Limited Atonement
The next point in our "tulip" study is that of a limited atonement. This is regarded as a necessary counter point to the idea of unconditional election. The basic idea is founded in the idea that if Christ died for all, and the death of Christ is effective to saving from sins, then all will be saved. Since that is not true - then Christ could not have died for all men. As Robert Shank as well said, "Recognition of the will of God for the salvation of all men completely negates Calvin's system of theology" (Elect in the Son, p.92). Let us look at a few representative statements regarding this doctrine.
REPRESENTATIVE STATEMENTS
"...it was the will of God that Christ by the blood of the cross should effectually redeem ... all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation." (Canons of Dort 2:8).
"Christ died exclusively for the elect, and purchased redemption only for the elect; and in no sense did he die for the rest of the race." (Presbyterian Confession of Faith, Expository Comments).
"All Calvinists agree that Christ's obedience and suffering were of infinite value, and that if God had so willed, the satisfaction rendered by Christ would have waved every member of the human race. It would have required no more obedience, nor any greater suffering for Christ to have secured salvation for every man, woman, and child who ever lived that it did for Him to secure salvation for the elect only. But He came into the world to represent and to save only those given to Him by the Father. Thus Christ's saving work was limited in that it was designed to save some and not others, but it was not limited in value for it was of infinite worth and would have secured salvation for everyone if this had been God's intention" (THE FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISM, P.39, paragraph 3).
"Whether the expression "limited atonement" is good or not, we must reckon with the fact that unless we believe in the final restoration of all men we cannot have an unlimited atonement. If we universalize the extent we limit the efficacy. If some of those for whom atonement was made and redemption wrought perish eternally, then the atonement is not itself efficacious. It is this alternative that the proponents of universal atonement must face. They have a "limited" atonement, and limited in respect of that which impinges upon its essential character. We shall have none of it. The doctrine of "limited atonement" which we maintain is the doctrine which limits the atonement to those who are heirs of eternal life, to the elect. That limitation insures its efficacy and conserves its essential character as efficient and effective redemption." (John Murray, REDEMPTION - ACCOMPLISHED AND APPLIED, p.74)
" It pleased the Lord to make a covenant grace wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of him faith in him that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life his Holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe" (Article 8). "Others not elected. ..they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved" (Article 10). "God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins..." (Article 11). (PHILADELPHIA CONFESSION OF FAITH.)