Berean Baptist Church

SEMESTER 3

244 – Verses That Seem to Imply General Atonement

COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY III LESSON # 44

VERSES THAT SEEM TO IMPLY GENERAL ATONEMENT

INTRODUCTION:

1. There are comparatively few dissenters, as to the definite nature of the atonement, among serious and careful Bible students.
2. There are, however, many good men, and some who are essen­tially “Calvinistic” who hold to an indefinite atonement.
3. Moreover, they do so strictly on what they consider a foundation of scripture.
4. In this lesson we shall consider and explain some of those scriptures which, on the surface, seem to teach a general atonement, and try to explain their true meaning.

I. JOHN 3:16 AND I JOHN 2:2

1. It is asserted that the word world here means all mankind, thus teaching a general atonement. Answers:

i. If this love be applied to every individual in atonement it must also be applied to them, if to any, in total salvation. Notice Romans 8:32.
ii. There would be no expression of God’s love “delivering Christ unto death” (Acts 2:23), for sinners while knowing it was of no benefit to those persons.
iii. The equal and indiscriminate love of God, for all men, claimed by this interpretation is firmly denied by Rom. 9:13, Rom. 9:17, Ex. 17:14, Deut. 18:3, Ps. 5:5, Rom. 9:22.
iv. That the word world (cosmos) refers to all mankind without exception or discrimination is clearly disproved by such passages as Jn. 17:9 and I Jn. 2:15.
v. Indeed, this same English word world (cosmos) is used to describe unbelievers as opposed to Christians in Jn. 7:7; 12:31; 14:17; 15:18,19; 16:20; 17:14; I Cor. 4:9; 11:32; Eph. 2:2; Heb. 11:7; I Jn. 3:1; 3:13; 5:19.

Conclusion: The interpretation of Jn. 3:16 and I Jn. 2:2, that claims general atonement is totally arbitrary and unwarranted by scripture.

II. I TIMOTHY 2:6 AND TITUS 2:11

1. It is the contention of the general atonement teachers that the word all here must mean every single human being. Answers:
2. In the English language, the word all simply means the composite total of that which is included in a particular context or conversation.
3. That the word all in scripture does not always mean all men without exception, is obvious from the following usages:

i. It means a great number, but not all without any excep­tions, as in Mat. 3:5; 4:24; 14:35.
ii. It means all kinds and classes of people. (Mat. 23:47; Lk 2:10; Jn. 12:32; Acts 13:10; Rom. 1:29; 15:14; II Thes. 2:9; I Tim. 6:10)
iii. It has obvious exceptions in Mark 11:30, Acts 2:46-47, I Cor. 6:18, 8:32, 9:22, 10:33 and Titus 1:15.
iv. It means all or everyone within a particular class of group in such passages as: Lk. 3:21, Rom. 5:18, I Cor. 8:2 united with I Cor. 8:7, 11, I Cor. 15:22, Col. 1:28.

Conclusion: Just as in everyday conversations, the word all as it is used in this passage, has its meaning restricted by context.

I. HEBREWS 2:9

1. It is said this means no exceptions
2. Careful study of context and language (Greek and English) will show us this is precisely equivalent to all and the previous explanations apply.

II. I TIMOTHY 4:10

1. This verse is supposed to bury the particular redemption doctrine.
2. The word Savior or salvation can have many definitions and extents, but again the explanation of the word all applies.
3. No general atonement man should so use this verse, for not one of them believes to the slightest extent, that Christ is the Savior of all men.

III. II PETER 2:1

1. It is said that this must speak of a purchase of people who are reprobate.
2. It in fact speaks of the Jews’ blasphemous rejection and denial of God the Father, (despots) Who redeemed them out of Egypt as a nation. (Deut. 32:6)

IV. II PETER 3:9

1. This scripture is almost always misquoted, it is no wonder it is misunderstood.
2. Careful study of the whole passage will reveal it to be one of the most particularistic passage of all the Bible. “Long-suffering to usward not willing that any should perish.”

Note: I gladly acknowledge in this outline much of the work of T. P. Simmons.