The question we seek to answer in this chapter is this: When Christ died on the cross, who did He intend to save? Did Jesus come to earth to die for every single person who ever has lived or ever will live? Or did Jesus die in order to save those chosen by the Father and given to the Son in eternity past? What was God's intent in Christ's work on the cross? The simplest way to ask the question is to ask, "For whom did Christ die?" The answer to this question lies in the discussion of the extent of Christ's atonement. The person who coined the term "limited atonement" might have been a theological genius, but he was a disaster when it comes to public relations. The very term "limited atonement" is often enough for some to close the discussion. However, suppose we alter the language just a bit and speak of "definite atonement." To disagree with a definite atonement is to put forth an "indefinite atonement." Some use the term "particular redemption." To disagree with this position, you must hold to an "unparticular redemption." This may be mere semantics but it is easy to see how easy it is to "poison the well" in theological discussions and sidetrack the discussion before it even begins. It is also important to state at the very beginning that this doctrine should never be used as a litmus test for orthodoxy or fellowship. Scripture never singles out this doctrine as one of major importance not is it the center of attention in any major biblical passage. Our knowledge and acceptance of this doctrine stems from exegetical and logical inferences made from passages of some other theological issue. A balanced perspective would say that this doctrine seems to be true based on honest and sincere exegesis and study in biblical and systematic theology.

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