The Atonement and the Trinity

I have made it no secret that I believe the doctrine of the Trinity is a central tenet of the the Christian faith. Far from being a "secondary issue," I believe how we understand the Bible's teaching on the Godhead will also have huge implications on other areas of our theology.

I recently began reading through the newly released book Pierced For Our Transgressions. Last night I came across a few paragraphs that I believe illustrate how the Atonement (as seen in the Penal Substitution view) was clearly the work of One God who exists in a Trinity of Divine Persons. When seen from this perspective, I think it becomes obvious why the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to Christianity:

"The doctrine of penal substitution states that God gave himself in the person of his Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin. This summary can be expanded to give some sense of how the doctrine connects with other important biblical themes.

God the Father gave his Son to save rebellious, God-hating people, knowing that he would be despised and rejected by those he had made, that he would be a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. He spared sinful people from condemnation, death and punishment, but he did not spare his own beloved Son, with whom he was well pleased.

God the Son gave himself, willingly undertaking the task appointed for him by his Father. He veiled his glory in a human body, experienced every temptation we face without succumbing to any, and lived a perfect human life. Yet he took our sin and guilt upon himself and died a cursed death, suffering in his human nature the infinite torment of the wrath and fury of his Father. After three days he was vindicated in his resurrection before being exalted to his heavenly throne. From there he rules his kingdom, awaiting the day of his glorious appearing when every eye shall see him, every knew shall bow before him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God the Holy Spirit, having been sent by the Father and the Son, now works in our hearts through the proclamation of the gospel to convict us of sin, righteousness and judgment, to draw us to Christ in repentance and faith, and so to unite us to Christ that we may share in every blessing he has won for us.

God the Holy Trinity thus turned aside his own righteous wrath against sinful humanity; endured and exhausted the curse of the law that stood against us; cleansed us of our sin and clothed us in Christ's righteousness; ransomed us from our slavery to sin, the world and the devil by paying our debt, cancelling the devil's power of accusation against us, and liberating us to live new lives empowered by the Spirit; triumphed over all evil powers by punishing evil in the person of the Son; and reconciled us with himself by removing the barrier of sin and enmity between us; in order that we may stand blameless and forgiven in his glorious presence, credited with the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, as adopted children of God, gazing upon his face for all eternity.

God vindicated his truthfulness by remaining faithful to his promise that sin will be punished; he manifested his justice by punishing sin and acquitting the righteous; he glorified his name by exalting his Son and placing all things under his feet; and he demonstrated his love by dying for sinners and reconciling to himself those who were once his enemies." (Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution.pp 104 & 105. bold emphasis added)

Soli Deo Gloria!

Perseverance: Not a License to Sin!

Another helpful clip from the Amazing Grace DVD.



Hopefully you will see that true Calvinists are not teaching the modern version of "Once Saved Always Saved" -that a Christian is free to live like the devil and have hope of Heaven. It's also worth noting the similarities of the Arminian and Roman Catholic teachings on this issue.

Atonement: Payment or Possibility?

A helpful video segment on a very controversial topic:



From the video Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism

Pierced for Our Transgressions

New Book on the Atonement Now Available from Monergism Books! At a great price too!

Was Anyone Saved at The Cross?

James R. White says yes...

The Most Ridiculous Item of the Year

I found this video while searching for videos about Ergun Caner on Youtube.

My jaw dropped and I laughed really hard when I saw this, so I'm posting it here so others can see it and have a laugh too!

I mean no offense to Ergun Caner --or the goat!

2 Peter 3:9: Does it defeat Calvinism?

Dr. Jerry Falwell has now declared that the Reformed doctrine of the Atonement is heretical. As my pastor has pointed out on the Reformed Mafia blog, Falwell must then include Baptists such as Spurgeon, Gill, Fuller, Carey, Dagg, and Boyce as heretics as well.

One of the main proof texts people like to use to attack the doctrine of Particular Redemption is 2 Peter 3:9 which states "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Does this text overthrow Calvinism? Or could this passage -when take in context- actually be further proof that the Reformed view is actually the true teaching of Scripture? Please watch the YouTube video below for an eye opening exegesis of the passage.





Somebody forward this to Dr. Falwell! Please!

Limiting the Atonement

I have been told that my Calvinistic view of the Atonement "disgraces the cross" and that it "slaps Christ in the face". Some Arminians get very angry when they are exposed to the idea of "Limited Atonement". When I was an Arminian I did too. It sounded like heresy to me also. This was actually the last of the so-called "5 points of Calvinism" for me to grasp.

The Reformed doctrine of the Atonement went against all I had ever heard preached, or that I had preached myself. It seemed to contradict John 3:16, and Romans 10:13, that says "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". Today I want to let an Arminian theologian weight in on the topic and see if only we Calvinists are guilty of teaching a "limited Atonement"!

