Lesson for October 29, 2025
Calvinism and Reformed Theology
Lesson 3
Tulip
L – Limited Atonement
The Calvinists define limited atonement as: The atoning work of Jesus on the Cross was sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of “the elect” only. Their misinterpretation and twisting of Scripture can lead an unsuspecting person into believing this false teaching. What the Calvinists teach is that Christ died for only those who were chosen by God to believe in Christ for salvation.
Calvinists use verses like Isaiah 53:5, I Corinthians 5:7, Ephesians 5:25, and Hebrews 10:10, as “proof texts” to substantiate their belief of limited atonement. They say that in Isaiah 53:5, “our” and “we” refer to “the elect” only. In I Corinthians 5:7, they say that “us,” refers to “the elect” only. In Ephesians 5:25, they say that “the church” refers to “the elect” only. In Hebrews 10:10, they say that “we,” means that “the elect” only are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all time.
So, let’s take a look at “atonement,” according to the Scriptures, and see if the Calvinists are correct. The word in Greek for atonement is “katallage,” a word closely associated with propitiation and reconciliation (same root word). Propitiation is the principle of satisfying the righteousness of God and atonement is the function of satisfying the righteousness of God. The word atonement is used in the New Testament only once, in Romans 5:11 (KJV). Similar to the meaning of reconciliation, atonement means to exchange, to adjust, or to restore to favor. The doctrine of atonement is a reference to a person’s adjustment to God’s standard of righteousness upon faith in Christ.
In order to fully understand this doctrine, it is necessary to look at its origin. The doctrine of atonement is found throughout the Old Testament to describe the “Mercy Seat,” that covered the Ark of the Covenant. It was symbolic of the judgment for sin that was to be accomplished by the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Paul knew the Old Testament and the symbolism of the Mercy Seat and used this Old Testament doctrine to correctly teach the atoning work that was accomplished by Christ on the Cross, in Romans 5:11. Newer translations of the Greek word “katallage,” do not say “atonement,” but rather “reconciliation.”
Mercy Seat in Hebrew is “kapporeth,” and means “the cover.” The Mercy Seat was made of solid gold and was the lid (covering) for the Ark of the Covenant. Two carved cherubim angels “guarded” either end of the Mercy Seat, symbolizing God’s presence and judgment against any illegitimate approach to God. This was God’s symbolic throne upon which He sat, and it pictured His grace and mercy toward His people. The one time a year that the high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies where the Mercy Seat was located, he was to sprinkle blood on it to signify that “an atonement” had been made for the sins of the nation of Israel. It was above the Mercy Seat that the Shekinah Glory of God resided.
Christ became our “Mercy Seat” when He satisfied the righteousness and justice of God by His substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross (Doctrine of Propitiation). The Greek word for Mercy Seat is “hilasterion,” meaning a lid or a covering. According to Romans 3:25, Christ is the propitiation (covering) for sin. (Exodus 25:17-22; Numbers 7:89; Hebrews 9:1-28)
Atonement or propitiation is necessary because of Adam’s original sin, which is imputed (credited) to every person at birth. It is Adam’s original sin that condemns the entire human race. Because of this condemnation, people are born spiritually dead. Spiritual death means that mankind is separated from God without the ability to remedy the situation. It is for this reason that God in His grace designed a plan of salvation for the human race. This plan called for Christ to leave Heaven, become a man, live an impeccable life, be judged for our sin, and be raised from the dead. The payment for all sin has been made, and anyone can accept this payment by believing in Christ.
The following verses contradict the false teaching of “Limited Atonement” and prove that the Bible teaches unlimited atonement, meaning Jesus died on the Cross for the entire human race.
I John 2:2 says, “And He Himself is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
The Atonement/Propitiation was the single act that completely satisfied the righteousness of God. Atonement is the just act of God in pouring out the sins of the entire human race (past, present and future) upon Jesus Christ and judging Him in our place.
Atonement accomplishes for us that which we could not do for ourselves. The barrier of sin was removed, thus making peace with God (Reconciliation). Believers are given eternal life and an eternal inheritance that is beyond anything that the mind can imagine. The righteousness of God is imputed to believers and God’s justice declares them to be righteous as a result.
Forgiveness of sin is also accomplished by Atonement/Propitiation. The Greek word for forgiveness is “aphiemi,” and means “to send away from or to send forth.” In other words, it means deliverance from the penalty of sin and the complete removal of sin. (Psalm 103:12)
At salvation, all pre-salvation personal sins are forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7) After salvation, personal sins are forgiven by using the Rebound Technique of acknowledging them directly to God. Personal sins separate us from fellowship with God, cause us to lose the filling of the Holy Spirit, and halt the momentum of our spiritual lives. Confession (naming, admitting, acknowledging) of known sins restores our fellowship with God, the control of the Holy Spirit and the potential for spiritual momentum. (I John 1:6-10)
The divine mechanics of forgiveness go back to the Cross where all sin was judged. Human mechanics simply agree with the judgment that took place on the Cross. Rebound is an extension of propitiation and atonement. God is completely satisfied (propitiation) with the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross (atonement), and this is the basis for our forgiveness.
The importance of understanding and utilizing the Rebound Technique of naming your sins to God cannot be overemphasized. Without fellowship with God and the filling of the Holy Spirit, you have no spiritual life and no Christian life. The Christian Way of Life can be lived only by means of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
When you choose to sin, you are saying in effect, “I don’t need You, God.” You are out of fellowship with God, and you have quenched and/or grieved the Holy Spirit. As a result, you cannot function as a royal priest or properly represent Christ as His ambassador, until your fellowship with Him is restored. When you are out of fellowship with God, the character of Christ cannot be produced in your life, and therefore, your witness for Him is ineffective. Furthermore, you cannot learn or apply Bible doctrine when you’re out of fellowship with God because the sin nature is controlling your soul. Christ has atoned for your sins, and this is the basis for all forgiveness, and for the restoration to fellowship with God. Restoration to fellowship with God is accomplished by confessing your sins to Him. There is no excuse for a believer to stay out of fellowship with God for very long and it is very dangerous to do so. (I John 1:8-10)