Monday, November 1, 2010

Spurgeon and Owen on Particular Atonement

"We are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ, because we say that Christ has not made satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved.  Now, our reply to this is, that, on the other hand, our opponents limit it: we do not.  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--Did 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..." --and then follow certain conditions of salvation.  Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you.  You say that Christ did not die so as to secure the salvation of anybody.   We beg your pardon, when you say that we limits 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."
Charles Spurgeon



"[If Jesus died for all men]...why then, are not all freed from the punishment of all their sins?  You will say, "Because of their unbelief; they will not believe."  But his unbelief, is it sin, or not?  If not, why should they be punished for it?  If it be sin, then Christ underwent the punishment due to it; If this is so, then why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which he died from partaking of the fruit of his death?  If he did not, then he did not die for all their sins."  John Owen

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