NOTE: This is not an extensively detailed rebuttal of limited atonement, but it should give the reader some things to consider.

One of the 5 points of Calvinism is limited atonement. In a nutshell limited atonement is the belief that Jesus died for some people but not for all. Allow me to share with you three comments I recently received in an exchange on Twitter from those defending this view.

Right, and that excludes another group—namely, those for whom Christ did not die, who will never have his atoning blood applied to them.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”—John 10:11 “You do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”—John 10:26 Jesus clearly did not lay down his life for all.

Do all go to heaven? Are all saved? If not, then you’re implying God has failed to save all He wants to save.

The first two comments were made by the same person. Notice that he claims that some people are excluded from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus because he claims that Christ did not die for them. He then follows up his argument by citing from John 10 where Jesus says he lays down his life for the sheep. 

I want to address these first two comments, then address the third one. 

Did God exclude any group of people from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus? According to the New Testament, God is not a respecter of persons. If any group of people were excluded from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, God would be a respecter of persons.

Now, consider with me the words of Peter when God sent him to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his house.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ Acts 10:34-35

Peter’s statement leaves no room for the notion that God excludes anyone for his grace and mercy. Peter says in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Peter says this in response to the manner of man Cornelius was, for Cornelius had just rehearsed to Peter why he had sent his servants to find Peter. Cornelius was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. ~ Acts 10:1-2

Contrary to the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity which claims that even the good things we do are tainted by sin, Cornelius’s alms giving to the poor had come up as a memorial before God. God did not view Cornelius’s giving to the poor as selfish and tainted by sin, but as righteous works instead, which is why Peter says, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Yet Cornelius still needed Salvation, and because his heart was towards God, God sent Peter to him with the words of Salvation.

In Romans 2 Paul declares that there would be glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. This is exactly what happened to Cornelius. Because of his prayers, alms, and fear of the Lord, God sent Peter to tell him and his house the words of salvation. Paul then follows his statement saying, For there is no respect for persons with God. ~ Romans 2:10-11

Notice that Paul says, every man, within the Jew and Gentile context. The Jews were the people of God (his elect, his covenant people) but through the atonement of Jesus, God made grace available to all people, removing the distinction between the two and uniting Jews and Gentiles into one family in Christ.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells the Gentiles that before God’s mercy and grace saved them, they had been the children of disobedience and children of God’s wrath. Paul also tells them that at that time they were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope & without God in the world, but in Christ Jesus they had been made night by the blood of Christ.

The Bible clearly establishes the fact that the New Covenant was given to the house of Israel and the house of Judah (the descendants of Abraham) and that no Israelite is excluded from the call to salvation, though some rejected it. It is within this context that the same salvation offered to the Jews is now available to the Gentiles that believe. Any Calvinist who would claim that salvation was not intended to save all within Israel who believe, are just deceiving themselves.

Now, keep this in mind when reading that the same mercy that came to the Jews through Jesus was now offered to the Gentiles. If no one in Israel is excluded, it would be foolish of us to think that anyone among the Gentiles would be excluded.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Romans 10:11-13

Notice Paul says there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (the Gentile). These are all inclusive statements. Paul never claims that God’s grace is only for some Jews, or some Gentiles. Paul never claims that God only wanted to save some Gentiles to whom he was sent. The Jew/Gentile texts which speak of God’s salvation include all people and not some.

Now, why did Jesus say that he lays down his life for the sheep? Jesus did not say I lay down my life for my sheep only. When he says he lays down his life for the sheep it is in contrast to the hirling who doesn’t care for the sheep. 

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ~ John 10:11-15 

Jesus is not giving a detailed theological statement about his atoning work. He is contrasting his character and motives to those who were acting as shepherds over the people, who did not care for the people. It is a reprimand to the religious Jewish leaders who were not his sheep but were serving their father, the devil. It was a rebuke to the thieves (the unjust leaders) who only came to still, kill, and destroy.

According to the scriptures Jesus died for sinners: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ~ 1 Timothy 1:15

According to the scriptures Jesus died for the ungodly: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ~ Romans 5:6

According to the scriptures Jesus died for his enemies: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ~ Romans 5:10

According to the scriptures, Jesus died for the whole world: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ~ 1 John 2:1-2 

Jesus died for sinners, the ungodly, his enemies, and the whole world. This includes all who were dead in Adam.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ~ Galatians 3:22

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ~ Romans 5:17-19 

Notice that this text is all inclusive. The ones to whom the abundance of grace and the gift of righteous is freely given is the all who were under the reign of death because of Adam’s transgression. Notice that Paul says they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness. The salvation that is in Christ must be received.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name… ~ John 1:11:12

Those who are called his own in the text above refers to the people of Israel, for Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet not all received him, but those who did were given the power to become the sons of God. Again, God wanted to save all his people, but he forces salvation on no one. Jesus must be received. In other words whosoever believes in him has eternal life.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:14-16

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. ~ John 4:13-14

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. ~ John 12:46

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Acts 2:4

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ~ Acts 10:43

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ~ Romans 9:33

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.~ Romans 10:11

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Romans 10:13

Does the fact that many people reject the gospel and die in their sins, mean that God has failed? Consider the third comment mentioned at the beginning. The commenter said, Do all go to heaven? Are all saved? If not, then you’re implying God has failed to save all He wants to save.

No God did not fail, just as he did not fail when many within Israel disobeyed, rebelled against him, and served false Gods. Yet they were God’s covenant people to whom God sent the prophets to rebuke for their sins. In John’s gospel Jesus said to some of the Jews who opposed him,  if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Limited atonement, as well as the 4 other points of Calvinism fails the test when considered in view of God’s history and covenant with Israel. God’s desire was to save every member of the house Israel. When God said, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee ~ Jeremiah 31:1-3, he was talking to Israel  Yet Jesus says to them, if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

God’s everlasting love for Israel was expressed by Jesus when he said,

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! ~ Matthew 23:37

Notice that Jesus expresses God’s desire to draw the people to himself like a mother hen gathers her chicks, but they would not. They resisted the grace of God, which according to Calvinism is not possible.

God’s love for all of Israel is why he sent Jesus the Messiah. God entered into Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and raised up a covenant nation (Israel) from Jacob’s descendants. Through this nation God raised up the Messiah to save all who would believe (receive) him.

Calvinism does not work with the story of Israel. Israel’s history gives us sound Biblical theology about God’s character, goodness and love for humanity. It give us understanding of how to understand God’s election, and choosing. God chooses for no one to die in their sins, but give then the freedom to choose as we repeatedly see throughout Israel’s history.