Unlimited Atonement;

(from Lesson 16 – 1 John 2:2)

 

 

So back to 1 John 2:2 NASB “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for {those of} the whole world.” So there is a juxtaposition here between the believer and the world. John carries that all through the epistle. The words “for” in this verse translate the Greek preposition peri [peri]. Normally what we find in constructs like this is the Greek preposition huper [u(per], clearly the preposition of substitution. But peri can mean concerning sin, and it can also have the idea of substitution and is virtually a synonym for huper. Ardnt and Gingrich: When used with hamartia [a(martia], which it is in this case, the word “for” (peri) has the sense of to take away, to atone for, and emphasises substitution. Kittle in his Theological Dictionary says: “To some degree the distinction between peri and huper fades in the Hellenistic period, and the result is that peri with the genitive can be used in the sense of on behalf of or as a substitution for, and this is particularly common in the epistles.” So the thrust here is substitution: “He Himself is a propitiation as a substitute for our sins; and not as a substitute for ours only, but also as a substitute for the whole world.”

 

The doctrine of unlimited atonement

 

  1. Definition: The judgment of Christ on the cross as a substitute for every sin committed in human history by every member of the human race. But just because the penalty is paid for doesn’t mean they go to heaven. They still don’t have eternal life and they still lack perfect righteousness. But sin is actually and truly paid for; this is the emphasis in unlimited atonement. The work of Christ made salvation available to all but did not actually assure the salvation of anyone. Only those who express faith alone in Christ alone are eternally saved.
  2. Historical background to this doctrine. There are people who believe in something called limited atonement, sometimes called limited redemption. It means that Christ’s death was only for the elect and that Christ did not die for the unbeliever. This is part of a system called Calvinism. John Calvin did not hold to this, it was a system developed by his successors, specifically by Beza who systematised Calvin’s theology after his death. Around 1610 there was a man by the name of Jacob Arminius who taught theology in Holland and he could not go along with extreme Calvinism because there wasn’t enough room there for individual volition, responsibility and freedom of choice in relation to salvation. So he began to teach a theological system which emphasised human responsibility and free will. His followers set forth five points which emphasised that every human being has the ability live a perfect life, to please God by his works, that election was conditional on what man did, that Christ died for everyone—unlimited atonement. They believed that grace was resistible and that salvation was losable. They did not believe in eternal security. In response to their five points the Calvinists reacted with their five points that have come to be known through the acronym TULIP. T = total depravity, total inability; U = unconditional election; L = limited atonement; I = irresistible grace; P = perseverance of the saints (nothing more than Lordship salvation).
  3. 1 Peter 2:24 emphasises the reality of Christ’s substitution. NASB “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Romans 5:8 NASB “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died [as a substitute: u(per + genitive] for us.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 NASB “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you [u(per + genitive]; do this in remembrance of Me’.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB “He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf [u(per + genitive], so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
  4. There are several key passages in Scripture that Christ clearly state that Christ died for all, not the least of which is John 3:16 NASB “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Acts 10:43 NASB “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins”—subjunctive mood: anyone who might believe; it is open to all. 1 Timothy 2:6 NASB “who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony {given} at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 4”10 NASB “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” Notice, believers are a sub-category of all men. 2 Corinthians 5:14 NASB “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died.” So the issue now isn’t sin, the issue is whether or not you possess the life of God, eternal life, and the righteousness of God, and that comes at the instant of faith alone in Christ alone.