John Calvin’s theory or doctrine of predestination has led many people
who do not know God’s word very well astray. The third point in Calvin’s
doctrine is called “Limited Atonement.” This point teaches that since
only certain people are saved, Christ shed His atoning blood only for
them. Calvin reasoned that it would have been a wasted sacrifice for
Christ to die for those who are not and could not be saved. One of
the
verses that Calvin claimed taught this doctrine is Matthew 26:28, “For
this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.” Calvin’s claim was that the “many” of this verse
was
only those whom God had predestinated before time began to be saved.
This false doctrine claims that Christ died only for the “elect,” while
the apostle Paul, by inspiration of God, stated that Christ died for
all
in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because
we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:” The
scriptures state that Christ died for all. In fact we read in Hebrews
2:9, the fact that Jesus Christ died for every one, “But we see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man.” While Calvinism states that only the “elect”
will
be saved, Peter stated God’s desire in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward not wiling that any should perish, but that
all
should come to repentance.” It is God’s will that everyone would come
to
repentance and obedience to His will and be saved.
Calvin’s doctrine of “Limited Atonement” would make it foolishness to
preach the word of God if only the “elect” can be saved. Jesus’ command
to His apostles found in Matthew 28:18-20, to “teach all nations,”
would
be total nonsense if Calvin’s doctrine is true. In fact, Calvin’s
doctrine of predestination makes reading, studying and being obedient
to
God’s word foolishness, because if you are not one of the “elect” these
is nothing you can do to be saved; likewise, if you are one of the
“elect” then there is nothing that you can do to be lost. Yet, throughout
God’s word we find that He has always given people the right to choose
either obedience or disobedience. In fact, God has never covered up
the
facts that if we choose disobedience we will be lost for all eternity,
while if we choose obedience, God’s word gives us every help available
to
everyone who wants to be obedient to His will!
© Copyright 2003 Paul D. Fisher. All rights reserved.