Since Arminians reject the doctrine of Limited Atonement, or Particular Redemption, or whatever else it's been labeled, they are forced into claiming that Christ's death for many souls is and will eternally be in vain.
I have heard this spoken, bluntly, from the pulpit, especially during the notorious atlar calls. "Jesus loves you. God gave His Son for you. The ball's in your court now. What are you going to do? Don't let His great love for you be in vain... ad nauseum."
After reading 1 Corinthians 12:1-3, that sounds suspiciously like, "Jesus is accursed." The law specifically claims that a man hung on a tree was accursed. Christ died, not for His own sins, but to redeem His people, from their sins and to avert the wrath of God that was their just reward for their vile and horrid rebellion against God. Jesus, Scripture tells us, died to "save His people from their sins." Nowhere in Scripture do we get even the remotest idea that Christ's death can be in vain or wasted effort in regard to anyone. He died for His sheep and His sheep alone. Jesus did not die for the goats.
Saying that Jesus' death could be in vain or that His sacrifice can be wasted is tantamount to saying, "Jesus is accursed." Pelagianism is truly from the bowels of hell.
I've had this discussion with folks, some of whom came from nominally-Reformed backgrounds. I said that, is the atonement is universal, then there are people in hell for whom Christ died. i was sure that consideration back, but it didn't! They enthusiastically affirmed that it was so! I was appalled and disgusted. If there are or will be men in hell for whom Christ died, then His atonement is insufficient for salvation. It is in this sense that it is actually Arminianism that teaches a limited atonement. Jesus provides part of salvation; the individual must provide the rest. How sad, and how disrespectful to the Redeemer.
ReplyDeleteJohn Owen put it like this: God imposed his wrath due unto, and Christ underwent the pains of hell for either:
ReplyDelete1) All of the sins of all men - which means all men are saved.
2) Some of the sins of all men - which means men are still in their sins.
3) All of the sin of some men - which is the biblical position.