BDAG, not a commentary. And it doesn't matter if you buy it or not, scholars much smarter than you or I have said that.
Who Is Drawn by the Father?
Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by Reformed1689, Jul 2, 2019.
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Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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MB -
MB -
Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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You will never find one, all-encompassing Scripture that states He died "only" for His sheep.
But Matthew 1:21, if taken literally, seemed to help me.
Also, John 10:11, if taken literally, also helped me a lot.
Then it was Isaiah 53:8 and Ephesians 5:25.
The subject of who Christ actually died for, and atoned, is one of the most debated subjects in all of recent history.
The answer can only be arrived at through context, and this is probably the most difficult to establish of all the doctrines of salvation... because it requires a thorough study and understanding of not only God's word, but everything that is related to why Christ died and who it affected.
This could fill up pages, as I see it, and gets very detailed.
I also confess to not fully agreeing with it until about 2-3 years ago...it kind of "crept up on me". ;)
Read the arguments both for and against, found here:
Limited atonement-is it biblical?
What are the main arguments against limited atonement?
Is the atonement of Christ unlimited?
A long time ago I was in favor of "Unlimited".
What changed my mind was that I began to see not only that God does the choosing of people to salvation ( election ), I also began to see that many of the verses being used to support "General Atonement" were further defined by context...they applied to believers ( the elect ), not unbelievers.
After my list of verses that appeared to support it got whittled down to 2 or 3, I stopped fighting against "Limited Atonement".
Why?
I knew, based on my reading, that context was my problem all along, and I could see that context gradually becoming clearer and clearer. -
What then "sealed the deal", is that I saw what actually happened on the cross, and for whom it happened:
Colossians 2:13-14 <---- All trespasses forgiven the believer, the Law nailed to His cross.
Ephesians 5:25-27. <----Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, so that He might sanctify and cleanse it.
Romans 5:8-10. <--------God commended His love towards believers. While they were yet sinners, Christ died for them, they were justified by His blood, and were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.
1 Corinthians 6:11. <-----Believers are washed, sanctified and justified, not unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 5:19. <----"World" cannot mean everyone, otherwise all men are actually reconciled and God has not imputed their trespasses to them.
The key to my understanding "world" as people out of every tongue, tribe and nation ( Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9 )?
2 Corinthians 5:19 and Romans 11:12-15...."world" means "Gentiles" in most cases, both Jews and Gentiles in others.
Actually redeemed, actually reconciled, actually washed, actually cleansed, actually "quickened", actually justified...not "potentially".
Then I started seeing the arguments:
If all trespasses were forgiven the unbeliever at the cross, then there are millions of people in Hell that God actually reconciled, etc., to Himself.
Millions of people who were actually forgiven of their trespasses at the cross, sins actually paid for.
How can they then be judged according to their works out of the books ( Revelation 20:11-15 )?
Ultimately it's up to you to decide, MB.
But when many of us state that Christ died for His sheep, we see it according to the details unfolding in God's word...not one "verse" or even 3.
There's a lot more to the what "world", "all", and "every man" mean, and they are defined by context.
Simply quoting one thing that God has to say, in many cases, is not enough to give a fully educated statement about many subjects.
For example, I could walk up to anyone, point at 1 John 2:2 and about 7 others, and say, "See? Christ died for everyone!"
That fooled me for a long time.;)
May God bless you with many good and praise-worthy gifts. :) -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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It goes to show you that not all Calvinists have "drank the koolaide". Some have honest disagreements but know that their understanding is their understanding. I wish that there were more of his caliber on this forum (not that there are not others, but sometimes the most vocal are the worst of the bunch). -
Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
It seems you are reading my posts with biased eyes and aren't able to be objective. None of them have been such derogatory comments as talking down to someone by using terms such as "bub" and "son" which is what you do. So I reject your notion that the pot is calling the Apple black. Ridiculous. Check yourself. -
Squire Robertsson AdministratorAdministrator
Six Hour Warning
This thread will be closed sometime after 4:20 AM Pacific. -
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