Messiah Baptist Church of Baesa, Inc.

Every Wednesday Bible Study

January 14, 2026

FALSE DOCTRINE THAT CHRIST DIED ONLY FOR THE ELECT

(Reformed Theology: Limited Atonement)

     This is a belief familiarly known as “limited atonement”. Some reformed theologian calls it “definite atonement.” This belief teaches that Christ died on the cross and paid the penalty only for the sins of the elect. They also teach that Christ did not die for those lost people who eventually will be cast in the lake of fire. Notice the statements claimed by these reformers as they said, “Christ died for all men without distinction but Christ did not die for all men without exception”, Based on this expression from the Reformers, it is possible for them to say that Christ died for all without really meaning that Christ died for all. Therefore, these reformed men mean Christ died for all kinds of people and all classes of people, but Christ did not die for every single person. What these reforming is saying, is that Christ died for Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, slave and free, male and female, etc…but to make it clear what they mean, Christ died for only elect Jews and only elect Gentiles, for only elect rich and elect poor, for only elect male and elect female, etc… This was wrong, unbiblical, false doctrine that Christ died only for the Elect.  

Scriptures that teach Christ died for all:

I Timothy 2:6 “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

II Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Matthew 20:28 “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

John 11:50-51 “Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. ⁵¹ And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;” It does not mean only for the elect Jews of that nation Israel, but definitely it means Christ died for all Jews. 

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” If you can say that Christ died for me, it is unmerciful to say that Christ did not die for one of my parent or some of my relatives, Christ only died for me as elect.

     Evidently those extreme Calvinist did not agree nor accepted those clear passages that teaches Christ died for all, but what they are doing is that they force the Scriptures to fit into their own theological views. Is really Christ died only for the elect? Does the bible teach that Christ died only for the elect? Is it true? Is it in the Bible? What saith the Scriptures? (Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture?”). Let the Bible answers! Is the Bible teaching “Limited atonement”?”.

     To make their doctrines more confusing and more deceiving, the extreme Calvinist reformers says that the word “world” mentioned in John 3:16 does not really mean “world”, and the word “all” we read in I Timothy 2:6 and Isaiah 53:6 does not really mean “all”, and the word “every man” stated in Hebrews 2:9 does not actually mean “every men” and the word “whole word” rendered in I John 2:2 does not really mean the whole world. They use their own interpretation which the Bible did not says. They want the Bible to agree and adjust on their own interpretation and understanding. These extreme Calvinist creates their own way by destroying the inspired precise words of the Bible to only build a good image of their erroneous, deceitful, human founded doctrines that Christ died only for the elect. 

     In order to show that their beliefs are right and those who oppose their doctrine are wrong, these reformers is telling us that there is something not right the way we understand some passages like John 3:16 about “world” and about “all” in Isaiah 53:6, because according to them, we who believed that Christ died for all, mistakenly understand those passages like the way the child would understand them, so they said we should understand those verses like a theologian would understand them. In other words, they demanded us that we have to re-evaluate or reinterpret our understanding of the verses, where in fact, they are those theologians who come short of understanding of the clear, divine words of God that Jesus Christ died for all and paid the penalty of all our sins. 

     Biblical doctrine of the atonement (not limited atonement)

John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

I Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

I Timothy 2:6 “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

II Corinthians 5:19 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

I John 2:2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

Timothy 4:10; John 3:16

I Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

To make it easier, clearer and simpler to understand: Christ’s death was sufficient for all but efficient only for those who believe. The work of the Savior Jesus Christ at the cross in not limited, but the application or the effectual of the work of Christ at the cross is limited only to those who freely believes in Christ as their Savior, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. 

     The extreme Calvinist said that the cross of Christ was designed only for the elect and that cross of Christ had no purpose for the non-elect. However, the Bible says the death of Christ had a divine purpose and design for both elect and non-elect, which mean Christ died not only for the elect and also for those non-elects, because Jesus died for all men. 

     What is God’s design for the elect? God design for the elect was salvation according to God’s purpose and grace in Christ Jesus before the world began.

II Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

II Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

     What is God’s design and purpose for the non-elect? God’s design for the non-elect is to render the unbeliever without excuse. All unsaved men who by his own free will, rejected the person and finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ at the cross and refused the only God’s remedy for the sins of men are condemned already, were sentenced for spiritual separation from God even while they were still alive (John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”). The unbeliever is not excuse for God’s condemnation (John 5:40 “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”). In previous scene, Jesus has been speaking about the witnesses to His authority, including John the Baptist, His works, and the Father Himself. Jesus is confronting the Jews who are rejecting His authority and refusing to believe in Him as the Son of God. Jesus is pointing out their willful rejection of Him despite the evidence that points to His divine nature. We see here the willful disbelief of these unbelievers as Jesus is expressing his frustration with the Jews who are refusing to come to Him and receive the eternal life that He offers. Jesus is essentially saying that they are rejecting the very source of life and salvation by refusing to believe in Him. So, God offers salvation to all, God wants all to be saved but the unbelievers willfully reject. By refusing to come to Jesus, the Jews are missing out on the opportunity for eternal life. Jesus is pointing out the gravity of their decision and the eternal implications of their disbelief. Notice the words “come to me” or coming to Jesus speaks to the idea of personal choice and action. Jesus is not forcing anyone to believe in Him; rather, Jesus is inviting them to come to Him and receive the life that He offers. The use of the word "might" also suggests the possibility of salvation for those who choose to come to him. There is a sense of urgency in Jesus' words, as he is imploring the Jews to make the choice to believe in Him and receive the life that He offers. It is not God who chose the unbelievers not to be saved or not to be elected. God wants everyone to come to Jesus to be saved, but the unbelievers have a willful choice if he wants to reject the offer of eternal salvation. They are not excuse. Unbelievers have no excuse to say that God had not made provision for their salvation and God not offered them salvation. Unbelievers can never stand someday before God and blame God by saying that the reason why he was not saved is because Christ did not die for him or her. The truth is the real cause why they are not saved is because they have their free choice and they rejected Christ who died for them and who is the Only Savior of all men (I Timothy 4:10). Unbelievers are without excuse. They rejected the offer of free gift of eternal life though Jesus Christ. They reject the power of the gospel not because God did not designed salvation for them but because they did not want to come to Jesus and receive by faith the design offer of sacrifice designed for all men. 

     The doctrine that Christ died only for the elect is extremely practical issue because it affects the very heart of the gospel and the clear presentation of the glorious gospel of Christ. What is the gospel that Paul preached? According to Paul, the message that he delivered to the people at Corinth that is according to the Scriptures was “Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”). The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, for all sinners, elect sinners or non-elect sinners. Died for all.

     Can we say that the gospel message that we preached to all men was really the good news? 

Luke 2:10-11 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” 

Here the angel announcement of the birth of Christ the Savior is a good news or good tidings, but it is a good news to all, not only to few or some people. Luke 19:10 “Jesus come to seek and to save that which was lost”. Jesus did not come to this earth to seek some lost, died for some elect lost or save some lost. So, if Jesus was born, good news to all, the same is true that Jesus died for all, good news. (I Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 “I declare unto you the gospel (good news) ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”). Now, if preaching the gospel is preaching the good news, can you say the good news to any of your friends, any of your relatives, to all members of your family that Jesus Christ died for them all? and paid the sins penalty of them all? and Christ died as a substitute of all of them?

     Reformed theologian tells what the reformed Christian counsellors should say when presenting the good news:

1. Christ died on the cross as a substitute of His own elect, and suffered the penalty for the sins of the elect.
2. Christ died that all whom (the elect) the Father had given to Him might come unto Christ and have everlasting life.
3. Should never tell the unsaved that Christ died for them. (Reformed teacher says that no man knows except Christ Himself who are His elect for whom Jesus died). They believe that Christ died only for the elect, but they do not know exactly who among those people are they going to share with the gospel are the elect. 

      Some Bible theologian, have something to say concerning those new disciples of extreme Calvinism that with their confidence, and solid trust in their doctrine of limited atonement, those student disciple of doctrine from extreme Calvinist never been encouraged and intended to hear the world-wide evangelistic gospel preaching, about the love of Glod to the world, about the good news preached to every man under heaven, because extreme Calvinist has only gospel exclusively for the elect. That is why they believe that Christ only died for the elect.

     Extreme Calvinist have some logical reasoning by saying that they cannot sincerely offer to men what has not been provided for them, it is like offering men a free gift that has not been purchased for them, the same truth why telling unbeliever to be saved if the Lord provided not for their salvation (non-elect).

     Extreme Calvinist logical unreasonable illustration:

1. How can we offer to a person to drink from the fountain of life if no water has been provided for that person.
2. How can we tell a person to take the medicine and be cured if there is no medicine to take and no cure provided.

