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Unlimited atonement (sometimes called general atonement or universal atonement) is a doctrine in
Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global popula ...
that is normally associated with Amyraldism (four-point Calvinism), as well as
Arminianism Arminianism is a branch of Protestantism based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609) and his historic supporters known as Remonstrants. Dutch Arminianism was originally articulated in the ''Rem ...
and other non-
Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John C ...
traditions. The doctrine states that
Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...
died as a
propitiation Propitiation is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution. While some use the term interchangeably with expiation, others draw a sharp distinction between the two. The discus ...
for the benefit of all humans without exception. It is a doctrine distinct from other elements of the Calvinist acronym TULIP and is contrary to the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement. A doctrinal issue that divides Christians is the question of the extent of the atonement. This question typically goes as follows: "Did Christ bear the sins of the elect alone on the cross, or did his death expiate the sins of all human beings?" Those who take this view read scriptures such as John 3:16; ; ; ; to say that the Bible teaches ''unlimited'' atonement.


Historical background

In response to the
Remonstrants The Remonstrants (or the Remonstrant Brotherhood) is a Protestant movement that had split from the Dutch Reformed Church in the early 17th century. The early Remonstrants supported Jacobus Arminius, and after his death, continued to maintain hi ...
'
Five articles of Remonstrance The ''Five Articles of Remonstrance'' or the ''Remonstrance'' were theological propositions advanced in 1610 by followers of Jacobus Arminius who had died in 1609, in disagreement with interpretations of the teaching of John Calvin then current in ...
, the
Synod of Dort The Synod of Dort (also known as the Synod of Dordt or the Synod of Dordrecht) was an international Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618–1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy caused by the rise of Arminianism. The ...
published the Canons of Dort which included limited atonement. One of the stronger, more vocal proponents of unlimited atonement was Methodist leader
John Wesley John Wesley (; 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Meth ...
.
George Whitefield George Whitefield (; 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College at ...
opposed the view. The namesake of the Calvinist systematic theological viewpoint, John Calvin, seemingly expressed an unlimited atonement position in several passages from his published Commentaries.Paul Hartog
A Word for the World: Calvin on the Extent of the Atonement
(Schaumburg: Regular Baptist Press, 2009).


Doctrine

The terms ''unlimited'', ''universal'', and ''general'' are somewhat of a misnomer and have been adopted primarily to distinguish this doctrine from a Calvinist understanding of ''limited'' atonement. More accurately, the call of the Gospel is ''universal'' and there are ''no limits'' on who can believe through faith, but the legal payment is still regarded as ''limited'' only to those that respond through faith in Jesus. Thus, it is not the same as the doctrine of
universal salvation In Christian theology, universal reconciliation (also called universal salvation, Christian universalism, or in context simply universalism) is the doctrine that all sinful and alienated human souls—because of divine love and mercy—will u ...
, which holds that all souls will ultimately be reconciled to God, irrespective of faith. The following statements regarding what it states and what it does not state are subject to close scrutiny of which many distinguished theologians on both sides of this issue disagree. ; What it states * ''The purpose of the atonement was universal''—Jesus died on behalf of all people, not just the elect. * ''The atonement makes a way for all to respond to the Gospel call''—Part of the effect of the atonement is the restoration of the ability to respond to God's call of salvation (see
Prevenient grace Prevenient grace (or preceding grace or enabling grace) is a Christian theological concept that refers to the grace of God in a person's life which precedes and prepares to conversion. It was termed and developed by Augustine of Hippo (354 – ...
). * ''Salvation is available for all''—The doctrine of unlimited atonement rejects the predeterminism associated with Calvinism and states that every human has the opportunity to accept Jesus through faith. * ''The atonement legally pays for the sins of those who believe on Jesus''—Only those who believe on Jesus are forgiven—only the believers' sins are paid ; What it does not state * ''Jesus paid the penalty for those who deny faith in Him, and His death was a substitutionary atonement for those who deny Him''—Though the term ''unlimited atonement'' can easily give the incorrect assumption that Jesus' payment encompassed all people, unlimited atonement maintains a limit on the legal effect. Jesus' death was indeed an ''offer'' of a substitutionary atonement to all, but this offer was resistible; though salvation is offered to all, not all are saved. Amyraldism (commonly called "four-point Calvinism" holds to a view of Unlimited atonement that is very similar but not synonymous with the traditional Arminian understanding) teaches that God has provided Christ's atonement for all alike, but seeing that none would believe on their own, he then elects those whom he will bring to faith in Christ, thereby preserving the Calvinist doctrine of the
unconditional election Unconditional election (also called sovereign election or unconditional grace) is a Calvinist doctrine relating to predestination that describes the actions and motives of God prior to his creation of the world, when he predestined some people t ...
of individuals. Unlimited atonement has a number of important points in common with traditional formulations of limited atonement. Both positions affirm that: * The call of salvation can genuinely be made universally * Jesus paid the penalty only for those who have faith in Him * Jesus' death was a substitutionary atonement only for those who accept Him


