The Extent of the Atonement - Essay Example

The extent of atonement The extent of atonement Introduction Understanding of the gospel becomes a great challenge to most individuals living in the universe. Most people do not know their opinion concerning matters of defending their faith and believe about the Lord. An individual should know that God has mercy and pardons those who repent and seek for forgiveness. There has been a current debate between religion and theology in regards to the coming and death of Christ Jesus on cross. Both religion and theology provides their argument concerning God’s love for his people in the universe. Theology argues that God has the elite whom he let His spirit guide and control. We should know that God gave us freedom to choose between good over evil and that He treats everyone equally and only needs us to believe1. The differences between Calvinism and Arminianism Calvinism talks of God’s total depravity or total inability. He argues that man has not ability to believe in the gospel because of his fall relating to a sinner being dead, deaf and blind to hear God’s message. He describes man as not free from the bondage of evil nature and cannot choose good from evil. Thus, it requires spiritual assistance and faith to present a sinner before Christ but not man’s effort that can contribute to salvation. Arminianism argues of free will that though man remained affected seriously by fall, God has not left him in a state of total spiritual helplessness. God enable sinners to repent and believe since He does not interfere with their freedom. Man has ability to choose between good over evil and this will determine his eternal destiny2 (Mihindukulasuriya, 2014, p. 197). Calvinism talks of Gods unconditional Election over certain individuals chosen unto salvation long time before world foundation. He says that God gives repentance and faith to His chosen and gives them the spirit of Christ acceptance. On contrary, Arminianism argues on God’s conditional election that individuals remains chosen unto salvation based on His foreseen that the individuals would respond to the call. He chose only those who would freely believe in the gospel and the fact that faith is not presentable to sinners but results from their will. God left man on his free will to believe unto salvation. Thus, the sinner’s choice for Christ and not God’s for the sinner that leads to ultimate salvation3. Particular redemption by Calvinism says that Christ redeems duty or work based on redemption of the elected and securing their salvation. He says that the death of Christ endured penalty to specific sinners and secured them salvation by their faith that establishes unity. Thus, the spirit only applies to those who Christ died for guaranteeing them of salvation. Arminianism argues of universal redemption where Christ redeeming duty or work is to save and secure salvation for everyone. He says that though Christ died for everyone only those who believe in him shall secure salvation. The death of Christ enabled God to pardon sinners if they believed but He did not put away anyone’s sin. He says that Christ redemption only becomes effective when man chooses to accept it4. Calvinism argues Gods Irresistible Grace by saying that though general call for salvation reaches everyone who hear gospel, Holy Spirit elect special people for salvation. He says that Gods call cannot have resistance by the selected few that brings sinners to Christ and make them cooperate. The spirit makes them repent and come willingly and freely to Christ. Arminianism argues that man can effectually resist the Holy Spirit as everyone remains invited to hear the gospel. God desires to bring all the sinners to salvation but man’s freedom can make him resist the call for Christ. The Spirit cannot force for acceptance until one believe and then gain new birth. The spirit can only give life to those who believe since man’s freedom limits His work5. Lastly, Calvinism talks of saint’s perseverance that means all the chosen that remains redeemed and given faith through spirit will eventually gain salvation. He says that the faith kept by Almighty power of God perseveres up to the end. Arminianism argues of falling from grace by saying that all those saved and truly believe can lose salvation if they fall from their faith. They can only regain their salvation by repenting and reconciling with Christ6. Paper position According to my viewpoints, God has given us freedom to choose between evil and bad. He has not created bondage to us and our sins that we commit. A reason explaining why God gave the world Holy Spirit for guidance relating to right and wrong, an assistance that helps humanity to determine its destiny. God loves us equally and wants everyone to believe and regain God’s trust to secure salvation7. God has called each individual to follow His teaching in the gospel so that salvation can follow us. God does not limit His call to specified people but due to the freedom that we have most of the time we reject God’s call. God gave us the gospel to follow and do what is right since we cannot judge the God chosen. Our faith and believe in Christ is imperative and is what make every person special according to His eyes. An individual have the power to reject or accept, freedom that determines our destiny in Gods salvation8. God sent Christ Jesus to die for our sins due to the love that he had for His people. He wanted everyone to believe and accept so that we can receive salvation. There are no special people selected for God’s salvation all what is vital emanates from within our acceptance and us. If we accept that Christ Jesus died for our sins and repent, God forgives everybody and give salvation to the believers. Jesus suffered for both the believers and non-believers so that the sins we committed remains forgiven by Almighty Father. When we allow Blood of Jesus on the cross to cleanse our sins, we shall receive the eternal life9. Following the teaching of the gospel forms the fundamental basis for our salvation since no selected few follow the teaching and secure their salvation. Gospel teaches both the sinners and believers and it is up to the individual to choose whether to listen or not. If people believe about the gospel, they will able to distinguish between rights and repent for the sins committed. This helps us gain the love of God meant for everyone. God does not choose since even those who follow the gospel and relent on their faith will not secure salvation. Every human being has a responsibility to seek for salvation by doing good things over the evil10. Conclusion In conclusion, as both Calvinism and Arminianism tries to argue about Gods operation, the solution to this argument is not easily attainable. Every person has a strong support against the point given in relation to the gospel. We should know that it is irresponsible to argue about God gospel for He has all the answers that we require. Deuteronomy 29:29 affirms that the clandestine things belong to the Lord, but the things revealed belong to our children and us forever. Everyone should stick to the teaching of the gospel and know that our faith, believe and trust is what God requires. God does not chose to whom His blessings will fall but if we repent and accept Jesus Christ as personal savior, He can forgive us. God loves us equally and does not select when blessing since everyone is righteous upon his eyes. Bibliography Got questions. 2015. Calvinism vs Arminianism- which view is correct?. March 22, 2015. Web. Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/Calvinism-vs-Arminianism.html McIlroy, DH 2008, Towards a relational and trinitarian theology of atonement, Evangelical Quarterly, 80, 1, pp. 13-32, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 22 March 2015. Mihindukulasuriya, P 2014, How Jesus Inaugurated the Kingdom on the Cross: a Kingdom Perspective of the Atonement, Evangelical Review Of Theology, 38, 3, pp. 196-213, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 22 March 2015. Trueman, C. R., Osborne, G. R., Hammett, J. S., Naselli, A. D., & Snoeberger, M. A.. 2015. Perspectives on the extent of the atonement: 3 views.Kansas:B&H Publishing Group, 2015 Taylor, Larry. 2015. Calvinism vs Arminianism. March 22, 2015. Web. Retrieved from http://www.ccfestus.com/books/taylor_calvinism.htm So4j. 2015. Calvinism vs Arminianism comparison. March 22, 2015. Web. Retrieved from http://so4j.com/calvinism-vs-arminianism-compare Read More