An Arminian asks:
“So, you nasty Calvinist, you believe in ‘Limited Atonement.’ When sharing the gospel, not knowing who is elect, you can’t really say ‘Jesus died for you,’ can you?”
Good question. You’re right, I can’t say “Jesus died for you” or “Jesus died for your sins.” While even some Calvinists might consider this picayune, the truth is that if I don’t know who is elect and who isn’t, then I don’t know that Christ died for the individual in question; so I can’t say otherwise. Does that mean I can’t offer them the hope of salvation? Certainly not. I can offer Christ as the propitiation for sins in this way: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15), “like you, and like me.” “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30–31).
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3 Comments:
#1 || 09·08·17··06:36 || Tim Etherington
Actually, you can say "Jesus died for you" on the authority of Col 1:19-20. However, that may or may not be good news to the individual.
It is also noteworthy that nowhere in the NT do we see "Jesus died for you" as an apologetic approach. More often than not you see "Jesus rose from the dead!" You don't have to say "Jesus died for you" to preach the gospel. "Jesus died for sinners" is sufficient.
#2 || 09·08·17··08:06 || Jeff Peterson
Gosh, we don't even have to say "God loves you," either. It appears the Apostles did a swell job evangelizing and God grew His church just fine without doing so. A word search will show that "love" (in either "agapao" or "phileo") does not appear anywhere in Acts, (if there's such a thing as a 'guide to evangelism,' wouldn't Acts be it?) much less in the evangelistic accounts within.
#3 || 09·08·17··10:29 || David
What? “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!”
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