“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV).
Loved ones, in this series we are looking at various Bible themes and giving the many Bible passages that teach the truth about the theme. Like the noble Bereans, we encourage you to search “the Scriptures daily, whether these things are so” (Acts 17:11).
The Limited Atonement
Limited Atonement is the third tenet of Calvin's TULIP. To show the fallacy of any part of the TULIP is to destroy Calvinism. Since each part is dependent upon the other, each one growing out of the other, they all stand or fall together.
The Biblical Doctrine Of Atonement
The Scriptures clearly teach that Limited Atonement is a false concept. The idea reflects negatively upon God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The biblical doctrine of atonement refers to the death of Jesus Christ as the means by which God and man become one.
Man's sin estranged him from God (Gen. 2:17; 3:8; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23). Fellowship between God and man is restored through Jesus Christ (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 52:13-53:12; Rom. 3:24-26; 5:1-21; 2 Cor. 5:18-21) upon man's acceptance of God's conditions of salvation (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 18:8; Rom. 10:9-10).
Calvin's Limited Atonement
This concept of “limited atonement” is so foreign to the teaching of the Scriptures that it is difficult to see how anyone with an elementary knowledge of the New Testament could accept it. The Bible could not be more opposite of Calvin on this point.
Calvinists say that Christ died for all the “elect,” that he tasted of death for every “elect” man, and is the propitiation for the whole “elect” world. In other words, the death of Christ was never intended to atone for the sins of all mankind, but only for certain individuals whom God selected to be saved. When they supply the word “elect” they add to the word of God (cf. Revelation 22:18).
One of the cornerstones of Calvin’s theology is the dogma of predestination. This is the notion that God, consistent with His sovereignty, pre-determined (predestinated) the number to be saved before the foundation of the world. The number foreordained by God cannot be increased nor diminished. According to this view, when Christ died, His death was efficacious only for the “elect.”
This doctrine naturally follows “Unconditional Election” assuming Calvin was correct in his believe in Total Depravity. The number of elect would necessarily be limited to only those people whom God chose to save without condition. All others would necessarily be lost eternally because God did not choose them.
Calvinist say, "The atonement...is His own personal property and...He is absolutely sovereign in the disposal which He chooses to make of it...Just why He does not save all...we are not able to say.”
Such a teaching implies that the reason some are lost is God's fault! God did not choose to save them, therefore, He did not send His Son to die for them! Is this what the Bible teaches?
God Wants All To Be Saved (1 Tim. 2:4).
If one doesn't know the truth and is not saved, it is not because God didn't want him to be saved! "For God so loved the world…" (John 3:16) – Not just a predestined few! Christ died to save the whole world who will believe. If the world God loved and sent His Son to is the “elect” world only, then it follows that some of these elect will believe and not perish, while others of the elect world will not believe and will perish (cf. vs. 17-18).
Peter says, "The Lord...is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). God said long ago through the prophet Ezekiel, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11).
It was not because God wanted them to die! Only, if they chose not to turn, would they die! Surely, then, if God wants all to be saved He has provided a Ransom for all to be saved.
God Has Provided For All To Be Saved (1 Tim. 2:6).
The Hebrew writer said of Jesus, “He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). John, the forerunner of Christ, proclaimed, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). Jesus said of Himself, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
Paul writes, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom. 5:18). Paul taught that Christ dies even for the brother that is destroyed and perishes (Rom. 14:15; 1 Cor. 8:11). Others may deny "even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 1:2; cf. Acts 20:28-30). It is evident, therefore, that the death of Jesus provided for the salvation of all men, but their receiving it is conditional.
Certainly, the apostle John did not believe Calvin's doctrine of limited atonement, for he wrote, “1 And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 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). Indeed, "the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14).
God Calls All To Be Saved
Since God has provided for all to be saved, He calls all to be saved (Matthew 11:28). The birth of Jesus was announced as "good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10). God does not "pick and choose," but has chosen to send the gospel to all – that all might believe, be baptized, and be saved (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47).
Jesus' invitation is universal in scope, not a "secret call" to just a chosen number. This lesson was impressed upon Peter in the case of the Gentile Cornelius (Acts 1:8; 2:59; 10:9-16, 34-35). It was Peter who witnessed the grace of God, as the gospel convicted and converted that Gentile, and then said: “In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35; cf. Romans 2:11).