Biblical passages

''All quotes from the NKJV unless otherwise noted, emphasis added:''


Scriptures used in support of unlimited atonement

These are Scriptures commonly used by those who support Unlimited atonement: * —"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which ''taketh away the sin of the world.''" * —"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that ''whoever believes in Him'' should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved ''the world'' that He gave His only begotten Son, that ''whoever believes in Him'' should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that ''the world through Him might be saved''. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." * —"For God so ''loved the world that he gave his one and only Son'', that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." * —"For ''all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified'' by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" * —"Therefore, as one trespass led to ''condemnation for all men'', so one act of righteousness leads to ''justification and life for all men''." * —"For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and ''He died for all'', that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." * —" Christ God ''was reconciling the world to himself'', not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." * —"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into ''the world to save sinners''—of whom I am the worst." * —For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who ''desires all men to be saved'' and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom ''for all'', to be testified in due time." * —"For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the ''Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.''" * —"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for ''all people''." * —"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste ''death for everyone''." * —"They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, ''even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them.''" This appears to indicate that Christ "bought" some who are not among the elect. * —"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.''" * —"And He hristHimself is the
propitiation Propitiation is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution. While some use the term interchangeably with expiation, others draw a sharp distinction between the two. The discus ...
for our sins, and not for ours only but ''also for the whole world.''" *—"And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior."


Scriptures used to criticize unlimited atonement

These are Scriptures commonly used by those who deny Unlimited atonement: * "—But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and ''he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out''. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers...I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life ''for the sheep''...I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life ''for the sheep''." This is usually reconciled by pointing out that Jesus died for everyone in theory, but He did it particularly for those who would follow Him. * —"...I do not pray ''for the world'' but ''for those whom You have given Me'', for they are Yours." This is usually reconciled by claiming that this does not refer to the atonement itself. * Acts 20:28—"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." This again is often reconciled by saying that Christ's death is only effective for those who come to the church, even though it is potentially effective for all. * —"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Attempts to reconcile this may point to the fact that in the unlimited view, Christ still only intercedes for those who follow Him. * —"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself ''for her''." This is usually reconciled by saying that He did it particularly for those who would follow Him, although it was potentially effective for all.


See also

*
Atonement in Christianity In Christianity, salvation (also called deliverance or redemption) is the "saving fhuman beings from sin and its consequences, which include death and separation from God" by Christ's death and resurrection, and the justification following ...
*
Conditional election In Christian theology, conditional election is the belief that God chooses for eternal salvation those whom he foresees will have faith in Christ. This belief emphasizes the importance of a person's free will. The counter-view is known as unc ...
*
Unconditional election Unconditional election (also called sovereign election or unconditional grace) is a Calvinist doctrine relating to predestination that describes the actions and motives of God prior to his creation of the world, when he predestined some people t ...
*
Prevenient grace Prevenient grace (or preceding grace or enabling grace) is a Christian theological concept that refers to the grace of God in a person's life which precedes and prepares to conversion. It was termed and developed by Augustine of Hippo (354 – ...
* Universal reconciliation


References


Further reading

* * Baxter, Richard. ''Universal Redemption of Mankind.'' Printed in London, 1694) * * Hartog, Paul
A Word for the World: Calvin on the Extent of the Atonement
(Schaumburg: Regular Baptist Press, 2009). * * Lightner, Robert P. ''The Death Christ Died—A Biblical Case For Unlimited Atonement.'' (Revised Edition, 1998) regel * Morrison, James. ''The Extent of the Atonement.'' (London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1882) * * * Shank, Robert ''Elect in the Son'' (Bethany House Publishers, 1989) * Wesley, John ''Predestination Calmly Considered'' (variety of publications) *


External links

;Pro
WELS Topical Q&A: Doctrine - Justification/Salvation
by
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwauk ...

"Father, Whose Everlasting Love"
by
Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It Be", "Christ the Lord Is Risen T ...

Sermon #128: "Free Grace"
by
John Wesley John Wesley (; 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Meth ...

The Case for Unlimited Atonement
by Ron Rhodes

by Robert Lightner


The Scope of the Atonement in the Early Church Fathers
by Christopher Bounds ;Con

at Monergism.com

part 3, chapter 8 of
Charles Hodge Charles Hodge (December 27, 1797 – June 19, 1878) was a Reformed Presbyterian theologian and principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. He was a leading exponent of the Princeton Theology, an orthodox Calvinist theo ...
's ''Systematic Theology''.
"Limited Atonement"
a series of articles by Ra McLaughlin

chapter 12 from ''The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination'' by Loraine Boettner

by John Owen () {{Christian theology Arminianism Atonement in Christianity Methodism