"Christ Hath Redeemed Us"

Galatians 3:13

Without question, the Word of God teaches the doctrine of definite, effectual, limited atonement. Christ Jesus did not die for nothing! He did not shed his blood in vain! The scope, object, design, purpose, goal, and benefits of Christ's death are limited to God's elect, his sheep. His blood made definite satisfaction and complete atonement for the sins of God's elect. Christ died for those who are saved by his blood and no one else.

Perhaps you ask, "Why be so dogmatically rigid, tenacious, and insistent upon this controversial point of doctrine?" This is much more than a point of doctrine. Effectual substitution is the very heart of the gospel. There can be no compromise here! This is the place where the truth of God, the glory of God, and the souls of men are at stake in our day. Every compromiser I have ever known who, for whatever reason, began to whittle away at the truth of God began here, with a gradual, but certain denial of effectual redemption.

Here are four dogmatic assertions. I make them boldly and plainly without apology. Let the chips fall where they may. Let men embrace me, or denounce me as they please. The truth of God, the glory of God, and the souls of men are at stake. Here I stand. To preach universal atonement, to preach that Christ died for all men alike, is to preach...(1.) A FALSE GOSPEL, for it makes the will of man, rather than the will of God, the effectual cause of redemption and salvation (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:16)...(2.) A FALSE CHRIST, for it makes the Son of God a failure, whose blood was shed in vain for many (Isa. 42:4)...(3.) A FALSE GOD, for it declares that God's love is mutable, his justice is perverted, and his purpose is frustrated (Mal. 3:6; Isa. 46:9-11)...(4.) A FALSE SPIRIT, for it declares that the Spirit of God convinces men of a lie when he convinces them of sin removed, righteousness established and judgment finished (John 16:8-13).

I will not politely tolerate such blasphemous perversions of God's truth! I will not hold my tongue, or my pen, while wolves in sheep's clothing seek to destroy the souls of men and rob Christ of his redemptive glory.

Don Fortner