TheosGuy

R.L. Dabney in his Systematic Theology draws a distinction between limited atonement and unlimited expiation. As Dabney is a “Five-Point Calvinist” this is a rare distinction from that side of the theological debate.
And since he believes expiation is an unlimited work of Jesus Christ, it is also an intended unlimited work of Christ to provide such.

It seems plain that the vagueness and ambiguity of the modern term ‘atonement,’ has very much complicated the debate. This word, not classical in the Reformed theology, is used sometimes for satisfaction for guilt, sometimes for the reconciliation ensuing thereon; until men on both sides of the debate have forgotten the distinction. The one is cause; the other effect. The only New Testament sense the word atonement has is that of katallage, reconciliation. But expiation is another idea. Katallage is personal. Exilasmos is impersonal. Katallage is multiplied, being repeated as often as a sinner comes to the expiatory blood. Exilasmos is single, unique, complete; and, in itself considered, has no more relation to one man’s sins than another. As it is applied in effectual calling, it becomes personal, and receives a limitation. But in itself, limitation is irrelevant to it. Hence, when men use the word atonement, as they so often do, in the sense of expiation, the phrases, ‘limited atonement,’ ‘particular atonement,’ have no meaning. Redemption is limited, i.e., to true believers, and is particular. Expiation is not limited.¹

1. Dabney, Robert L., Systematic Theology. From chapter 35, Section 8. (2). “Christ’s Satisfaction Not Commercial.”

Tags: Dabney

John Piper, in Episode 450 of the Ask Pastor John podcast,  gives the following Scripture as evidence of double predestination.  However, I thought it was interesting that prior to answering the question, Piper said that if thinking that God would double predestine makes you doubt His goodness, then don’t believe in double predestination.

• In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, – Eph 1:11 NKJV

• The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. – Pro 16:4 NKJV

• Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” – 1Pe 2:7 NKJV

• For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. – Jde 1:4 NKJV

• By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. – 2Pe 2:3 NKJV

• (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), – Rom 9:11 NKJV

• “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.” – Mal 1:2-3 NKJV

The following is taken from William Tyndale’s Prologue to his New Testament translation printed in 1525 A.D. As shown, William Tyndale held a very strong view of God’s sovereignty in the salvation of believers.

When the evangelion is preached, the Spirit of God entereth into them which God hath ordained and appointed unto eternal life; and openth their inward eyes, and worketh such belief in them.

Tags: Bible, Sovereignty

“The Five Articles of Remonstrance” refers to the document written by the followers of the recently deceased Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609). The articles, issued in 1610, were written to explain the Remonstrants disagreement with the the Calvinist doctrine of predestination.  The articles are alos known by the name,”The Five Articles of Arminianism.”

The Calvinists responded to the Remonstrance, with a document explaining the Calvinistic position.   The later document is commonly called “The Five Points of Calvinism” or by it’s acrostic, TULIP.

“The Five Articles of Remonstrance“

Article 1
That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son, before the foundation of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” and according to other passages of Scripture also.

Article 2
That agreeably thereunto, Jesus Christ the Savior of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And in the First Epistle of 1 John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Article 3
That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will, inasmuch as he, in the state of apostasy and sin, can of and by himself neither think, will, nor do any thing that is truly good (such as saving faith eminently is); but that it is needful that he be born again of God in Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding, inclination, or will, and all his powers, in order that he may rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is truly good, according to the Word of Christ, John 15:5, “Without me ye can do nothing.”

Article 4
That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all good, even to this extent, that the regenerate man himself, without prevenient or assisting, awakening, following and cooperative grace, can nei­ther think, will, nor do good, nor withstand any temptations to evil; so that all good deeds or movements, that can be conceived, must be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ. but respects the mode of the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible; inas­much as it is written con­cerning many, that they have resisted the Holy Ghost. Acts 7, and else­where in many places.

Article 5
That those who are in­corporated into Christ by true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life-giving Spirit, have thereby full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well un­derstood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by no craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ’s hands, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginning of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was deliv­ered them, of losing a good conscience, of be­coming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, be­fore we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion of our mind.

Following are the generally recognized systems that define the decretive work of God. The first two are generally considered to be Reformed.

Supralapsarian (Before the Fall)

1. God’s decree to glorify Himself through the election of some to salvation and some to reprobation.
2. God’s decision to create the universe.
3. God decrees the fall into sin.
4. God’s decision to provide a savior for the elect in the mediatorial work of Christ.

Note: in the supralapsarian system:

• The elective work is before the decree of the fall into sin.
• God’s decretive will begins with predestination.
• Election and reprobation are God’s primary work prior to creation.
• The 2nd-4th decrees are means toward realization of the 1st. Creation is for the sake of election and damnation. The fall serves God’s elective purpose.
• This decretive order seems to suggest that God is responsible for the fall since some humans are created expressly for damnation.

Much of the Reformed Church do not hold to this system of decrees developed by Theodore Beza. Generally, they hold to infralapsarianism.

Infralapsarian (After the Fall)

1. God’s decision to create the world.
2. God’s decision to allow man to fall into sin through his own self-determination.
3. God decrees to elect some to salvation in Jesus Christ.
4. God determines to pass by and leave the non-elect to their just fate and condemnation.

Note: in the inralapsarian system:

• The elective work is after the decision to allow the fall into sin.
• Follows the Scriptural order: creation, fall and salvation.

Sublapsarian

1. Creation of human beings
2. Permit the Fall
3. Provide salvation sufficient for all
4. Election to salvation and reprobation

Arminian Decretive Order

1. God’s decision to be gracious toward sinful human beings by providing a Savior in Jesus Christ.
2. God decrees to accept those who repent and believe in Christ, but to leave the unrepentant and unbelieving in their sin and to hold them responsible for the wrath of damnation.
3. Appointment of the proclamation of the Gospel as the means necessary to call people to salvation.
4. God decreed to save and damn particular persons based upon His prescience of their decision to repent and believe.

Tags: Election, God

I was reading the book Saved and Kept by F.B. Meyer. One of the chapters caught my interest. I thought it would be a good devotional/teaching possibility. The outline below isn’t directly from the chapter, but what inspired me to think about it. However, I think I took the title directly from the chapter, if I remember right. I don’t have it in front of me. When I get time, I’ll go get the Scripture references pertaining to the outline items.

Title: Saved and Kept by the Trinity

Outline:

• God the Father
• He draws
• He chooses
• He gives
• God the Son
• He draws
• He died
• He rose
• He intercedes (High Priest)
• He loves
• God the Holy Spirit
• He draws
• He convicts
• He quickens / enlightens
• He seals
• He presents the Bride

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)

Tags: Election, Salvation, Teaching Ideas, Trinity

God chose Israel not because they were a mighty people, nor because there was anything inherently good. Go chose Israel to glorify Himself and to display His love.

(Deu 7:6-9 NKJV) For you [are] a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore know that the LORD your God, He [is] God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Also see Romans 9:10-12.

God chose Abraham and Sarah to be the parents of a nation. But Sarah was barren. God did this to show His power (Gen 18:9-19).

God chose Gideon to lead an army. But reduced the army to such a small number (the least) so that God would get the glory (Judges 7).

God chose David, to be King of Israel, even though he was the youngest of the “Jesse boys,” Jesse did not even present David to Samuel at first (1 Sam 16:1-13).

God chose a Pharisee named Saul (later renamed Paul, to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Remember that before Damascus, Paul was not a friend to Gentile or to Christian. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul called himself “the least of the apostles” (1 Cor 15:9) and “the least of all the saints” (Eph 3:8).

Tags: Election, Humility, Israel