Book I — The General Scope of Christ's Death as Taught in Scripture
Book IV — Answering Objections to Particular Redemption Chapter 1: Preliminary considerations for responding to objections
Chapter 2: Beginning the replies to specific opposing arguments Chapter 3: Examination and response to Scripture texts cited in support of universal redemption Chapter 4: Answering the second major argument for universal atonement Chapter 5: A response to the final biblical argument for general redemption Chapter 6: A full reply to the twentieth chapter of The Universality of God's Free Grace, which gathers the author's arguments for universal atonement throughout the book
Book I, Chapter 1 The Purpose of Christ's Death as Taught in Scripture When we speak of the "end" or purpose of Christ's death, we mean two things:
First, what God the Father and Christ Himself intended to
accomplish by it; Second, what was truly and effectively achieved through it.
Both of these are clearly revealed in Scripture.
I. The Intent of Christ and His Father If you want to know why Christ came into the world, ask Him. He, who knows His own mind and the will of His Father, tells us plainly:
"The Son of Man came to save the lost" (Matt. 18:11; Luke 19:10).
Paul confirms this:
"This is a trustworthy saying, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15).
But who are these sinners Christ came to save? He tells us in Matthew 20:28:
He came "to give His life as a ransom for many."
Elsewhere, they are called "us"—that is, believers, those set apart from the world.
"He gave Himself for our sins, to deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Gal. 1:4).
That was God's will: that Christ would give Himself for us, to rescue and sanctify us.
"Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, to sanctify and cleanse her… so that He might present her to Himself in splendour… holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:25–27).
"He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14).
The aim of Christ's death is unmistakable:
To save us, deliver us from the evil of the world, cleanse us, make us holy and fruitful, and bring us near to God.
"Through Him we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" (Rom. 5:2).
II. The Effects of Christ's Death Not only is Christ's purpose clearly revealed, but the results of His death are also explicitly taught.
1. Reconciliation with God By His death, Christ removed the enmity between God and sinners:
"While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom. 5:10).
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Cor. 5:19).
"He abolished in His flesh the hostility… reconciling both to God through the cross" (Eph. 2:15–16).
"He Himself is our peace" (v. 14).
2. Justification Christ's death secured the forgiveness of sins, delivering us from guilt, wrath, and curse:
"By His own blood He entered the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12).
"He redeemed us from the curse… being made a curse for us"
(Gal. 3:13).
"He bore our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24).
"Justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus… through faith in His blood" (Rom. 3:24–25).
"In Him we have redemption… the forgiveness of sins" (Col.
1:14).
3. Sanctification Through His death, Christ purifies us and renews us by His Spirit:
"The blood of Christ… cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Heb. 9:14).
"The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
"By Himself He purged our sins" (Heb. 1:3).
"To sanctify the people with His own blood, He suffered outside the gate" (Heb. 13:12).
"He gave Himself… to sanctify and cleanse the church" (Eph.
5:25–27).
Faith itself is one of the gifts secured by His death:
"To you it has been granted for Christ's sake… to believe in Him"
(Phil. 1:29).
"God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing" (Eph.
1:3).
4. Adoption and Gospel Privileges By His death, we are made sons and daughters of God:
"God sent His Son… to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption" (Gal. 4:4–5).
5. Eternal Glory Finally, Christ's death secures not only grace in this life, but glory in the life to come:
"We have obtained an inheritance… a possession purchased"
(Eph. 1:14).
"He is the mediator of a new covenant… so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance" (Heb.
9:15).
III. The Clarity of Scripture and the Challenge of Universal Redemption The teaching of Scripture regarding the purpose and effects of Christ's death is so full, clear, and direct that one might expect all to understand it at once. As the prophet says, "that he may run who reads it." And yet, among all the doctrines in the Christian faith, few are more disputed than this—though it is a most fundamental truth.
A widely held belief asserts that Christ offered a general ransom— that He died not only for His Church, His elect, but for every individual descendant of Adam. According to this view, Christ intended to redeem all and every one.
But those who hold this opinion are not unaware of the implications.
If the biblical end and effect of Christ's death are truly as we've already shown—if it actually secures reconciliation, justification, sanctification, and glory for those for whom it was offered—then only two conclusions are possible:
1. Either God the Father and Christ the Son failed in their purpose. That is, they intended to save all people, yet failed to accomplish it—implying that Christ's death was an insufficient or ineffective means to its end.
This would be a blasphemous claim. It dishonours the wisdom, power, and perfection of God, and undermines the worth and efficacy of Christ's death.
2. Or, if Christ truly did achieve what Scripture says He did, then all people—every single human being—must be saved, cleansed, sanctified, and glorified.
But no one dares to claim this seriously. The Scriptures themselves and the evident destruction of countless souls throughout history contradict it.
To avoid these unacceptable conclusions, proponents of universal redemption are forced to adopt a different position. They deny that God or Christ had any definite or effectual aim in the shedding of Christ's blood. They claim that no specific blessing—such as pardon,