The Second Heading - Christ’s Death And Human Redemption Through It: Limited Atonement At The Synod Of Dordt And Some Contemporary Theological Debates -- By: Richard C. Gamble

Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 06:1 (Fall 2019)
Article: The Second Heading - Christ’s Death And Human Redemption Through It: Limited Atonement At The Synod Of Dordt And Some Contemporary Theological Debates
Author: Richard C. Gamble


The Second Heading - Christ’s Death And Human Redemption Through It:
Limited Atonement At The Synod Of Dordt And Some Contemporary Theological Debates

Richard C. Gamble

Professor of Systematic Theology

Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

This paper focuses on the second head of doctrine, what we normally term, limited atonement. The purpose of this paper is three-fold: first, to present briefly the exegetical foundations for limited atonement; second, to describe the development of that doctrine including both the Synod of Dordt and the Westminster Confession of Faith; and third, to demonstrate the value of this doctrine.

I. The Exegetical Foundations For Limited Atonement

Assuming that the readers of this journal are favorable toward limited atonement, my intention is only to provide some general outlines of the Biblical doctrine.

Old Testament Evidence

The Fall

God created a good heaven and earth. The original creation, including our first parents Adam and Eve, were all without flaw and excellent.1 However, Adam and Eve fell by sinning against God. That sin brought great destruction upon all of creation.2 All people, left in their Adamic state, will be excluded from eternal life. However, early in Genesis, God promised that salvation would eventually come.3

Noahic Covenant

As sin saturated the earth, God decided to destroy mankind. However, he also chose Noah and his family for salvation. The text of Scripture in Genesis chapters 6–11 clearly reveals that there was nothing special about Noah himself, but that salvation for him and his family was by free divine grace.4

Abrahamic Covenant

As time moved forward, God decided to reveal more about how atonement for sin would come about. He entered into a covenant with Abraham, who again demonstrated that salvation came not to the particularly worthy but rather to those whom the Father graciously elected.5

Already by the end of the Book of Genesis, God had provided two principles of redemption. The first principle was vicariousness, where one life can take the place of another, and the second was the need to offer life on account of the darkness of sin.6

Mosaic Covenantvisitor : : uid: ()