Concerning the Atonement, Arminian Theologian Dr. J. Kenneth Grider (pictured above), has written:

"A spillover from Calvinism into Arminianism has occurred in recent decades. Thus many Arminians whose theology is not very precise say that Christ paid the penalty for our sins. Yet such a view is foreign to Arminianism, which teaches instead that Christ suffered for us. Arminians teach what Christ did he did for every person; therefore what he did could not have been to pay the penalty, since no one would then ever go into eternal perdition." -Evangelical Dictionary of Theology p.80 (emphasis mine)

Please note what Dr. Grider has said:

1. When modern Arminians speak of Christ "paying the penalty" for sins, it is a spill over from CALVINISM and their form of Arminian theology is "not precise".
2. True Arminianism teaches that Jesus only "suffered" for sins.
3. The idea that Christ paid for anyone's sin is FOREIGN to Arminianism.
4. Had Jesus actually "paid the penalty" for sins, Grider would have to conclude that not one person who has ever lived would be cast into Hell! (Universalism)

(I want to point out that Universalists are simply taking modern Arminianism --that Jesus died for every person who ever lived AND that it was an actual payment for their sins-- to its logical conclusion. The conclusion of Dr. Grider's statement shows that he would probably agree. Thankfully, no Arminian that I know would ever teach Universalism.)

To my knowledge, neither Arminians, nor Calvinists, teach that the Atonement had any redemptive power for the sins of fallen angels. Neither side teaches that people can be saved without repentance and faith and in Jesus. Therefore, we see at least in these respects, both sides limit the Atonement in some ways.

Calvinists contend that Jesus died to pay the penalty for the sins of the Elect: thus limiting for whom Jesus' blood was intended to save. Grider's form of Arminianism teaches that Jesus "suffered" for the sins of every human who ever lived, but that his blood actually made no payment for the sins of anyone: thus limiting it's power to atone for, or take away, the sins of anyone! Either way you slice it, whether Calvinist or Arminian, you teach a "limited Atonement".

I believe that the idea of a "general atonement" is actually foreign to Scripture. When one looks at the Old Testament sacrificial system, there were always specific sacrifices, for the specific sins of specific people! Even the national "Yom Kippur" sacrifice (Leviticus 16) was specific (or limited) in that was only for Israel: God's chosen people! None of the other nations had any part in it!

Revelation 5:9 says that Jesus "purchased for God with [His] blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (NASB)". Notice it says, Jesus purchased "men from" every tribe, tongue, people, and nation: not that He purchased "every man from" every tribe, tongue, people, and nation! This verse alone shows very clearly that Jesus' blood did not, and will not, actually purchase redemption for every single person without exception.

Let me be clear, Calvinists affirm that Jesus' blood was sufficient to pay for all the sins of every human who has ever lived. We believe that -had God decreed it- Jesus' blood could have redeemed all of humanity without exception. I believe true Calvinists would defend that idea to the last man. There's no disputing Jesus' death was of infinite value and power.

Charles Spurgeon sums up the Calvinist position quite well:

"We hold most firmly the doctrine of particular redemption, that Christ loved his Church, and gave himself for it; but we do not hold the doctrine of the limited value of his precious blood. There can be no limit to Deity, there must be infinite value in the atonement which was offered by him who is divine. The only limit of the atonement is in its design, and that design was that Christ should give eternal life to as many as the Father has given him; but in itself the atonement is sufficient for the salvation of the whole world, and if the entire race of mankind could be brought to believe in Jesus, there is enough efficacy in his precious blood to cleanse everyone born of woman from every sin that all of them have ever committed."

Please understand, my desire is not to close up the doors of Heaven to anyone. I do not want to limit the Atonement where God has not limited it Himself. I hope that I have shown that no matter what theological position you subscribe to -outside of Universalism- you limit the Atonement in some way whether you realize it or not!

None of us know whom God has chosen for Salvation. However, we are commanded to share the Gospel and make it known that whoever repents and believes in Jesus will be saved. We can do this boldly knowing that Jesus has laid His life down for the sheep, and that His sheep will hear His voice when He calls them.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Was the Crucifixion a Disappointment?

I recently read a comment on a family member's Myspace blog. It was posted by an agnostic, who recommended for her to tell Christians that they are "the biggest disappointment since the Crucifixion". At first, I was insulted! I even felt tempted to lash out and respond in anger (and that was the intended effect the agnostic desired), but I decided it best to turn the other cheek and think about why he made such a horrible statement.

Obviously his remark was brought forth from his sinful, God hating, heart. It is only natural for fallen humans to hate their Creator, as well as those who remind them of their sinful condition.

Despite all that, I couldn't help thinking that perhaps maybe Christians have actually helped him formulate the idea that Jesus' death on the cross was a failure. Honestly, the way I hear Jesus' sacrifice presented by some modern Evangelicals, it does make it seem like the death of Jesus was a terrible disappointment!

