Theology Thursday
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:10
We are working through a Theology Thursday series on Reformed Theology or what is sometimes called “Calvinism.” In the early 1600’s some Christians came up with a simple acronym TULIP that captured five basic points of what the Bible says about humanity and the good news about Jesus. The L stands for Limited Atonement.
All Christians believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross as a sacrifice of atonement for sins. The question for today is, whose sins.
For instance, did Jesus die for everyone’s sins? If so, how can we not say that everyone will be saved? Surely, their sins are forgiven and therefore everyone will enjoy the new creation. It’s an attractive thought and the argument of universalists. But totally discounts all of Jesus and the New Testament’s warnings to repent.
Limited Atonement is the language used to capture what the Bible says about the scope of Jesus' death on the cross. That, as 1 Timothy 4:10 suggests, His death has effects for all people and yet the fullness of the forgiveness of sins is only experienced by those who believe.
So, who does Jesus die for? It is only those who trust in Jesus who experience the fullness of Jesus' death on the cross - their past/present/future sins covered by His perfect blood and declared justified in the eyes of the Father.
What then for everyone else? Well, in some sense they have benefitted from Jesus’ death. After all, without the promise of the Seed/Messiah/Jesus, I think the Bible’s suggestion is that life would not have continued past Genesis 3. The world has been allowed to continue so that God’s people would turn to Christ.
So. Who does Christ die for? Everyone to some extent. But in the fullest sense, only His people.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that He so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who died for all people, especially those who believe. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others repent and believe.
1 Timothy 4:10
We are working through a Theology Thursday series on Reformed Theology or what is sometimes called “Calvinism.” In the early 1600’s some Christians came up with a simple acronym TULIP that captured five basic points of what the Bible says about humanity and the good news about Jesus. The L stands for Limited Atonement.
All Christians believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross as a sacrifice of atonement for sins. The question for today is, whose sins.
For instance, did Jesus die for everyone’s sins? If so, how can we not say that everyone will be saved? Surely, their sins are forgiven and therefore everyone will enjoy the new creation. It’s an attractive thought and the argument of universalists. But totally discounts all of Jesus and the New Testament’s warnings to repent.
Limited Atonement is the language used to capture what the Bible says about the scope of Jesus' death on the cross. That, as 1 Timothy 4:10 suggests, His death has effects for all people and yet the fullness of the forgiveness of sins is only experienced by those who believe.
So, who does Jesus die for? It is only those who trust in Jesus who experience the fullness of Jesus' death on the cross - their past/present/future sins covered by His perfect blood and declared justified in the eyes of the Father.
What then for everyone else? Well, in some sense they have benefitted from Jesus’ death. After all, without the promise of the Seed/Messiah/Jesus, I think the Bible’s suggestion is that life would not have continued past Genesis 3. The world has been allowed to continue so that God’s people would turn to Christ.
So. Who does Christ die for? Everyone to some extent. But in the fullest sense, only His people.
For Today:
- Do you know anyone who thinks Jesus saves everyone?
- What do you think the Bible says about the ‘limits of Atonement’?
- What should we do?
Pray: Praise the Father that He so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who died for all people, especially those who believe. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others repent and believe.
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