Why It Matters

          On one side -- Universal Atonement.

          This is the view that Jesus died for all the sins of every single person in the
     world.  His death made it POSSIBLE for a person to be saved through faith in
     Him.


          On the other side -- Definite Atonement (or Particular Redemption).

          This is the view that Jesus's death atoned for all the sins of a particular people --
     that is, His chosen or elect people.  Salvation was accomplished at the cross, and
     nothing needs to be added to what Jesus has done in His death for His people.


          Christians are divided on this subject, with some believing in universal atone-
     ment and others holding to a definite or particular atonement.
          Obviously, both can't be correct.

          Does it matter?  I believe it does.


          The Thirsty Theologian writes this about the doctrine of definite atonement or
     particular redemption:

                            "I need this doctrine to assure me that when Jesus said, 'It is finished,'
     'it' meant everything.  'It' meant MY salvation.  I need to know that when Jesus made
     atonement for sin on the cross, it was an actual atonement for specific sin -- mine--
     and not just a theoretical atonement that I, if I was so inclined, could join, like a
     class-action lawsuit."

                           "The point is not to say that Jesus didn't die for So-and so.  The point
     is to say that Jesus died for actual people, individuals, and did so intentionally.  He
     didn't take the general category of sin upon Him, He took my sins, each and every
     one of them, and made full satisfaction for them."

                          "On the cross, He actually saved me.  That is what this doctrine means.
     The moment Jesus died, my salvation was accomplished.  Though I had not been
     born, though I had not yet come to faith in Christ, my salvation was a fait accompli.
     There was nothing left for me to do.  It was finished."

                         "How else could I sing

                                      I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
                                      It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me."


                                                          ********************


          Jesus' death actually accomplished salvation for His people.


                           [Caiphas the high priest said to the Sanhedrin], "You do not
                            realize that it is better for you that one man die for the
                           people than that the whole nation perish.
                           He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he
                           prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and
                           not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of
                           God, to bring them together and make them one."
                                                                                   John 11:50b-52


                          [Paul said to the Ephesian believers] "Be shepherds of the church
                          of God, which He bought with His own blood."
                                                                                   Acts 20:28b
                          
         Jesus' death ransomed His people and set them free from sin.

          

                          "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the
                           eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our
                           consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the
                           living God.
                           For this reason 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 com-
                           mitted under the first covenant."
                                                                                  Hebrews 9:14-15


          Jesus bore the sins of His people on the cross.

                          "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree,
                           so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness ..."
                                                                                  1 Peter 2:24a


          1 Peter 1:1-2 tells us who "our" refers to in verse 24 above -- the people to whom
     he sent this letter.

                          "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

                                  To God's elect, strangers in the world, ...
                                  who have been chosen according to the
                                  foreknowledge of God the Father, through
                                  the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for o-
                                  bedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by
                                  His blood:
                                  Grace and peace be yours in abundance."
                                                         


          Jesus' death wasn't just a theoretical atonement that makes salvation possible,
     but was a definite, effective, particular atonement for His people, that actually
     brought them salvation.