The Doctrines of Grace: TULIP Revisited
by Carol Berubee
http://www.tonyabetz.org/MSM/Product/doctrinesofgrace11.htm
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Limited Atonement, Part III
Common Questions In this teaching about unbelief, it is said that when Christ
died on the cross, He atoned for all sins except the sin of unbelief. Therefore, salvation is
available to all people; one must only overcome his unbelief. You may be saying, "Wait a minute.
I'm not a universalist, but I also don't believe in a limited atonement. I believe that when
Christ died, He really did atone for sins. I believe He atoned for all sins for all people, except
the sin of unbelief. What's wrong with that?" Well, that is still a limited atonement. To say
that He atoned for all sins except unbelief does put a limit on the quality, or effectiveness, of
the atonement. Beyond that, though, there is a logical problem with this teaching and there is a
theological problem, as well.
Colossians 3:5
Paul lists some sins and then says that the wrath of God will come upon those who disobey. According
to the teaching of unbelief, are not all sins except unbelief already paid for at the cross? If so,
is God just in punishing those who commit these sins? Were not all the sins of all people (except
unbelief) atoned for by Christ? Was not His atoning work good enough? God cannot, and will not,
punish someone for something for which Christ has already paid the penalty. Therefore, these sins
must not have been paid for (for all people) on the cross.
Revelation 22:15
John lists some sinners who will not be permitted fellowship with God. If Christ died for all
sins (except unbelief), why are these people still paying the penalty for these particular sins?
It would seem that if Christ died and paid the penalty for all sins for all people, then these
people cannot be penalized for these sins. So, now that we see that Christ did not atone for
the sins (except unbelief) of all people, we still have the theological problem concerning the
sin of unbelief.
Revelation 21:8
Here, we see that unbelief is a sin right alongside murder and sexual immorality. Unbelief is sin.
How is sin forgiven? By Christ's atoning work on the cross, right? So, if Christ's work was finished
on the cross, but unbelief was not part of that work, how is anyone to be forgiven for unbelief;
that is, how is anyone to be saved if not by Christ's work? The teaching of the sin of unbelief
makes man the sole instrument in his own salvation. If this sin is not included in Christ's work
on the cross, then the only way it can be atoned for is for man to shed his unbelief through his
own strength of will, apart from the atoning work of Christ. If you believe in Christ, and
therefore are no longer committing the sin of unbelief, did you overcome that sin by your own
effort? Can you be forgiven of that sin simply because you stopped doing it? Is not all sin forgiven
on the basis of Christ's atonement alone? If Christ did not die for the sin of unbelief, then on
what basis can you overcome the sin of unbelief?
So maybe you have heard the teaching that says Christ made atonement for all sins except the sin of
unbelief. This certainly sounds plausible. In this scenario, we can avoid the false teaching of
universalism, which says that Christ died for all people and atoned for all sins, therefore all
people are indeed reconciled to God.
"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil
desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming
upon the sons of disobedience..."
"But outside (New Jerusalem) are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters,
and whoever loves and practices a lie."
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire..."