Particular Atonement

How the extent of Christ’s atonement is limited and why that is good.

The word atonement means to compensate for something bad. The Bible uses it to describe the death of Christ on the cross when He paid the debt of sin (Col. 2:14; 1 Cor. 5:13). Most believers understand this.

The debate arises, however, when you consider that there are people in hell because their sin was not atoned. The question is this: Did Christ die for all human beings? If so, why are some eternally paying the debt of their sin in hell?

Scholars answer the question by pointing to Scriptures that indicate that the atoning work of Christ is limited in some way. There are two primary views. One limits the effect of the atonement as fully intended for all but only sufficient for some. The other view limits the extent of the atonement as fully sufficient but only intended for some. The book explores the second of the two in a doctrine sometimes called Particular Atonement.