What We Believe The Doctrines of Grace Limited

What We Believe… The Doctrines of Grace Limited (Actual) Atonement The Extent of God’s Salvation His Life for His Sheep John 10: 14 -18

“It was not a potential atonement actuated by the sinner; it was an ACTUAL atonement initiated by the Savior. ” ~John Mac. Arthur

Actual Atonement Jesus Christ actually died a substitutionary death on behalf of His people; a death that covers the payment of their sin; reconciling them to God; and making them fit for eternal life.

The Lord is My Shepherd Psalm 23; John 10; Hebrews 13: 20; 1 Peter 2: 24; 5: 4

John 10: 14 -18 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.

The “Doctrines of Grace” I. The Purpose of the Shepherd’s Sacrifice …the intention of the Father… “This commandment I received from the Father. ” (18) § God the Father elected a people before the creation of the world to save (Ephesians 1: 4); § God the Son came down to earth to be the sacrifice for those the Father had elected (Matthew 1: 21); and § God the Holy Spirit brings the elect to faith by creating a new heart, mind, and will in them (Ezekiel 36: 25 -27) to the glory of God.

1 John 4: 10 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ”

The Shepherd and The Lamb Jesus is “lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. ” Jesus “was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him”…“But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. ” The mission of Christ; to be “delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God [and] nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. ” (Isaiah 53: 7, 3, 10; Acts 2: 23; also Acts 4: 28; 1 Peter 1: 20).

John 6: 37 -39 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

John 17: 1 -2, 6, 9 1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life… 6 I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word… 9 I ask [pray] on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours…”

John 19: 30

The “Doctrines of Grace” II. The Propitiation of the Shepherd’s Sacrifice …the intention of the Son… “…and I lay down My life for the sheep. ” (15) § “propitiation” (a biblical word – Romans 3: 24) - a full satisfaction of the justice of God on behalf of the elect by means of death on the cross. § Question: did Jesus actually accomplish this purpose of the Father – to be the propitiation for the sins of His people?

For Whom Did Christ Die? Jesus said that He “poured out [His blood] for MANY forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26: 28). In Ephesians 5: 25 we read that Jesus, “loved the CHURCH and gave Himself up for her…”

For Whom Did Christ Die? Doesn’t John 3: 16 teach “…God so loved the world…”? Yes, but what exactly is meant by “world”? § In John 7: 4, Jesus’ brothers mocked Him and said, “Show Yourself to the world…” § Luke 2: 1 - “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ” § John 8: 26 – “…and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world. ” § John 12: 19, “…look, the world has gone after Him. ” § Romans 1: 8, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. ”

A Rule of Biblical Interpretation clearer texts are to interpret unclear ones Passage like John 10: 14 -16 that declare that Jesus only died for His sheep, His people mean that the word “world” in passages like John 3: 16 or 1 John 2: 2 cannot refer to every single person without exception, but must mean something else… That Jesus died for people without distinction. . .

Revelation 5: 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. ” Jesus is said NOT to have purchased all people without exception, but all KINDS of people with distinction to race or background.

For Whom Did Christ Die? But what about when the Bible uses “all” or “everyone”? § 1 Timothy 2: 4 - [God] “who desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ” § Hebrews 2: 9 - “…Jesus…taste[d] death for EVERYONE. ” § 2 Peter 3: 9 - “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for ANY to perish but for ALL to come to repentance. ”

Who is included in “all”? Mark 1: 5 - “And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ” (NASB) Matthew 4: 23 -24 – “ 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. ” (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15: 22 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ”

Titus 2: 11, 12 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…” “…instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, ”

The “Doctrines of Grace” III. The Power of the Shepherd’s Sacrifice …the intention of the Spirit… “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6: 39). “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4: 13).

Romans 8: 14 -17 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Did Christ Die For Me? 1) 2) 3) 4) Do you want a Savior? Do you need a Savior? Do you admit that you are a sinner? Do you admit that you cannot do anything to satisfy God’s righteous anger against you? 5) Can you say with all your heart: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner?

Galatians 5: 22 -23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1 John 3: 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.