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Dictionary of
Theology
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Definition of Limited Atonement |
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A
belief of Calvinism that
Christ did not provide atonement for all but only those
whom God elected. The reasoning
behind this is that God would not cause Christ to suffer
for the sins of those who He knew would not accept Him.
If Christ really did provide atonement for all the sins
of the world, the entire world would be saved regardless
of the volition of man.
This is the most
controversial of the five points of Calvinism and
probably the most confusing. Critics immediately
point out John 3:16 says that Christ came for the entire
world while defenders insist that "world" does not
literally mean every person but rather people all over
the world that will be saved.
Because of the
controversy with this point of Calvinism, some
Calvinists consider themselves to be four point
Calvinists while others who do not accept another tenet
of Calvinism may even consider themselves to be three
point Calvinists.
See also:
unconditional election,
irresistible grace,
unlimited atonement
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