We are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:13-14), which is God's power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). A cardinal feature of the gospel was, "that Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). Such a message could hardly be called "glad tidings" for those who from eternity were "foreordained to everlasting death."
The very fact that God calls all to be saved implies that He has provided for all to be saved. Indeed, the fact that "Christ died for our sins" is a part of the gospel which is to be preached to all mankind. By his death, Jesus draws all men unto Himself (John 12:32). All are drawn who hear the word of God, learn and come (John 6:44-45). The atonement of Christ is no more limited than the call of the gospel!
Yet, the Bible teaches us that all men will not be saved. In fact, most will be lost (Matt. 7:13-14; 23:37). Why? If God wants all, has provided for all, and calls all to be saved, why are not all saved? The answer is found in man's freedom to choose whether or not to accept God's conditions of salvation (John 12:48).
God Gives All Freedom To Choose To Be Saved (Rev. 22:17).
From the beginning, the Bible has stressed the free will of man (Gen. 2:15-3:19; 1 John 3:4). The Israelites were called upon to choose to serve Jehovah (Josh. 24:15, 21-22), but later "chose new gods" (Judges 5:8).
Consider the following Old Testament passages which speak of man's freedom to choose (Prov. 1:29; Isa. 7:15; 65:12; 66:3). In the New Testament, Jesus makes it clear that coming to Him, as well as knowing and doing His will is a matter of human will or choice (John 5:40; 7:17).
If the atonement of Christ was limited, then not all would have had a choice! God provided for all the way of salvation from sin through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He left it up to each individual to choose his own course.
The Foreknowledge Of God
Proponents of Limited Atonement give three basic arguments in support of their position [see Loraine Boettner, Studies In Theology, (The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1978) pages 316-319.]
Their first argument says, "The foreknowledge of God is in itself sufficient to prove...Christ died only for those who are actually saved...He could not have sent Christ with the intention of saving those who He positively foreknew would be lost.”
This argument is given without any scripture reference. It relies entirely upon human reasoning about something beyond human comprehension, that is, the foreknowledge of God. The conclusion is not warranted.
God sent Christ to give all mankind the opportunity to be saved. If Christ had not died for all, then all could not have had such an opportunity. God, not man, would be responsible for them being lost.
Though God in His foreknowledge knew some would reject the atonement of Christ for their sins, if He did not send Christ to die for them they would not have been given opportunity to choose whether they would accept or reject the salvation God has provided for them. The foreknowledge of God does not preclude Jesus dying for all mankind.
The Sovereignty Of God
Their second argument is based upon God's sovereignty. "God is the sovereign Ruler...that any particular person fails to be saved by (the atonement) can be for no other reason than that he was not included in the plan of redemption.”
Again, this argument is without Scripture reference and of fallacious reasoning. God chose to give all men a choice about their own salvation according to His terms. Had God left some out of His plan, then they would not have a choice. Again, God, not man, would be responsible for them being lost. God's sovereignty allowed all men an opportunity to be saved through Jesus Christ by sending Him to die for them.
A third argument says, "The scriptures teach that Christ died specifically for His people; and nowhere do they teach...that He died for all men." Matthew 1:21 is cited in support of this argument: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
However, "his people" here are not the "elect" (Christians), but those who rejected Him (Israel - John 1:11). The "my people" of Isaiah 53:8 is also cited: “…for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” Yet, this same chapter speaks of "all" (v. 6).
The "transgressors" He died for included those he was "numbered with" (v. 12). Was the rebellious thief among the elect (Mark 15:27-28)?! Of course not (Luke 23:39-40).
Certainly, there are passages that speak of Christ dying specifically for the elect (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25), but this does not exclude Him dying for all men, a fact which the Bible, as we have already shown, clearly teaches elsewhere! Indeed, as Paul writes, “…We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Tim. 4:10).
Conclusion
Let no man be deceived by a damnable doctrine that would so blasphemously impugn the character of God and so boldly pervert the gospel of Christ. "Let God be true but every man a liar" (Roman 3:4), including Calvin and his followers.
God is not responsible for the condemnation of any man's soul. Many have spurned the precious sacrifice made for their sins, though God wanted them and urged them to be saved by the gospel. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).
The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have Bible questions or wish to comment on this post, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.
The churches of Christ are neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jew (Romans 16:16; Matthew 16:18-19). We are the loving suffering ONE body of Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:4-6) – CHRISTIANS: “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16; cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28).
We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35). Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA - 22 February 2026.
