235 – The Practical Agreement Concerning Atonement and the Resultant Attitudes of Study

SEMESTER 3

235 – The Practical Agreement Concerning Atonement and the Resultant Attitudes of Study

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY III LESSON # 35
PRACTICAL AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE ATONEMENT
(THE RESULTANT ATTITUDES OF STUDY)

Read Jn. 3:16-18; 3:36; Rev. 22:17; Jn. 6:37; Jn. 5:24; Mat. 28:19,20

INTRODUCTION:

1. I often hear discussion on the theories of atonement, which imply that no dissenter in either direction could be a sound gospel preach­er.
2. This is not true at all. Both sides of the issue essentially agree on the practical aspect and all the above scriptures.
3. If the attitude described in point A describes you, you are doctrinally juvenile in this area.
4. I pray that this lesson may prepare you to discuss the doctrine of atonement with less passion and more perspective.

I. IDENTIFYING THE TWO BASIC SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

1. For this discussion I am not considering either universalists or anti-missionaries, but evangelicals.
2. Be honest enough never to categorize an evangelical in either of the above categories.
3. The schools of thought among evangelical theologians basically fall into one of these two categories.

i. Those who believe that the atonement was general in its design, that its effect is indefinite, and that many for whom atonement is made, perish for lack of faith and repentance.
ii. Those who believe that the atonement was definite, i.e. personal and particular, and that those whom God purposed to reconcile by it, shall all be called in such a way that they will repent and believe.

4. It is sad that these two schools of theory most frequently magnify the theoretic 10% of the doctrine on which they disagree and ignore the practical 90% on which they agree.
5. This is not to imply that we should have no theory of atonement, we should.
6. It is simply to say that we must not fail to see the vast practical area of agreement.

II. CONSIDER THE AREAS BOTH SCHOOLS TEACH WITH EQUAL SINCERITY

1. That God gave His Son for whosoever believeth. (Jn. 3:16)
2. That all who will, may come to the water of life and take thereof. (Rev. 22:17)
3. That none will ever come to Christ and be turned away for lack of atonement. (Jn. 6:37)
4. That none who believe shall perish for lack of atonement.(Jn. 3:36)
5. That none will be saved by atonement without faith. (Jn. 3:36)
6. That none shall be saved by atonement with repentance. (Luke 13:5)
7. That none shall be saved without the gospel being brought to them. (Rom. 1:16, Rom. 10:14)
8. That we are responsible to preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
9. That all who respond to that preaching by faith will be accepted. (Mark 16:16)
10. That God’s offer of salvation through Christ is a sincere and bona fide offer to all who hear it. (Rev. 22:17)
11. That none are kept out of heaven by lack of atonement.(Jn. 5:40, Jn. 3:16)
12. That not all shall ultimately be reconciled to God, by the atonement. (Mat. 7:13)

III. THE ESSENCE OF THIS CONSENSUS

1. That the effect of the atonement is limited, if not the design.
2. That the hypothetical value is infinite or at least sufficient for all who come.