Limited Atonement: Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners.
According to Gods Word people perish if they refuse to believe the truth of gospel message. For the Calvinist then, the non-elect should not perish because they believe the truth that Jesus didnt die for them.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Those who teach limited atonement would say a person goes to hell because he believes the truth that Jesus did not die for him. According to Calvinism, he is correct for Christ did not die for his salvation. So then, why would God condemn this man for rejecting the Savior, if Christ did nothing to save him? And why would we try to persuade him otherwise? It would be foolish of us to attempt to do so.
When the gospel is preached, what are lost sinners urged to believe? According to Calvinism, the elect are urged to believe a message they are incapable of rejecting. The non-elect however, are urged to believe a message that is not true for them. They are told that Jesus died for their sins, but according to Calvinism this is not true, if they were not one of the elect. He is actually urged to believe a lie (for him). They are invited to believe this lie, commanded to believe it, and threatened with eternal condemnation if they do not believe it, yet Calvinism says they cannot believe it.
The fact is, the gospel does not urge sinners to believe a lie. Sinners do not perish for believing a lie but for rejecting Gods truth. The gospel compels them to believe the truth that Christ died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). He died for their sins. It is their rejection of this wonderful Truth that condemns them.
The gospel is good news for everyone all the time and thats the truth!
According to Gods Word people perish if they refuse to believe the truth of gospel message. For the Calvinist then, the non-elect should not perish because they believe the truth that Jesus didnt die for them.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Those who teach limited atonement would say a person goes to hell because he believes the truth that Jesus did not die for him. According to Calvinism, he is correct for Christ did not die for his salvation. So then, why would God condemn this man for rejecting the Savior, if Christ did nothing to save him? And why would we try to persuade him otherwise? It would be foolish of us to attempt to do so.
When the gospel is preached, what are lost sinners urged to believe? According to Calvinism, the elect are urged to believe a message they are incapable of rejecting. The non-elect however, are urged to believe a message that is not true for them. They are told that Jesus died for their sins, but according to Calvinism this is not true, if they were not one of the elect. He is actually urged to believe a lie (for him). They are invited to believe this lie, commanded to believe it, and threatened with eternal condemnation if they do not believe it, yet Calvinism says they cannot believe it.
The fact is, the gospel does not urge sinners to believe a lie. Sinners do not perish for believing a lie but for rejecting Gods truth. The gospel compels them to believe the truth that Christ died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). He died for their sins. It is their rejection of this wonderful Truth that condemns them.
The gospel is good news for everyone all the time and thats the truth!