“I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
John 10:14-15
Another doctrine that developed over the 80 or so years of the Reformation that Arminius didn’t like, was what eventually became known as the “L” in TULIP: Limited Atonement. This is the doctrine that Jesus died only for those whom He intended to save. Jesus laid His life down for the sheep, and the sheep only, not the goats.
It also means that Jesus was 100% successful in securing the salvation of all the elect. None were lost. John 17:9 says, “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” Jesus doesn’t pray for the goats but the sheep who have been given to Him by the Father. Back in the Good Shepherd passage in John 10:29-30 Jesus says, “… and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” Or Titus 2:14, “,who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Jesus didn’t fail to save anyone.
In the same spirit as his previous objections, Arminius charges God with being unjust if this doctrine is true. Arminius taught that Jesus made it possible for everyone to be saved but secured the salvation of no one. Jesus opened the door to salvation, but you have to walk through. One significant error in this teaching is that if Jesus only opened the door for salvation but didn’t actually save anyone, then there was the possibility that no one would be saved. Jesus opened the door and no one walked through. Ironically, Arminius was uncomfortable with God choosing not to save some people but was totally fine with the thought that Jesus might possibly have saved no one!
Another significant error with this thinking is that it means Jesus failed to save people that He actually intended to save. He paid the price, atoning for their sins, satisfying the wrath of God, but they still will suffer the eternal wrath of God and pay for their sins for all eternity anyway. His sacrifice was not powerful enough to save some people. He gave it His best shot, but some people are just too sinful. This is of course totally inconsistent with the scriptural witness to the effectiveness of the atonement (Hebrews 9:11-15) as well as the very concept of election. Some people were chosen.
Limited atonement means Jesus “limited” His atonement to His elect, not that it was limited in power. For Arminius, Jesus’ atonement was limited in power and He was not able to save some people that He wanted too. The word “limited” can cause confusion so some Reformed theologians prefer the term “Particular Redemption,” but that would make TULIP, TUPIP, so we’ll stick with Limited Atonement.
In addition to John 10:14-15, one of my favorite verses that conveys this doctrine simply is in Matthew 1:21 when the angel Gabriel declares to Joseph concerning Mary, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Jesus came to save His people from their sins. He died for the sheep given to Him by His Father and He didn’t fail to save one of them. Once again what amazing and encouraging news for us as Christians! We are His own sheep, and no one can snatch us out of His hand.
Fight the good fight!
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn