Arminianism & the Doctrines of Grace
Third Point & Doctrine :L 

  The Five Points of Arminius

  The Five Doctrines of Grace

The Third Point

"Universal Atonement"

 Arminius taught that the Atonement is Universal, that is to say, that Christ died for absolutely all human beings inclusively. Arminians believe that Christ died for all men since God loves all persons equally and alike. The blood of Christ, they say, makes atonement for sin in the sense that it is the basis for offering pardon, but does not accomplish pardon unless man freely wills to accept it. (Atonement is a term which is used broadly to include redemption, remission of sins, propitiation, reconciliation - everything that was accomplished by Christ by His suffering and death.)

The Arminian insists that Atonement was accomplished for all mankind indiscriminately. Christ died to make salvation possible for those who chose to believe, say the Arminians.

Texts used:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord .... is longsuffering towards us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 1:29 .... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name...
1 John 2:2 ..He Himself is the propitiation .... for the whole world.
1 Tim.2:6 ..who gave Himself a ransom for all....
John 12:32 ......I will draw all men unto myself...

The Third Doctrine

"Effective Atonement"

(Limited Atonement)

Atonement has been made for the elect only, since Christ died only for those whom the Father gave Him to be His Bride. Only the saints or elect ones are ever said to be "beloved of God", for they alone are the objects of His saving grace. (Some describe this as "Limited" atonement, because it is limited to the elect only. Hence the L in TULIP.) If Christ died for all men inclusively, then absolutely all will be saved. But God cannot be a just God and punish twice for the same sins. If Christ bore the sins of all men inclusively, then God could not send any man to hell.

The truth is, Christ bore the sins of many. He died for His sheep - and not for the goats. His Name was called Jesus because he would save HIS PEOPLE from their sins. He died for all, in the sense that he died for all his people which are drawn from all KINDS of men, in all nations and down through all the ages, not merely from among the Jews. Although it is true that the blood of Christ was of infinite worth and sufficient in value to atone for all men inclusively, it is obvious from the fact that many have gone and many may yet go to a lost eternity, that the shed blood is efficient only for the elect who are saved by His unmerited favour. If Christ died to atone for all men inclusively, then He failed! But when He cried out from the Cross, "It is finished!" - then a finished work of redemption had been completed. He accomplished an effective atonement for all those whom the Father had given Him from the whole world - from every tribe and nation.

John 10:14,15 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine...and I lay down my life for the sheep. Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward US, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for US. Gal 1:3,4

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for OUR sins, that he might deliver US from this present evil world, according to THE WILL OF GOD and OUR Father: Rom. 8:32,33 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for US all, how shall he not with him also freely give US all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's ELECT? Eph.5:25 ... as Christ also loved the CHURCH, and gave himself for it; John 17:9

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Col 1:12 - 21 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered US from the power of darkness, and hath translated US into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins

: ...21. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled . 1 Thes. 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your ELECTION of God. Col 3:12

Put on therefore, as THE ELECT of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; (The word "Church" means "Elect-assembly" - chosen/called-out-group "eccelsia").

"Free Will " or "Accountability"?

Careful study of the texts above will show that they do not support the idea of "free will", but they deal with Man's responsibility towards God and his accountability if he does not obey God. There are NO Scriptures which teach that man has a "free will" - the phrase does not occur anywhere in the Bible. Arminius reasoned (contrary to the Scripture) that "God has no right to hold a man accountable to believe, or to condemn him for unbelief, if man's will is not free to do so." This is like saying a man driven by lust should not be held responsible for rape or child-molesting, nor punished for it, because he cannot control himself. (Or that a slug is not responsible for eating my lettuces because it is a slug.) There may be different degrees of judicial or moral accountability according to knowledge etc. but as a creature created by God, all men are responsible for all their thoughts and actions. God says "Every one of us shall give account", and those who reject His Word will be punished in the Lake of Fire.

The Scriptures teach that there is sufficient light given to all men that, should they have the slightest inclination to come to the Light, they will be saved. The fact is that man is so affected by sin that he loves darkness and hates the light and will not come to it of himself.
See: John 1:9 3:19 Rom. 1:18-20 Man is responsible to obey the Word of God and accountable when he refuses.