John 6: 35-40

Series Summary: This is the third of a four part series entitled The Depths of Grace in which we’ll be examining our Reformed doctrine of grace through the lens of what are commonly called the “Five Points” of Calvinism. These five doctrines, often summarized by the acronym TULIP, are: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints (those following Jim Osterhouse’s book will note he re-titles these doctrines to give the acronym FAITH). Together these doctrines articulate the Biblical emphasis on how we can be completely assured of our salvation because it depends not at all on what we’ve done but entirely on what God has done for us.
This Week’s Message: This week we’ll look at the doctrines of Limited Atonement and Irresistible Grace. Limited atonement is perhaps better understood according to Osterhouse’s designation—Intentional atonement. It refers to the Biblical principle that Christ came in order to guarantee the salvation of a select group of people (sometimes called “my sheep” or “his people” or “the elect”), as opposed to the idea that he came simply to make salvation possible and leaves it up to us to respond. Irresistible Grace refers to the transformation (sometimes called regeneration or conversion) that God works in the heart of those he has chosen to save–granting us the gift of faith. Together these doctrines show us just how deliberately and thoroughly God works to ensure our salvation, and they give us the profound comfort and assurance that he has left nothing to chance.