Today's gospel message is not that of the Lord Jesus. It's not that of the Apostles and Prophets of the Bible. It's not even the Gospel of the great Reformers of church history. Their preaching was along the lines of "repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!", not "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!". They weren't ashamed of the Cross. They weren't ashamed of the Blood. No, they preached and taught that Jesus' death on Calvary's Cross was the full payment for an infinite sin debt that no sinner could ever pay.

They preached a Sovereign God, who's hand was mighty to save, not an impotent old man in the clouds, who has good intentions, but who's hand was ultimately bound by the perverted "freewill" of man. The Cross they preached was a cross that actually redeemed the sheep, and purchased the Church, not some hypothetical, theoretical, sacrifice that was powerless to redeem anyone. It wasn't a "let go and let God" gospel that they preached! The God they preached ruled and reigned. The plan of Salvation was God's plan from the foundation of the world, not some afterthought that God devised after Adam surprised Him by sinning in the garden.

The modern "easy believe-ism", seeker friendly non-gospel and it's "cross" is a disappointment. Taken to its logical conclusion, the modern gospel will lead the agnostic (and everyone else) to actually believe is that God is not sovereign at all. I suspect the modern gospel is a stench to the nostrils of God. I say we should do away with preaching "please accept Jesus". That's putting the shoe on the wrong foot! We ought to be warning the sinners that their biggest concern is that they will never be accepted by God unless they repent and trust in Christ!

After previewing the first draft of this Rant, my pastor pointed out something I overlooked: the fact that the idea of Jesus' crucifixion being a failure is not a new idea. That line of thinking been around since Jesus walked the Earth. Crucifixion was a shameful death. The one who suffered such a death would be considered "accursed of God" by the Jews (Deuteronomy 21:23). The Scripture itself even tells us that the preaching of the Cross to the Jews is a stumblingblock, and to the Greek and those who perish it is foolishness (cf. 1 Corinthians 1 :18-28). Indeed, His death on the Cross must have been seen as a disappointing failure to all the Jewish zealots who looked for a Messiah to lead Israel in battle against the Romans.

Though agnostics and skeptics still consider Jesus' death on the Cross to be a failure, and while the modern semi-Pelagian gospel may only add fuel to the skeptic's fire; Christians ought to realize that His death was actually a triumph! Because He died, we will live! It was an actual payment for our sins and it purchased our redemption! Through Christ we shall be victorious! Please consider the following quotes that deal with the Cross, the Atonement, Election, God's sovereignty and salvation. Take note how what I've quoted differs with the messages some are preaching today:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;" - Paul the Apostle (Ephesians 1:3-8 )

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" -Paul the Apostle (Ephesians 2: 13-16)

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;" -Heavenly vision of John the Apostle (Revelation 5:9-11)

"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." -Isaiah the Prophet (Isa 53:10-12)

"Some preachers and professors affect to believe in a redemption which I must candidly confess I do not understand; it is so indistinct and indefinite—a redemption which does not redeem anybody in particular, though it is alleged to redeem everybody in general; a redemption insufficient to exempt thousands of unhappy souls from hell after they have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus; a redemption, indeed, which does not actually save anybody, because it is dependent for its efficacy upon the will of the creature; a redemption that lacks intrinsic virtue and inherent power to redeem anybody, but is entirely dependent upon an extraneous contingency to render it effectual". - C. H. Spurgeon (3532.476)

"The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. His government is exercised over inanimate matter, over the brute beasts, over the children of men, over angels good and evil, and over Satan himself. No revolving world, so shining star, no storm, no creature moves, no actions of men, no errands of angels, no deeds of Devil -- nothing in all the vast universe can come to pass otherwise than God has eternally purposed. -A.W. Pink (from his book The Sovereignty of God)

"and unto the Greeks foolishness; as that the Son of God should be crucified; that riches should come through his poverty, and men be brought to a kingdom and glory through one so mean and abject; that there should be life for men in his death, and salvation through his crucifixion, or the shameful death of the cross; that blessings should come through his being made a curse; and that his death should be an expiatory sacrifice for the sins of men; and that justification should be by one that was condemned; and peace and pardon should be by his blood; and that he should be raised again from the dead." -John Gill

"God's justice stands forever against the sinner in utter severity. The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions. It hushes their fears and allows them to practice all pleasant forms of iniquity while death draws ever nearer and the command to repent goes unregarded. As responsible moral beings, we dare not so trifle with our eternal future." -A. W. Tozer (The Knowledge of the Holy)

"Christ's sacrifice has purchased and provided for the effectual calling of the elect, with all the graces which insure their faith, repentance, justification, perseverance, and glorification." -R.L. Dabney (Theologian, Southern Presbyterian, and chaplain, chief of staff, and biographer to General "Stonewall" Jackson).