It’s the Bible’s teaching that there are some who are chosen in this lifetime by grace. They are the first fruits. This implies that there are second fruits. They are saved after they are baptized in the lake of fire. All will confess Christ as Lord to the glory of the Father but not all have faith in His atoning death for the forgiveness of their sins. They must suffer lasting destruction as they are purified in the lake of fire. The death of Christ was for the elect only. They are the remnant chosen by grace in this lifetime. Many are called but few are chosen.
Scriptures that teach limited atonement:
He will save His people from their sins - Matt. 20:28
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep - John 10:11
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood - Acts 20:28
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor - Eph. 5:25-27
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? - Rom. 8:32-34
Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. He did not say this of His own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad - John 11:50-53
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open it’s seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation - Rev. 5:9
Hi Michael,
Am I right in thinking that you don’t actually agree with limited atonement? I certainly don’t. To say these Scriptures ‘teach limited atonement’ would in my opinion be misleading.
For instance in Matt 1:21 (which you label Matt 20:28 - typo!) - why should “He will save His people from their sins” only apply to a limited number of people?
The same with John 10:11. Why assume that all people are not included in “the sheep” for whom the Good Shepherd lays down his life?
I agree that they can be used to support a doctrine of limited atonement, but only if taken out of context and read in a certain way. This raises a broader question about the ways we use Scripture.
Do you agree?
Hey Revdrew,
No, I think the sheep are saved by grace in this lifetime. When Christ separates the sheep from the goats the goats will be purified in the lake of fire. They receive corrective punishment. All will make it to heaven.
I can live with your interpretation of Matt 25. Though most people are surprised when you point out what the text says about who is a sheep and who is a goat. And I think that when Jesus talks about sheep in other contexts, like John 10, he’s saying something quite different. So I think the sheep in John 10 is probably still all inclusive.