ESSENTIALS: THE CORE OF REFORMED THEOLOGY! The Supremacy of God in Salvation:! ! ! ! !I. Limited Atonement Defined! “Christ’s atonement was intended by God to secure the redemption of the elect alone.” ! !- Dr. James Anderson! “I prefer not to use the term limited atonement because it is misleading. I rather speak of definite redemption or definite atonement, which communicates that God the Father designed the work of redemption specifically with a view to providing salvation for the elect, and that Christ died for !His sheep and laid down His life for those the Father had given to Him.” - Dr. R.C. Sproul! “Without doubting the infinite worth of Christ’s sacrifice or the genuineness of God’s “whoever will” invitation to all who hear the gospel (Rev. 22:17), the doctrine states that the death of Christ actually put away the sins of all God’s elect and ensured that they would be brought to faith through and kept in faith for glory, and that this is what it was intended to achieve. From this definiteness and effectiveness follows its limitedness: Christ did not die in this efficacious sense for everyone. The proof of that, as Scripture and experience unite to teach us, !is that not all are saved.” - Dr. J.I. Packer! “As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ; are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season; are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, !sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.” - Westminster Confession of Faith, 3.6! ! !II. Limited Atonement Demonstrated! ! A. Theological Basis (Dr. James Anderson)! - The Persons of the Trinity are united in their redemptive purposes and works.! - The Father’s purpose in election is to save particular people.! - The Holy Spirit’s purpose in regeneration is to save particular people.! - Therefore, the Son’s purpose in redemption is to save particular people. ! ! - Therefore, Christ’s redemptive work is particular rather than universal in extent. ! B. The Alternatives! ! - Actual Universalism (Unlimited Extent / Unlimited Efficacy)! ! - Hypothetical Universalism (Unlimited Extent / Limited Efficacy)! ! ! ! !C. The Big Question: Which of these is true? ! - Christ died for some of the sins of all men.! - Christ died for all the sins of some men.! ! - Christ died for all the sins of all men. ! D. Exegetical Basis! - Leviticus 16:15-22! - 1 Chronicles 17:20-22! - Matthew 25:32-33! - John 10:7-15! - John 17:6-19! - Romans 8:28-30! - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21! ! - Ephesians 5:25-32! III. Defended! ! ! A. Common Objections (Dr. James Anderson)! - John 1:29 and 3:16 make it clear that Jesus died for the whole world.! - 1 Timothy 2:6 states that Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all. ! - 1 John 2:2 says that Jesus atoned for the sins of the whole world. ! - It implies that God’s universal gospel offer isn’t sincere.! ! - It means we can’t confidently say to anyone, “Jesus died for you.”! ! B. Benefit for the Christian Life! - Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross is perfect and finished.! - Redemption isn’t a theoretical possibility, it is a sure reality for His people. ! - Salvation is personal and specific. God saved you.! - Deep trust in both the justice of God and the mercy of God.! - Generates humility and confidence rather than arrogance and insecurity. ! ! - When we evangelize, we share a the truth that God actually (not possibly) saves.! !IV. Resources! - Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of (P&R, 1932).! - , The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (Banner of Truth, 1959).! - John Murray, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied (Eerdmans, 1955).! - R. C. Sproul, Chosen by God (Tyndale House, 1994).! - James R. White, The Potter’s Freedom (Calvary Press, 2000).!