Question:

  Do you believe in an "unlimited" or a "limited" Atonement, and why?

  Answer:

  Christian theologians are divided into two camps, one believing in an "unlimited atonement", meaning that Jesus "atoned for", or paid for, the sins of every human being and the other believes in a "limited atonement", or that Jesus "atoned for", or paid for, the sins of only the "elect", all those who will believe in Jesus and be saved.

  When I originally began to study this subject, it was difficult for me, and the more I read what people SAID about it, the more confused I became. It was not until I decided to do an "in depth" study of what the Bible teaches that my confusion became satisfaction as I compiled what God said about the "Atonement".

  I am continually amazed, when I meet Christian people for the first time, and they discover that I am a Bible student that loves God's Word, the number one question they ask is "What good Christian books have you read recently? Have you read "so and so" by "so and so"?

  I must admit that I rarely read what someone SAYS about God's Word in popular Christian Books, because when I spend my time studying what God says in His Word, I find that I often cannot agree with much of what the popular Christian authors have to say.

  Let me see if I can show you what I mean.

  We absolutely must start with the definition of the word "atonement", wouldn't you agree?

  The English word "atonement" only occurs ONCE in the New Testament, in Rom. 5:11, where Paul states that we who believe in Christ are said to have received "THE atonement".

  Next we must check the meaning of the Greek word translated "atonement" in Rom 5:11. The word translated "atonement" is a form of the Greek word "katallasso". Thayers Greek Lexicon states that this word literally means "to exchange", and in its Biblical context means "to be reconciled", or "restored to favor", in that, through the expiatory death of Christ, God exchanged the fallen state of sinners for a state of favor and blessing.

  Next, we must look for the Greek word "katallasso" in the Greek text, and it is found once more, in 2 Cor 5:18-20 where the KJV translators chose to translate it as "reconciled". Again, it means to have one's fallen state exchanged for a state of favor and blessing.

  New Testament truths have their seed, or embryo state, in the pictures, shadows and types of the Old Testament. "Atonement" in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word "kaphar", which means "to cover", referring to sins being "covered" by the blood of the animal sacrifice. "Covered" in the sense that God can now not "see" the sins, so the one whose sins have been "atoned" for are restored to a state of favor with God.

  So, already we can see that Jesus did not "atone" for the sins of every human being on the Cross. If He had, the sins of every human being would be "covered", God could not "see" their sins, and their fallen state would have been "exchanged" for a state of favor and blessing.

  Here is where some theologians state that Jesus Atoned for the sins of every human being on the Cross, but it does not become "effective" until it is "received" by the believer. This sounds good on the surface, but doesn't hold up when we examine the Scriptures concerning "forgiveness" and the Cross:

    --- Col. 2:13 & 14 Teaches that God's forgiveness occurred on the Cross, not when we believe:

Col. 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

    If Jesus Atoned for the sins of every human being on the Cross, that would also mean that He suffered for, paid the price for, and satisfied the Father, for every human being's sins, and then the ones who reject Jesus as Savior suffer eternally in the lake of fire for those same sins.

  Here again, some theologians will argue that Jesus "Atoned" for the sins of every human being on the Cross, so those who do not believe on Jesus suffer for their "works" - not for their "sins".

  Well, in 1 Jn 5:17, John states that "all unrighteousness is sin". So Christ rejecting unbelievers cannot do anything but SIN. The Scriptures teach that best "works" the unbeliever can do is still "SIN". The common Greek word translated "sin" is "hamartia", an archery term meaning "to miss the mark".

  Without God's righteousness, the unbeliever cannot produce righteous works, as Isa. 64:6 states: "All of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags".

  In Jn 8:21&24 and Jn 15:22, Jesus Himself spoke of people dying IN THEIR SINS. Jesus stated in Jn 8:24 "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

  If Jesus said that people who would not believe on Him would "die in their sins", then certainly He did not anticipate "paying for their sins", "covering their sins", or "exchanging" their fallen state for a state of favor and blessing with His work on the Cross.

  Here is where most people will resort to Jn 3:16, and state that "God loves every human being".

John 3:16 For God so loved (Aorist,Active,Indicative)(at an aorist point in time) the world ("kosmos", the "world" points to those who are presently believing, in this context), that he gave (Aorist,Active,Indicative) his only begotten Son, (the "point in time" of the Cross) that whosoever believeth (Present Active - is presently believing) in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

  Jn 3:16, does not state that "God loves every human being", as is so commonly thought from reading the English versions. Jn 3:16 in the Greek, is a promise directed to the "world" of those who are "presently believing".

