Christ's Unlimited Atonement

By: Michael Flournoy

John 3:16-18 sums up the “good news” of the gospel by saying: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The Father sent his Son die at the hands of wicked men, not to seek occasion against us, but to save us. As Jesus hung being crucified, the Jews challenged him to show his power by coming down from the cross. Instead, the Savior demonstrated pure love by remaining and perishing for all men and women. The atonement of Christ is infinite and unlimited. It is not bound by time, distance, or the strength of sin. It is available for all: rich and poor, servant and free, male and female, the elect and the non-elect.

Not surprisingly, the Adversary has fought hard to spread the false doctrine of a “limited atonement” which teaches Christ died only for the elect. Aside from being unscriptural, this doctrine relies heavily on philosophy and degrades God’s character.

A few Sunday’s ago I visited a Baptist church where a friend of mine was teaching Sunday School. He got onto a topic about Judgment Day and related his belief that only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will go to heaven, and that this book was written before the foundations of the world; thus only a few, who were chosen beforehand, would have the opportunity to pass through the pearly gates. This viewpoint is not entirely without scriptural backing. Revelation 13 talks about the great beast which will wage war against the saints. Verse 8 says: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 21:27 further describes who will enter heaven by stating the following: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

At first glance these verses seem bent on supporting the concept of unconditional election and a limited atonement, but here’s where philosophy corrupts the scriptures: if God is omniscient and omnipotent, says human reasoning, then man cannot have a say in his own destiny. And if man is totally depraved, and God owes us nothing, it is not unjust for him to choose a select few (through no merit of their own), and save them, though they were no different from those He did not save. I read an article online the other day where the author stated in defense of Calvinism that if five people owed him money, and he spontaneously forgave three of them their debt, he would still be just. I say “bologna!” God is no respecter of persons! He does not save some and damn others on a whim! In Matthew 5 Jesus tells his disciples, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Perhaps the most widely used passages of scripture in support of an unconditional election and predestination is Romans 9:18-23 which states: Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.

It is sometimes argued that since God does not treat everyone equally on earth, there should be no reason for Him to equally grant salvation to the entire human family; after all, some are born into wealthy families, some are born into poverty, some are born into stable families, and others are not. The scriptures themselves state that before Esau was born, having done no good or evil, it had already been decreed that he would serve his younger brother.

So the question becomes: is God really just? Or as Paul asked, “Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.”

God is absolutely just and merciful. While there are some who are the elect of God, this does not mean that only the elect may obtain eternal life. And just because the Book of Life was written before the foundation of the world doesn’t mean it isn’t revised from time to time. Revelation 22:19 warns: And that if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Timothy 2:20 states: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. This implies that those who are vessels of dishonor are capable of yet becoming sanctified.

In the gospels Christ affirms that many who are first shall be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 22 contains a parable that explains election perfectly. In the parable a certain king invites many guests to his son’s wedding. However, these guests make light of the invitation and fail to attend, and worse, some take his servants and slay them. In response, the king tells his servants that those who were originally bidden to the wedding were not worthy and sends his servants out into the highways to invite everyone they can find. Those who were originally invited represent the elect of God, but just because one is elected does not mean he will choose to follow the Lord, and just because one is not elect does not mean he will not at some point be invited to the wedding.

Finally, Matthew chapter 25 speaks of Christ’s second coming where the sheep will be found at his right hand and the goats on his left. The sheep will go to the Kingdom of Heaven while the goats will be shepherded into outer darkness. This begs the question: what will those at Christ’s left see when they look upon his left hand? Will they see a perfect hand devoid of puncture wounds, a testament that the Savior never died for them in the first place? Nay! Both of Jesus’ hands were nailed to the cross. The goats will see a hand punctured for them, and hear the Savior say, “Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of my brethren, ye did it not unto me.” The blame for their damnation will not be upon the Savior, but on themselves, because they limited the unlimited atonement by rejecting the free gift.