Dear reader, 

Of utmost importance is what Jesus accomplished by His death on the cross.  

At issue is this:  Did Jesus merely make  the salvation of sinners possible (and then leaves it up to people to make it effective and actual), or did Jesus, in and of Himself, actually accomplish the salvation of sinners?  

Some people might question the need to discuss this doctrine altogether.  Why bring up something that can be so divisive?  Isn't this all just "wood, hay, and stubble?"  Hardly.  The issues involved with this doctrine lay at the very heart of the Gospel itself.  It is with this doctrine that we come to discover the full glory of the cross of Christ as we realize just how powerful the cross of Christ really is, and how it is that we have a Savior who truly saves, and a Savior who actually and perfectly accomplished and finished all that the Father sent Him to accomplish and finish.  It is here where we give true meaning to the words "Jesus Saves." It is simply impossible to use those words without believing in this doctrine.

You may have noticed I entitled this page "Actual Atonement" instead of "Limited Atonement."  The reason for that is because I believe the Jesus actually accomplished, instead of potentially accomplished, the redemption of sinners and actually, not potentially, secured the salvation of all those for whom Christ atoned.  As John Reisinger notes:

As John Reisenger notes, “The choice is not simply between universal and particular atonement. The choice is between an atonement that actually atones and an atonement that is purely hypothetical and not a real atonement” (emphasis in the original).  

Reisenger also states, "Limited" sounds very narrow as compared to "Unlimited." It leads to misconception and meaningless controversy. We must insist that all Christians believe in Limited Atonement. The fact there is a hell proves that statement. Everyone believes that the ultimate benefits of the atonement are limited to those who believe in Christ. The real question is NOT "Is the atonement limited," but rather, "WHO does the limiting, God or man?" Does God's sovereign grace and purpose dictate the ultimate success or failure of the redemptive work of Christ or does the "sovereign" and fickle will of man decide whether God's intentions and purposes will be realized?" 

May God richly bless your study:

 Was Anyone Saved at the Cross? by James White

Definite Atonement by Douglas Wilson

Packer's Intro to Owens' Death of Death  - The Puritan John Owen wrote a book called The Death of Death in the Death of Christ some 400 years ago, which is considered to be a classic and an unanswerable defense of limited atonement.   J.I. Packer, a modern theologian, wrote an introduction to the reprinting of the book, and his insights are must reading on this topic. 

Doctrine of the Atonement by John G. Reisinger

For Whom Did Christ Die? by Charles Hodge

For other great articles, go to http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/redemption.html