Limited Atonement: A Calvinist Perversion Of The Gospel

1st John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Just like John MacArthur, Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) preached the Calvinist heresy of Limited Atonement, the Devil's lie that Jesus didn't die on the cross for all men, He only died for the saints. That directly contradicts the plain teaching of Hebrews 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Although Spurgeon made many prolific statements in his sermons which are often quoted, I don't trust his theology, and I humbly don't think anybody else should either.

1st John 4:1-6, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

We live in a world of deception. The Apostle John emphasizes the fact that “many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1st John 4:1b). Concerning the future Tribulation period Jesus said in Matthew 24:11, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” I learned a new adage this week: Religion is the “Try Harder” Salvation; With The Gospel Of Grace, You Get To Be You. In other words, God saves you JUST AS YOU ARE, so you don't have to forsake one sin to be saved. We're not saved by giving up anything; we're saved by putting our childlike faith (trust, reliance) in Jesus.

We know that a known liar can tell the truth, and a trusted pastor can tell lies.