Particular Redemption

SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 5

Particular Redemption

Text: Matthew 1:21

Particular Redemption - or, Limited Atonement - has been widely ignored, taught against, misunderstood, ridiculed, etc. Just like the other Doctrines of Grace, the doctrine of Particular Redemption is decried as being one that is unfair and unjust, and therefore cannot be attributed to a God of Love and Justice - at least, the human ideas of love and justice. Even amongst the proclaimers of Sovereign Grace there are many who try to straddle the fence of “so-called fairness” and a Just and Righteous God. Many Baptists have formulated a Redemption that in their own minds links God with both a fair-minded view that the world desires, and an Election that the world denies. There are several subtle (and not so subtle) differences that are held amongst Baptists, and some of these, when carefully considered, deny even the existence of a Limited Atonement of any kind.

Redemption Mixed with Falsehoods

Most in Christianity believe in Universal Atonement. These do so because they believe that God must treat all men equally - only the equality is based on human understanding and even human emotion. The proponents of Universal Atonement do not understand even the basic attributes of God of which the Bible instructs us, especially the way in which God is presented to us as a Distinguishing and Electing God. There are others who claim to believe in a Limited Atonement, but who advocate for a universal sufficiency, but a limited efficiency. The general sufficiency coupled with the limited efficiency is a needless difficulty that men incorporate into doctrine – and it leads to much error, and denies the Sovereignty of God in the working out of the Purposes of His Will. He is perfectly capable of knowing the end from the beginning! He has no need of an Atonement that is available unto everyone without exception, but only sufficient for the ones for whom He intercedes. Why would He? He is the Designer and the Fulfiller of the Salvation of each person who is ever saved!  2Cor. 5:14-15; Jn. 1:29; 11:52-53; Rev. 5:9

Particular Redemption - Logically Viewed

The fact that all men are required to repent, and yet the Atonement does not cover the sins of all men, is subject to the Will and Decree of God. It takes into account the fact that men are inherently wicked, and therefore they will not Repent and Believe without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. And yet it does not remove their responsibility to do so. All men are responsible before God to Believe on Him, and yet God only intervenes on the behalf of some so that they will be able to do what He has commanded them to do. Therefore, it would be ludicrous to believe that God provided a General Atonement that is sufficient for all of humanity, when He knows (and has forever known) those that He will call out to believe. They only believe because He calls them out and gives them the gift of the New Birth. They only are saved – having their sins washed away in the Blood of the Atonement – because of His will, His workings, and His intercession. Mt. 4:17; Jn. 5:40; Isa. 53: Lk. 13:23-24; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 10:14; Jn. 15:13-14; Rom. 5:6-8; Jn. 9:41 

Conclusion

Our God is a Particular God. He has a Particular People (the Elect). Therefore, the Redemption that is provided is provided only for that Particular People. Hence the Redemption that we speak of is called a “Particular Redemption.”the damnation of men is the result of man’s own work. God cannot be blamed for man’s own sinfulness, nor can He be blamed for man’s refusal to believe in the Gospel. However, the Salvation of men is the result of the Work and Love of God alone. I praise Him for that. I would much rather preach an effective (and invincible) yet limited atonement, than preach an unlimited yet not always effective atonement.