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Encouraging Men and Women in the United States Armed Forces, and their familes, to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Sound like a silly question? Perhaps it is, but maybe not. There seem to be two major themes/opinions of the atonement of Christ - of what happenned on Calvary so long ago; that Christ's death actually saved people, or that His death really only made salvation 'possible' for those who on their own would 'choose' Christ. Which is it? Good question as we approach the celebration of His resurrection.
One thoughtful theologian offers an opinion here. I'm not making a personal position statement, but asking the question. I do think it's an important question that 'colors' not only the way we present the gospel, but our own Christian walks as well.
Well, certainly the thief on the cross was saved "at the cross". I know of no one who believes that salvation is possible for someone 'only' by their own choice. Unfortunately, those that believe salvation is inevitable for Christians like to present the other side of the argument as if they do. The Scripture clearly says, "Except the Spirit draw..." and I know of no one who doesn't know and believe the Spirit has a predominant role in drawing a person to Christ. We would do well not to misrepresent what those that do not share our view believe.
I don't know anyone either who thinks a person is saved 'only' by his/her choice. I don't know anyone who would make that case either. Certainly not my case.
Your question uses the phrase "who on their own would 'choose' Christ", so you introduced the concept in this discussion.
Having the natural ability to savingly choose Christ (on one's own - the point in my question) isn't saying that the choice 'alone' saves anyone. It's really about 'monergistic' or 'synergistic' (God alone saves or we help with our choice) salvation. In the context of the atonement, that Christ 'secured' the salvation of all those He came to save (His people) would be a monergistic view, while the view that Christ's death made it possible and human decision makes it actually happen would be synergistic.
Which is a more limited view of the atonement, one that says that Christ's death actually secured salvation for some (limited/particular/definite atonement view), or one that says Christ's death didn't secure the salvation of anyone, but only make it possible, depending on human decision (unlimited/general atonement view). I think the term 'limited' might be a poor choice of words, but it is the term most often used, I think.
Either way, whichever view we hold does not determine our salvation, genuine belief in Christ does. It is, I think, a good question to ask and consider because it goes to a person's view of God and His sovereignty. Hopefully more folks than a couple of ‘old salts’ are asking the question and searching their Bibles!
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