TULIP GEMS

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”  (2 Peter 3:18)

HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER 

Christ, in His High Priestly prayer, reveals for whom His Death was intended: "I pray for them: I pray NOT for the WORLD, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."  (John 17:9)  (Emphasis mine)  This prayer of Christ corresponds to the Levitical priesthood. 

Aaron, the High Priest, prayed only for the chosen people of God.  He bore the names of the 12 Tribes of Israel over his heart, by God's command (Exodus 28:29).  He did NOT pray for the Canaanites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Ammonites, Moabites or Edomites. 

So Christ prayed only for the elect.  He did not pray for ALL men without exception (John 17:9).  When Aaron offered a sacrifice for sin, it was only for Israel.  Christ died on the cross only for the sins of His elect people -- the sheep (John 10:11). 

ARMINIANS VERSUS CALVINISTS 

Those who claim that Christ died for ALL men without exception are sometimes called "Arminians."  They resist the idea of a Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption).  But they limit the Atonement as surely as any "Calvinist" (one who believes in Limited Atonement).[3] 

The Arminian limits the POWER of Christ's Atonement, for he claims that in itself it does NOT save anyone.  Faith, he claims, must be added for it to be effective.  The Calvinist limits the EXTENT of it, for he knows that Christ died for the sheep (elect) and not for the goats. 

"For the Calvinist it is like a narrow bridge which goes all the way across the stream; for the Arminian it is like a great wide bridge which goes only half-way across."  -- Loraine Boettner

When the Arminian admits that Christ did NOT die for the Devil and his fallen angels he admits (in principle) a "Limited Atonement".  If it was right for God to leave the Devil and his demons in their sins, then it is right for God to leave some fallen men in their sins. 

Prior Page

Next Page