  This becomes crystal clear, when Jesus, who certainly ought to know, states, two verses later, in verse 18:

Jn 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, (notice Jesus said "condemned already" - not "loved already") because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God".

  Even in the English of the KJV, how could we possibly take Jn 3:16 to be teaching that God loves every human being, when Jn 3:18 teaches that those who will not believe are condemned already?

  Our God, the God of the Bible, is Sovereign, and has no unfulfilled desires:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the PURPOSE of HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL (Greek "boule" = "decree") OF HIS OWN WILL (thelo = desires). God's DECREE, what He has stated will happen throughout history, arises from His DESIRES. What God has "decreed" is what God has "desired from His WILL", or what He "wants" to happen, and His "decree" is what IS GOING TO HAPPEN. God, of course, is a Holy God and does not cause sin or sinful acts, but He "allows" sinful creatures to do only those sinful acts that fit His eternal purposes.

Isa 55:11 So shall MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER [IN THE THING] WHERETO I SENT IT.

  If God "loved" every human being, and "desired" their salvation, then every human being would be saved.

  If this is true, we should have ample verification from the Scriptures, and we do, starting with Rom. 9:13 "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated". In this same context, in Rom 9:11, God's decision concerning Jacob and Esau is stated to have been made before the two were born, and on the basis of God's "election", or His "choosing".

  Psa. 5:5 states "thou hatest all workers of iniquity".

  So, the Bible teaches that God does not "love every human being".

  Some theologians have even reasoned that God clearly does not "presently" love every human being, just as the Scriptures state, but He DID love every human being, in eternity past, when He decreed that Jesus would go to the Cross, and that is the "point in time" that Jesus refers to in John 3:16.

  Let's go back to eternity past, and look at the clearly revealed statements of God's will, desires, and decrees, "before the foundation of the earth":

  Eph 1:4, and 2 Tim 1:9 teach that those who will be saved were chosen "before the foundation of the earth:

Eph 1:4 "According as he hath chosen (Greek "eklectos") us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love".

2 Tim 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began".

  And, conversely, we see wicked people in the 7 year Tribulation whose names were NOT Written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world and never will be, (Greek perfect tense verb) in Rev 17:8:

Rev 17:8 "and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is".

  We clearly see from these verses that God made His decision who He would "save" and who He would allow to go their own way - "before the foundation of the world". So there could be no "point in time" where God "loved every human being".

  We also see men who will not believe, who God has "ordained to condemnation" - Jude 4 "Ungodly men, before of old ordained to condemnation".

  We see false teachers who stumble at the Word, being disobedient: "whereunto also they were appointed" - 1 Pet 2:8 "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed".

  We see false teachers who are described as "natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed", in 2 Pet 2:12.

  We see that God will "have mercy upon whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth", in Rom 9:14-18:

14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.

  It stands to reason that if God "loved every human being", then certainly he would "have mercy on every human being", wouldn't you think? But, on the contrary, Rom. 9:15, quoting Ex. 33:19, states "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion".

  Now, there is there any doubt in our mind, that if we could go to the Heavenly throne and ask Jesus if he "atoned" for, and "covered" the sins of every human being, and "exchanged their fallen state for a state of favor and blessing", what He would say?

  What then could lead great masses of people, to cling to the belief that "God loves everybody", and Jesus "atoned for the sins of all mankind"?

  The popular "Unlimited Atonement" theology is also called "Arminianism", named for Jacobus Arminius, an 18th century theologian who popularized its belief. Unlimited Atonement Theology has become increasingly popular in the 20th century, to the point where it is now the central theme and motivation for the vast majority of modern Christianity.

  "Limited Atonement" theology is commonly called "Calvinism" for John Calvin, the 18th century Swiss Protestant reformer whose written works, "The Institutes of Theology", were strong on pointing out the Scriptures which teach Biblical Predestination, Election, and the Sovereignty of God.

  It seems that "Arminianism", and the very widely held belief in an "Unlimited Atonement", comes from a simple English misunderstanding of the words "all" and "world", in the following 11 passages: John 1:29, John 3:16&17, John 4:22, John 12:47, Acts 17:30, 1 Tim 2:4&6 and 4:10, 1 John 2:2, 2 Pet 2:1, 2 Pet 3:9, Heb 2:9, and 2 Cor 5:14, 15, &19.

