John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the theology of the majority of people in our land:<\/strong> \u201cThe Father wants to save you. The Son is pleading for the Father to save you. They sent the Spirit to try to save you. But it\u2019s all up to you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles Spurgeon in one of his sermons said, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arminians say, Christ died for all men. Ask them what they mean by it. Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men? They say, “No, certainly not.” We ask them the next question\u2014Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular? They answer “No.” They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent. They say, “No; Christ has died that any man may be saved if”\u2014and then follow certain conditions of salvation. We say, then, we will go back to the old statement\u2014Christ did not die so as beyond a doubt to secure the salvation of anybody, did He? You must say “No;” you are obliged to say so, for you believe that even after a man has been pardoned, he may yet fall from grace, and perish. Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you. You say that Christ did not die so as to infallibly secure the salvation of anybody. We beg your pardon, when you say we limit Christ’s death; we say, “No, my dear sir, it is you that do it.” We say Christ so died that He infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ’s death not only may be saved but are saved, must be saved, and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved. You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it. We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.^{4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}

2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV<\/strong>  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you<\/em>, not wishing that any<\/em> should perish, but that all<\/em> should reach repentance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may be one of the bombshell texts of Arminians, but a cursory reading of the passage, you would notice that the immediate antecedent of \u201call\u201d is \u201cyou\u201d referring to the believers to whom Peter wrote his letter (1 Peter 1:1 ...elect exiles<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Owen in his famous book, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, comments on this passage,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, who are these of whom the apostle speaks, to whom he writes? Such as had received \u2018great and precious promises\u2019 (ch. 1:4), whom he calls \u2018beloved\u2019 (ch. 3:1); whom he opposes to the \u2018scoffers\u2019 of the \u2018last days\u2019 (v. 3); to whom the Lord has respect in the disposal of these days; who are said to be \u2018elect\u2019 (Matt. 24:22). Now, truly, to argue that because God would have none of those to perish, but all of them to come to repentance, therefore he has the same will and mind towards all and every one in the world…  comes not much short of extreme madness and folly.^{5<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}

Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did He or didn\u2019t He? Did Christ actually make a substitutionary sacrifice for sins or didn\u2019t He? If He did, then it was not for all the world, for then all the world would be saved.^{6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}

Edwin Palmer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, we have seen the importance of knowing the intent and nature <\/em>of the atonement to settle the issue about its extent. Recognizing and embracing the centrality of Christ\u2019s atoning work sheds light on the seemingly difficult texts that address the extent of the atonement. The intent limits the extent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOLI DEO GLORIA!<\/p>\n\n\n\n