Calvinism is a belief system that has its roots in the theology of Augustine who was Bishop of Hippo in Northern Africa from 395 to 430. According to The Church in History by B. K. Kuiper, Augustine’s teachings largely dominated the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages. Augustine taught that Christ did not die for all people in the world and that God has predestinated some people for Heaven, whilst He has chosen others for Hell. In the 16th century Calvin systematized the teachings of Augustine on predestination and published them in his Institutes, affirming his Augustinian beliefs that “God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to destruction” (Ch. 21). In the 1640’s the Westminster Confession incorporated Calvin’s system and Reformed Churches use it, or adaptations of it, as their doctrinal statement today.

Limited Atonement: The doctrine of Limited Atonement teaches that Christ only died for the elect and that He did not die for all people. This Calvinistic doctrine strikes a blow at the heart of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).   Limited  atonement can be destroyed by one single verse of Scripture found in 2 Peter 2:1 for Christ even died for false prophets with damnable heresies who were “denying the Lord that bought them”.  Jesus is the “Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and He died for the sins of believers and unbelievers alike (John 3:14-18; 4:24, 1 John 2:1-2).   Jesus is “the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14) though many reject Him.  Praise God that the atonement was for all humanity and not just for a few SELECTED ELECTED!  

See the following Scriptures for more:

  • Isaiah 45:21-22; 53:6
  • Luke 2:10
  • John 12:32
  • Acts 17:30
  • 2 Corinthians 5:14-20
  • Colossians 1:20
  • Romans 3:23-26
  • 2 Peter 3:9
  • 1 Timothy 2:3-6
  • 1 Timothy 4:10
  • Titus 2:11
  • Hebrews 2:9
  • 1 John 2:2
  • Revelation 22:17