  There is a Greek word meaning "absolutely all", in the New Testament, and that is the Greek word "hapas". It is not used in the misunderstood passages above, but the Greek word "pas", meaning "all types", "all sorts", or "all kinds" is used in these passages, which easily leads to a misunderstanding by the English reader.

The Greek word "PAS" means "ALL TYPES", "ALL KINDS", or "ALL SORTS", and cannot be forced to mean "absolutely all":

  God could easily have had the New Testament writers use "HAPAS", for "absolutely all" in atonement passages, but I do not find "HAPAS" even once, in the atonement passages, the English word "all" in these passages is always "pas", for all sorts, or all kinds, or all types.

  Acts 17:30 "All" (TYPES) of men everywhere. (The early church was all converted Jews. This statement uses "pas" to say "all types of men" are commanded to repent.)

  1 Tim 2:4 and 4:10 It is God's will that "all" ("PAS", ALL TYPES) of men be saved. (Many "types" of men are listed in the context)

  1 Tim 2:6 Jesus is a ransom for "ALL" ("PAS", all TYPES OF) men. (Jew and gentile, world wide, no "type", or "sort" of person is left out)

  2 Cor 5:14 Jesus died for ALL ("PAS", all TYPES OF) men.

  2 Pet 3:9 God is long suffering to US-WARD AND is not willing that any (OF US) should perish, but that "ALL TYPES" of US should come to repentance.

A "WORLD" of WHAT?

  When we see the Greek word "KOSMOS", we must ask "a world of WHAT?", and we must determine that from the context.

  "Kosmos" is a very general word, and literally a "collection or group of like items".

  I do not find a single context where "Kosmos" is a specific word for "all the human beings on the earth". There ARE specific Greek words for "DIRT", "CONTINENTS", "COUNTRIES", "MANKIND", "male human beings", "female human beings", etc..

  Even our English word "world" has many meanings depending on its context: Cloth World, Insurance World, Music World, "you're in a world of trouble", etc..

  I find that every occurrence of "Kosmos" in the Greek New Testament is a "collection of like items" and a "collection of what" must be defined by its CONTEXT.

  Let me illustrate from the English. In the English, we have many other words that have multiple meanings that must be defined by the context, it is amazing that we tend to force one particular meaning, that we LIKE, on a Bible word like "world".

  Illustration:

  What does BARK mean? How many meanings can you think of?

  Tree covering, Indian canoe and later a sailing ship, Dogs sound, Hurt your shin, Give loud verbal orders, any more?

  We have exactly the same problem with "Kosmos" in the New Testament:

  A "world" consisting of only unbelievers: John 14:17, John 15:19, John 17:9&14, 2 Pet 2:5, 1 Jn 3:13.

  A "world" consisting of only believers: John 3:16, 2 Cor 5:19, 1 Jn 2:2, 1 Jn 4:14.

  A "world" of iniquity: James 3:36.

  The "world" of the ungodly: 2 Pet 2:5.

  As the Pharisees stated, in Jn 12:19, "The WORLD (kosmos) is going after Jesus". Was every human being going after Jesus? Of course not, the Pharisees who made the statement wanted to kill Jesus. It was just an embarrassingly large group of people in Palestine, going after Jesus, that the Pharisees are concerned about. The "world" of those who were "going after", or "tending to follow" Jesus.

  In John 14:17, Jesus stated that the "world" (kosmos) cannot receive the Holy Spirit. The Elect of God obviously do. So this must be the "world" of those who reject Jesus.

  We cannot force the Greek words "pas" and "kosmos", translated "all", and "world", to mean "every human being", if we do, we cause the Scriptures to contradict themselves.

  As Jesus stated in Jn 8:24, "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. So, if we try to make ANY passage teach that Jesus "atoned" for the sins of every human being, we contradict Jesus. There cannot be contradictions in the Scriptures. Where we see "apparent" contradictions, it is because of our misunderstandings. As Jesus stated in Jn 10:35 "the Scripture cannot be broken".

  From my study of the Scriptures, I must believe in a "Limited Atonement":

  My understanding of the "Limited Atonement" position is as follows:

  1. Jesus "atoned" for the sins of the elect only while he was on the cross. The Greek word "katallage" translated "atone" means to reconcile, or EXCHANGE a fallen relationship for a sinless, peaceful relationship.

