Dr. Robert Shaw offers 11 arguments for limited atonement as he comments on WCF 8:8:
The sacrifice of Christ derived infinite value from the dignity of his person; it must, therefore, have been intrinsically sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole human race had it been so intended; but, in the designation of the Father, and in the intention of Christ himself, it was limited to a definite number, who shall ultimately obtain salvation. This important truth may be confirmed by the following arguments:
1. Restrictive terms are frequently employed in Scripture to express the objects of the death of Christ: “He bare the sin of many.” “He gave his life a ransom for many.” (Isa. 53:12; Matt. 20:28). Does not this intimate that Christ died, not for all men, but only for many?
2. Those for whom Christ died are distinguished from others by discriminating characters. They are called the sheep, John x 15; the church (Eph. 5:25); God’s elect (Rom. 8:33); the children of God (John 11:52).
3. Those whom Christ redeemed by his blood are said to be “redeemed from among men” (Rev. 14:4), which, if Christ had redeemed all men, would be an unmeaning and inconsistent phrase; they are also said to be “redeemed out of every kindred,” &c. (Rev. 5:9), which certainly implies that only some of every kindred are redeemed.
4. The redemption obtained by Christ is restricted to those who were “chosen in him,” and whom the Father gave to him to redeem by his death (Eph. 1:4, 7; John 17:2).
5. Christ died in the character of a surety, and therefore he laid down his life only for those whom he represented, or for his spiritual seed (Isa. 53:10).
6. The intention of Christ in laying down his life was, not merely to obtain for those for whom he died a possibility of salvation, but actually to save them—to bring them to the real possession and enjoyment of eternal salvation (Eph. 5:25, 26; Tit. 2:14; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Thess. 5:10). From this, it inevitably follows, that Christ died only for those who shall be saved in him with an everlasting salvation.
7. The intercession of Christ proceeds upon the ground of his atoning sacrifice; they must, therefore, be of the same extent with regard to their objects; but he does not pray for the world, but only for those who were given him out of the world; his sacrifice must, therefore, be restricted to that definite number (1 John 2:1, 2; John 17:9).
8. An apostle infers from the greatness of God’s love in delivering up his Son to death for sinners, that he will not withhold from them any of the blessings of salvation; we must, therefore, conclude that Christ did not die for all mankind (Rom. 8:32).
9. The same apostle infers the certainty of our salvation by the life of Christ, from our reconciliation to God by his death; now, since all are not saved by his life, we must conclude that all were not reconciled by his death (Rom. 5:10).
10. Christ, by his death, procured for his people not only salvation, but all the means leading to the enjoyment of it; consequently, his intention in dying must be limited to those who do repent and believe, and not extended to the whole human race.
11. The doctrine that Christ died for all men leads to many absurd consequences, such as: That Christ shed his blood for many in vain, since all are not saved; that he laid down his life in absolute uncertainty whether any of the human race would be eventually saved; that he shed his blood for millions who, at the very moment of his death, were consigned to the pit of everlasting destruction; that he died for those for whom he does not intercede; that he died for those to whom he never sent the means of salvation, yea, to some of whom he even forbade his gospel to be preached (Matt. 10:5; Rom. 10:14); and that God acts unjustly in inflicting everlasting punishment upon men for those very transgressions for which he has already received full satisfaction by the death of Christ. To affirm any of these things, would be blasphemous in the highest degree, and, therefore, that doctrine which involves such consequences must be unscriptural.
Taken from The Reformed Faith: An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith
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Tagged as // Limited Atonement, Robert Shaw, The Westminster Confession of Faith
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Comments [4]
Amen! I particularly agree with #5.Here’s a little something I sent to a Yahoo Group I moderate, which stired up quite a bit of dust.One the major issues that divides evangelicals is the matter of “limited atonement” (or Christ died for the elect) vs. “unlimited atonement” (or Christ died for everyone, but only some get saved).Here’s a song (lyrics below) that does a pretty good job explaining why this is an important issue, for which we must look to the Bible for guidance. Please listen and ponder, rather than shut out because it doesn’t fit with your current position.My prayer is for men to look to Christ as revealed in Scriptures for Truth, and look to the Scriptures for Truth.In His grip,StuartHere’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-jl6jFn86kAnd the lyrics:”Mission Accomplished” Lyrics [edit]by Shai Linne | from the album The AtonementVerse 1Here’s a controversial subject that tends to divideFor years it’s had Christians lining up on both sidesBy God’s grace, I’ll address this without prideThe question concerns those for whom Christ diedWas He trying to save everybody worldwide?Was He trying to make the entire world His Bride?Does man’s unbelief keep the Savior’s hands tied?Biblically, each of these must be deniedIt’s true, Jesus gave up His life for His BrideBut His Bride is the elect, to whom His death is appliedIf on judgment day, you see that you can’t hideAnd because of your sin, God’s wrath on you abidesAnd hell is the place you eternally resideThat means your wrath from God hasn’t been satisfiedBut we believe His mission was accomplished when He diedBut how the cross relates to those in hell?Well, they be saying:Lord knows He tried (8x)Verse 2Father, Son and Spirit: three and yet oneWorking as a unit to get things doneOur salvation began in eternity pastGod certainly has to bring all His purpose to passA triune, eternal bond no one could ever severWhen it comes to the church, peep how they work togetherThe Father foreknew first, the Son came to earthTo die- the Holy Spirit gives the new birthThe Father elects them, the Son pays their debt and protects themThe Spirit is the One who resurrects themThe Father chooses them, the Son gets bruised for themThe Spirit renews them and produces fruit in themEverybody’s not elect, the Father decidesAnd it’s only the elect in whom the Spirit residesThe Father and the Spirit- completely unifiedBut when it comes to Christ and those in hell?Well, they be saying:Lord knows He tried (8x)Verse 3My third and final verse- here’s the situationJust a couple more things for your considerationIf saving everybody was why Christ came in historyWith so many in hell, we’d have to say He failed miserablySo many think He only came to make it possibleLet’s follow this solution to a conclusion that’s logicalWhat about those who were already in the grave?The Old Testament wicked- condemned as depravedDid He die for them? C’mon, behaveBut worst of all, you’re saying the cross by itself doesn’t saveThat we must do something to give the cross its powerThat means, at the end of the day, the glory’s oursThat man-centered thinking is not recommendedThe cross will save all for whom it was intendedBecause for the elect, God’s wrath was satisfiedBut still, when it comes to those in hellWell, they be saying:Lord knows He tried (8x)
I am a little bit confused. How exactly is the doctrine of Limited Atonement different from the doctrine of Unconditional Election?
Chris,Let me try. Unconditional election means man can do nothing to save himself, neither can he thwart God’s redemption of his soul. Being elect of God is His choice, “unconditional” on man’s part.Limited atonement is as described above – Christ died for only the elect, because He came to save those whom the Father gave Him. Christ’s death is not applied to the possible salvation of the non-elect – which is not a biblical possibility.
Yes I agree, we really need to start limiting atonement. There is just too doggone much atonement going on these days. That, and term limits on congessmen. These are real issues and someone has to do something about it. I don’t see Obama doing anything.