There Is Nothing Limited About Christ's Atonement

To believe that Jesus only died for some, “the Elect,” is a damning doctrine. Furthermore it cannot be supported by scripture. How can a person who believes that Christ’s substitutionary atonement was intended for just a selected few ever share the gospel indiscriminately or with love. The doctrine of limited atonement directly contradicts John 3:16. It’s actually a doctrine that angers me in many ways. God loves the world (the people) and because He loves the world (the people) He has offered up His Son to satisfy His wrath for their sin. Throughout John 3, Jesus Himself says “everyone who believes” (v. 15), “everyone who believes” (v. 16), “anyone who believes” (v. 18), and “the one who believes in the Son has eternal life” (v. 36). To summarize these scriptures, anyone and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life.

There are many other scriptures both in the gospels and the epistles which clearly show that Christ died for all who truly “believe.” First, in John 1:29, John the Baptist cried out that Jesus was “the Lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world.” Second, in Romans 5:18, Paul writes that “…as one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” Third, in Romans 11:32, Paul writes that “…God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” Fourth, in 1 Timothy 2:5, 6, Paul writes to Timothy that “…the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all…” Fifth, in Hebrews 2:9, the author writes that “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Sixth, in 1 John 2:2, John writes that “Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Finally, in 2 Peter 3:9, Peter writes that “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Love never fails and the love of God saves. Jesus was the embodiment of love while He walked this earth and ultimately came because of the love of His Father. He came for all and died for all and that is not limited. Without that belief, how can any Christian walk up to a non-believer and tell them “God loves you?” They can’t because they’re unsure that person is part of the Elect. Do children who die in the womb, during abortion, or before they consciously understand their sinful nature go to hell? They might for a person who believes in limited atonement.

We should rest assured that Christ has died for “all” who truly believe in Him.  Place your faith in Him and repent of your sins. His grace is sufficient for you and for “all.”