  2. Election is a sovereign act of God, for His purpose, and according to His will. The Greek word for election, "electos", means to pick or choose for a purpose and pass over others.

  3. Election took place and was completed in eternity past. Rom 8:28-30, Eph 1:4,5,&11, and 2 Tim 1:9.

  4. God reveals Himself to every human being, in PHYSICAL terms, in the way He chooses, and to the extent that God can say they know His truth, and have no excuse. Rom 1:17-21, Psa 19, Jn 1:9, and Rom 2:14&15.

  5. The perishing know God's truth from observing the physical creation, and turn it into a lie and God allows them to choose their own way. Rom. 1:18-32.

  6. God, at His own time and place, quickens (gives life where there was no life) (the new birth) the elect, and the gospel is then the "good news" of what has happened to them.

  7. The Bible word "salvation" is not a "point in time", but the process of the elect experiencing the benefits of being a child of God, after the new birth, and after believing on Jesus as their personal Savior. ( In 2 Tim 2:10, Paul states "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory).

  8. True Biblical witnessing, evangelism, and missionary work then is to give the good news of salvation to the elect of God, as God "enables" them to believe, through the new birth. It is only after the new birth that the elect are able to believe the "good news", 1 Cor 1:18 & 2:14.

  9. Limited atonement glorifies God, and acknowledges that He is "in charge", as the Scriptures state. On the other hand, "Arminian theology" places man in control, and God in the position of an "observer".

PASSAGES THAT SUPPORT A LIMITED ATONEMENT:

  As you study your Bible, look for the passages that unambiguously teach that Jesus "atoned" for, shed His blood for, His people. Here are a few:

  Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save HIS people from THEIR sins.

  Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Not all)

  Acts 2:38, 39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (because of) the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Again, not all)

  Luke 10:21, 22 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. (Jesus rejoices in the teaching of election)

  All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and [he] to whom the Son will reveal [him]. (Jesus himself rejoices at the thought of God’s sovereignty in salvation)

  John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep". (Not all mankind, but HIS SHEEP)

  John 17:1-3 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him POWER OVER ALL FLESH, that he should give eternal life to AS MANY AS THOU HAST GIVEN HIM". (The Elect) "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".

  John 17:9 "I pray for them: (The Elect) I pray not for the world", ("world" of those who will not believe) "but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine".

  1 Pet 2:7-9 "Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye [are] a chosen (elect) generation,(offspring or family) a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light".

  Rom 9:14 - 16, "What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy".

The Bottom Line:

  The Greek word translated "atonement" in Rom 5:11 and "reconciled" 2 Cor 5:18-20, is a form of "katallasso". Thayers Greek Lexicon states that this word literally means "to exchange", and in its Biblical contexts means "to be reconciled", or "restored to favor", in that, through the expiatory death of Christ, God exchanged the fallen state of sinners for a state of favor and blessing. Katallasso is only used these two times in the New Testament, and is only used concerning born again, reconciled children of God.

  If the work of Jesus on the Cross "atoned" for every human being, "covering" their sins, and "exchanging" their fallen state for a state of favor and blessing, then every human being, in the end, would be a child of God, and there would be no need for a Great White Throne of Judgement, or a Hell. But, on the contrary, the Scriptures state that some men were "appointed to condemnation", not written (prographo - permanently not written) in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation of the world, and that those who will not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are "already condemned".

  So, I must believe in a "Limited Atonement", as Matt. 1:21 states "he shall save HIS people from THEIR sins.

  Now that I know all this, I cannot tell unbelievers that "God loves them". (Telling an unbeliever that "God loves them" not only violates what God's Word teaches, but may cause the unbeliever to think that he does not need Jesus, if God already loves him!)

  I CAN confidently state that God loves those who love Jesus.

  And, I CAN confidently tell every human being that anyone who wants to be "saved" and trusts Jesus as their Savior will be saved, as Acts 16:31 states "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved".

  I can confidently quote Rev. 20:15: "whosoever was not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire".

  I must believe God's Word, whether I "like" it or not, and let God be God, and trust that, knowing all things about every human being, He always makes the right decisions, and has a Divine Purpose in every detail of His Creation.

  Written in Christian Love,

  Bob Jones