CLOGHER VALLEY BIBLE CLASS

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CLOGHER VALLEY BIBLE CLASS
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THE REFORMED FAITH

• A STUDY IN
• THEOLOGY AND DOCTRINE

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TULIP

• T otal Depravity of Man
• U nconditional Election
• L imited Atonement or Particular Redemption
• I rrestible Grace or
• Effectual Calling
• P erseverance of the Saints or
• Eternal Security

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TULIP L imited Atonement
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THE TERMINOLOGY

• 1 The term is unfortunate and excites the
  enemies of sound doctrine because it seems to
  imply that the power of the atonement is
  limited.
• 2 This is untrue because Calvinists fervently
  believe that the blood of Christ is able to save
  the whole world of men.
• 3 The atonement is limited however as far as
  those who receive the benefits of it are
  concerned.
• 4 Therefore the term PARTICULAR REDEMPTION is
  in many respects more exact.

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THE LOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR PARTICULAR REDEMPTION

• Christ died with a definite purpose in mind. The
  purpose was based upon what God had decided when
  he chose the elect.
• Therefore the atonement of Christ was particular
  because he had the elect of his Father in mind.
  He died for the church.

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JOHN OWENS FAMOUS ARGUMENT

• Either
• A Christ died for all of the sins of all of the
  men in which case all must be saved.
• or
• B Christ died for some of the sins of some of
  the men in which case none are saved.
• or
• C Christ died for all of the sins of some of the
  men in which case some will be saved.
• C is only argument which makes scriptural and
  logical sense the some are the elect

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THE KEY ARGUMENT

• A universal atonement makes salvation possible
  upon condition of man accepting it
• A limited atonement makes salvation certain
  for the elect
• Which did Christ come to accomplish?
• Which emphasises man who cannot save
  himself and which emphasises God whose grace
  alone brings us to salvation?

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BIBLICAL ARGUMENTS FOR PARTICULAR REDEMPTION
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THE PROMISES OF GOD IN THE ETERNAL COVENANT

• Isaiah 5310-11
• If Christ knew the outcome of his sufferings
  before he died, did he therefore not die for
  those who would be saved, the elect?

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CHRIST CAME TO DO THE FATHERS WILL

• Hebrews 107, John 638, John 637-39, John 17
  1,2,6,9,24
• If Gods will was that the elect would be saved
  then it follows that the Lord died particularly
  for those people

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The Nature of the Atonement

• The Atonement was Christ paying our debt to God
  this is known as the redemption or the ransom of
  sinful men
• If the debts of all men were paid on Calvary then
  all men are free.
• This is plainly not the case John 821, 941 and
  Matthew 2541
• On the other hand the Bible teaches that the Lord
  died for his sheep and offered himself a ransom
  for many John 1011 and Matthew 2028

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CHRIST AS OUR INTERCESSOR FOCUSES SOLEY UPON THE
ELECT

• Hebrews 725, 924, John 179
• and Romans 833-34
• Our Lords priesthood follows on from his
  atonement as they are part of the same office of
  priest. Therefore he must intercede for those
  whom he died to save, the elect

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THE EXPLICIT STATEMENTS OF SCRIPTURE

• Isaiah 538
• Psalm 2230-31
• Matthew 121
• Luke 168
• Acts 2028
• Ephesians 525
• John 1149-52

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THE TEXTS WHICH SEEM TO CONTRADICT THE DOCTRINE
OF PARTICULAR REDEMPTION
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2 CORINTHIANS 514

• One died for all
• The context would show that those for whom Christ
  died are new creatures.
• This is not all inclusive statement because all
  men are not converted
• Therefore the word all signifies all the elect,
  not all men universally

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1 TIMOTHY 25-6

• a ransom for all
• The word all in scripture may mean all kinds of
  people or each and every individual. Mark 15 is
  a clear example of all kinds of people because
  John did not baptize every individual in Judea
• If we allow scripture to interpret itself I
  believe that here we are taught that our Lord
  died for people from every race and nation as
  opposed to every individual. Otherwise the Bible
  is contradicting itself.

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Hebrews 29

• taste death for every man
• In the same passage we read of our Lord bringing
  many sons to glory and becoming one with them.
• Therefore the every man here are these very
  people the elect who will be in heaven.

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THE WORD WORLD IN THE WRITINGS OF JOHN

• John 316-17, John 651,
• 1 John 22, 1 John 414
• John wrote primarily for the Jews and the Greeks.
  Therefore he used the word world to show that
  the Jews no longer knew God exclusively but the
  gospel had relevance for every nation.

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TIP FOR BIBLE STUDY

• Interpret the passage within the context of the
  book and within the general teachings of the
  entire Bible

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FOR NEXT TIME

• 1 We shall consider Irresistible Grace
• 2 This brings us to the Spirits Work
• 3 Look up the Shorter Catechism on Effectual
  Calling
• 4 Read the proof texts
• 5 If you dont have a Catechism with proofs
  look up verses which teach the necessity of the
  Spirits work in salvation