The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Gospel truth

Let me first impress upon you that all of my recent comments up until this point have addressed the issue of "hermeneutics" since at the very beginning I made it clear that I have no dispute with you as to the "message/content" of the Gospel understood in its narrow sense. The problem I have is with your "eisogesis"; reading a doctrine/idea into a text which simply isn't there. From what you have now written, it seems that this tendency to see "Limited Atonement" under every rock is due to an over-reaction against Arminianism and Sandemanianism (aka: Easy Believism") stemming from your own personal experience.

You really should have at least familiarized yourself with what we believe and hold dear theologically before making some of your unfounded and nonfactual remarks. A quick perusal of even just the titles of the articles we have online on the subject of Christ's atonement here: The Atonement of the Lord Christ would show that we embrace most assuredly the biblical doctrine of "Definite Atonement". And my own article on the content of the Gospel found here: A Gospel Summary disallows for any idea that I have any "Arminian" leanings or hold to anything less than "Definite/Limited Atonement".

Now, to answer your question above... I did not believe any "gospel". I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as I repented of my sins, being under heavy conviction of them. I knew nothing of "Calvinism", never mind some "Five Points" or "Limited Atonement". What I knew is that I was a sinner under God's wrath and that Jesus Christ was my only hope of being reconciled to God and to receive forgiveness for my sins. That God would love me, despite of who I was/am was incomprehensible yet a truth that was impressed upon my heart as I believed. It was over quite a few months of reading the Scriptures; cover to cover and over and over that I came to understand what is nicknamed "Calvinism", although I had no knowledge of even the word Calvinism . . . nor Arminianism either, for that matter. What I did know is that what I came to believe theologically from my reading and study of the Bible is that it was antithetical to what was being preached in all the churches around where I lived. And I also learned very quickly that my doctrinal views were very unpopular, even hated by those who professed to be Christians.

There was something else I learned too, which perhaps you should ponder with all seriousness. My ability to present and defend those grand old truths, which we often call the "Doctrines of Grace" was founded upon sound biblical hermeneutics (interpretation of Scripture). If I had fallen into the error which you apparently have fallen, i.e., "eisogesis" . . . the reading of doctrines into texts rather than extracting doctrines from texts, then my desire to present the truth would have been tremendously hindered. In all honesty, I can tell you that I have gotten up and walked out of churches during the sermon because the so-called "preacher" took a portion of God's Word which he claimed he was going to preach on and twisted and turned it so badly, it was unrecognizable, in order to make it fit his pet topic or doctrine.

In short, there are more than enough passages in Scripture that DO teach a "Definite Atonement" without having to impose it upon every passage which makes mention of the death of Christ. The doctrine of the atonement of the Lord Christ is like a many-faceted diamond. It has many aspects or sides to it and which can been seen from various perspectives, all of which when combined create a priceless jewel. Each facet reflects light a bit different than the others. When one begins to take note of the uniqueness of each of those facets and appreciate it for itself, then one begins to develop a true appreciation for the whole in a way that beforehand was impossible. Let each passage of the inspired record of God speak as it was intended to speak and teach by respecting its context, purpose, etc. Fail to do so and you will miss out on much of the brilliance which is contained in the knowledge and glory of God.

In His grace,