5-Point Calvinism's Extremely Limited Atonement

By Pastor Bruce Oyen

E-mail: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

     It is very evident that 5-point Calvinism has an extremely limited atonement. I've known for years  it teaches the idea that Jesus Christ died only for those who were elected to be saved, from which comes the term "limited atonement." But if you think it through, its extreme limitation is as clear as the noon-day sun on a cloudless day.

     Think about the fact that at the present time (2011) the world's population is about 6 billion persons, very few of whom are believers in Jesus Christ. Sure, there a lot of Christians on earth right now. But when you compare that number with 6 billion, it does not amount to many. It might be comparable to standing on a beach with one hand full of sand. One would have a lot of grains of sand in that hand, but they wouldn't amount to much compared to what's left on the beach. 

      The likelihood of the majority of these 6 billion persons obtaining salvation by believing in Jesus Christ  is not very great. And many of them could care less. Which means, if 5-point Calvinism is right,  the Lord Jesus Christ purposely died to save only a handful of persons.When one looks at it this way, it shows clearly just how extremely limited 5-point Calvinism's atonement is. In fact, it didn't accomplish much at all, because God  planned it that way!

     Now, contrast that with the doctrine of general or universal atonement, which means Jesus Christ's death actually atoned for the sins of the whole world, just as we read in 1 John 2:1, 2 and many other verses of the Bible.  The whole world would be saved, if everyone would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In this case, the only thing keeping someone from being forgiven of their sins is their choice to remain that way, for 2 Peter 3:9 tells us "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

     In other words, if someone ends up in hell, it was not because Jesus Christ did not die for that person. It was because he or she refused to believe the Gospel.

    If you have not yet done so, do what the Bible says must be done to receive salvation. It says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." (Acts 16:30, 31) Do it now. Death ends all opportunities to receive salvation from Jesus Christ, and we do not know when we will die.