement (vs unlimited or
     universal or provisional atonement) is the occurence of exclusions in substi-
     tutionary atonement passages. 

          It is true that for biblical passages to say that Jesus died for the church or
     His sheep does not prove that He did not die for others, but for those same
     passages to contain exclusionary elements is another matter.

          In John 10, Jesus twice says that he lays down His life for His sheep.
    

                                  "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd
                                   lays down his life for the sheep."
                                                                          John 10:11



                                  "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and
                                   my sheep know me -- just as the Father knows
                                   me and I know the Father -- and I lay down my
                                   life for the sheep."
                                                                          John 10:14-15


          And yet He declares to the Jewish leaders,

                                 "You do not believe because you are not my sheep."
                                                                          John 10:26


          That is, Jesus follows His statements about dying for His sheep by a stark de-
     nial that some are His sheep.  It would be difficult to maintain that He lays down
     His life to save them, for He has just excluded them from the number of His sheep.

          Exclusions also appear in John 17.

          Although the Father gave Jesus "authority over all people," Jesus gives eternal
     life only to those the Father gave Him.


                                     "For you granted Him authority over all people
                                      that he might give eternal life to all those you
                                      have given Him."
                                                                                  John 17:2


          And although God loves the "world" (John 3:16), in John 17 Jesus does not pray
     for "the world";  He prays for those the Father gave Him.


                                     "I pray for them,  I am not praying for the world,
                                      but for those you have given me, for they are yours."
                                                                                   John 17:9




          Jesus makes atonement for the same people He prays for.


                                    "For I sanctify myself, that they too
                                     may be truly sanctified."
                                                                                   John 17:19


          In light of the exclusions in John 17:2 and 9, it is implied that Jesus'
     consecration of Himself for "them" (John 17:19), includes those the Father
     gave Him and excludes "the world" (John 17:9).  

          That is, within the context of Jesus' prayer, he excludes some from eternal
     life.  When He speaks of dying for the elect, we are correct in excluding from
     those whom the Father gave Him those whom Jesus Himself excludes.


                                                    **********



          Our third piece of evidence for particular (definite, limited) atonement concerns
     the efficacy of the cross. 

          We will examine that subject next time.