That is why for extreme Calvinist having general invitation and promises of the gospel for all men have no adequate or solid proof in the Bible, and offering salvation to a non-elect is a mockery or non-sense because it has not been provided.  

     To be honest, if a reformed preacher would try to preach the gospel to a person, he would tell a person with uncertainty by having phrases like “Jesus died for you perhaps, Maybe Jesus loves you, Jesus perhaps shed His blood for you, May be this is provided salvation for you, possibly Jesus paid the penalty for you, or hopefully Jesus died as a substitute you,” 

     To be honest, if some members of the reformed church would try to preach the gospel to someone, would they say “it is possible that Christ died for you, if you get saved then we will know that Jesus died for you, but if you continue to reject Christ then Jesus did not die for you.?” Or would those reformed church member says "Christ died only for you if you believe that Christ died for you (thus proving you are elect), but if you do not believe this and if you continue in your unbelief until the day you die, then Christ did not die for you.?" Would they say that? Of course, reformer theologian does not present the gospel in this way because they hold to a definite or limited atonement doctrine or else they will not be consistent with their theology if they would present the gospel that way. Beside it would be incorrect and insincere way of sharing the gospel with the unsaved when in fact they claim that Christ died only for the elect and they are not sure if that person they are dealing with is elect or not elect by God. 

     Since the church members of the reformed church or the reformer theologians never really can be sure if Christ has made provision for the person, thus they extreme Calvinist were very careful how they present sacrificial redemptive work of Christ at the cross. Robert Lightner an advocate of Limited atonement belief said "Belief in limited atonement means that the good news of God’s saving grace in Christ cannot be personalized. Those who hold to such a position cannot tell someone to whom they are witnessing that Christ died for him because that one may, in fact, not be one for whom Christ died." [Robert Lightner in the book, Walvoord: A Tribute, p. 166].

     John Bunyan (writer of the book “Pilgrim’s Progress”) who was a Calvinist whose theology was primarily reformed, emphasizing, soteriology, and he is often described as a five-point Calvinist, believing in the redemption of the elect. John Bunyan also believed in the Reformed doctrine of predestination and irresistible grace. John Bunyan makes an extensive defense of predestination and irresistible grace in which he analyzes John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John Bunyan demonstrating his belief in predestination writes that the “all” of this verse are the elect. Turning now to the doctrine of irresistible grace, we see that Bunyan also clearly teaches as expounding on the "shall come" of John 6:37, arguing that it is an absolute promise of God that cannot be circumvented by anything, not even the will of man: The Father’s end was, that they might come to him, and be saved by him; and that, says the Son, shall be done; neither sin nor Satan, neither flesh nor world, neither wisdom nor folly, shall hinder their coming to me.  But what of the one who insists that he will not be saved? Is it possible for him to resist God's will? Bunyan says no: (from the Book - Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ).

     John Bunyan comments and said “The offer of the Gospel cannot, with God’s allowance, be offered any further than the death of Christ did go; because if it be taken away, there is indeed no Gospel, nor grace to be extended" (Bunyan’s works). 

     In other words, how can you offer the gospel to a person if Christ did not die for that person? How can we offer to the unsaved sinner what has not been provided? 

     Since we who are against the reform doctrine and believe that Christ died not only for the elect but died for all, the extreme Calvinist argues that Christ must save everyone that He died because according to them if Christ died for everyone, then everyone will be saved. 

Logical Illustration:  Medicine although available will not do any good to heal the sick unless the medicine is taken by the sick person. Also, enough cool refreshing water in the community will not quench the thirst of every thirsty person in that community unless every person drinks. The same is true, Jesus’ death is sufficient, He died for all but Jesus’ death is efficient or applicable only to those who repented from their sins and believed that Christ died for their sins, buried and risen from the dead.

     Sadly, and alarming that lot of Pastors from Metro Manila Philippines are going to different provinces of the Philippines with a goal of spreading this Calvinistic theory of limited atonement doctrine and telling other Pastors from urban, mountainous areas in provinces on which those local church pastors are not much aware of the unbiblical limited atonement doctrine that teaches Christ died only for the elect were they were being convinced and deceived by these visiting reformers from Manila. This is dangerous!

     God loves all, He sends His Son for all, Jesus died for the sins of all, Jesus offered the grace gift of eternal life to all, we have to share the power of the gospel salvation to all, but if a person don’t want to repent from their sins and continues to reject the gospel of Christ they will be condemned not because God did want them to be saved but because they freely rejected the offer sacrificial death of Christ. Jesus Christ died not only for the elect but Christ died for all, amen!

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