Concise Refutations of Common Errors in Calvinism:
I. Limited Atonement?
A thorough and complete study of Calvinistic doctrine is beyond the scope and intent of this blog; however, given the obfuscation of clear bible truths that Calvinism creates, it is a topic worth discussing. In actuality, there is much truth to be found within the doctrines derived from Calvin and some of the other reformers, however, there IS error as well when said doctrines are held up to and compared with the standard of God’s word, which most Calvinists will agree to as being THE final authority on all matters of faith and practice. In some ways Calvinism’s errors can be seen as errors of wrong explanation and mischaracterization based on failure to rightly divide scripture as commanded. Approached in this manner, an in depth study of why Calvinists (and I will be using that term as reference to full “five point” adherents, – also described as “hyper” Calvinists) believe as they do is not necessary. Calvinism, with its 5 main points indicated with the acronym “T.U.L.I.P.” (T = Total Depravity, U = Unconditional Election, L = Limited Atonement, I = Irresistible Grace, P = Perseverance of the Saints), provides a framework with which we can simply compare the doctrinal conclusions they very firmly proclaim against what scripture says about these very topics and show, quite simply and easily via scripture, that Calvinism is a system that twists key scriptural terms and truths.
The most stark and detrimental departure from what scripture plainly says is in regard to the atonement provided by Christ for sinners, so I will deal with the “L” first. Calvinism holds that atonement for sin was not provided for every individual sinner by Jesus Christ and His work upon the cross, but rather that only those sinners that God had predetermined would be saved were covered by that atonement. This stems from the Calvinistic position that God is sovereign and therefore His will cannot be thwarted. In Calvinism, a God who sent His Son to save everyone is a failure UNLESS everyone ends up being saved by what His Son provided. To be sure, God IS sovereign and His will CANNOT be thwarted (thankfully, it cannot be thwarted even by doctrines devised by men to help God out with maintaining His sovereignty, which Calvinism can be seen as often seeking to do). I have no private interpretation of my own to pit against that posited by Calvinism…however, what I do have is plain scripture that, as written and with no interpreting needed, thoroughly refutes the idea that only the sins of those who God knew would be saved were atoned for on the cross by Jesus Christ.
There are scores of passages within scripture that indicate that what Jesus Christ provided on the cross was for everyone, for all sinners and for all sins and several that in no uncertain terms plainly state this. Many passages contain statements such as “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever…” (John 3:16) and “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Tim. 4:10). While it should be obvious from passages such as these that the atonement was not limited (was provided to “the world”, to “all men”) but rather is being conditionally applied (to those who “believe”), God goes even further and in one passage His Spirit unequivocally refutes the Calvinistic position on the atonement being provided only for those who God pre-chose (“the elect”):
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. – 1 John 2:1-2
John 2:2 makes perfectly clear that Jesus Christ was the propitiation (payment) for ALL sins of ALL (the “whole”) world. The Calvinist has many tricks, both in English and Greek, with which he will tell you that “all” does not really mean “all” and “world” does not really mean “world”…however, anyone with elementary school reading comprehension skills can see that 1 John 2:2 precludes that private interpretation in itself, clearly comparing the world against the segment of the world that has believed and then plainly stating that Jesus provided atonement not only for the sins of those who believe on Him but for everyone else as well. Additionally, when we compare scripture with scripture, we see John is simply referencing what we have already been told numerous times…Jesus bled and died for all sinners and all sins BUT God will only apply that atonement to those sinners who believe on His Son for it. It really is that simple…it is what God said:
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be castout. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. – John 12:31-33
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. –Romans 5:6-9
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. – Acts 10:43
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13
Having established, by simply consulting God’s word as written, that all sins were atoned for by Christ, and having further established that some yet do not obtain salvation despite Christ having died for their sins, we are perfectly situated move on to the next deformed petal of Calvin’s “TULIP” – “U” (Unconditional Election).
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