캘빈주의 5대 교리
3. 제한적 구원
가. 제한적구원은, 하나님의 구원하시는 능력이 유한하다는 뜻이 아니다. 되려, 하나님은 모든 사람을 구원하실 수 있는 무한한 능력을 가지고 계신다. 하지만 하나님의 선하신 뜻과 영원한 경륜 속에서 그분께서 미리 정해 놓으신 택자들만을 구원하시길 즐거워 하셨다. 따라서 하나님의 구원하실 능력은 택자들에게만 유효하다. 즉 하나님의 구원의 능력은 모든 사람을 구원하기에 충분하나, 오로지 그분의 택자들에게만 유효하다.
나. 만인구원설이란, 하나님께서 결국에는 모든 사람들을 구원하신다고 가르친다. 성경은 달리 말한다. (마태복음 25:31-46; 요한계시록 20:11-15). 개혁주의는 다른 의미로 만인구원설을 가르친다. 즉 누구나 예외없이 구원받는 게 아니라, 차별없이 모든 종류의 사람들을 골고루 구원하신다는 의미에서의 만인구원설을 우리는 주장한다. (갈라디아서 3:28; 요한계시록 5:9)
다. 알미니언은 그리스도께서 이 세상 모든 사람들의 죄를 구속하시려 돌아 가셨다고 가르친다. 우리는 하나님께서 모든 사람들이 아니라, 여러 종류의 사람들을 예외없이 골고루 구원하심을 믿는다. (디모데전서 1:2:3-6; 베드로후서 3:9)
라. 게다가, 알미니언들은, 그래도 여전히 사람들이 원하여야만 죄에서 구원받게 된다 주장한다. 원하는 사람들만이 예수 그리스도께로 나아 와 그 분을 믿기만 하면, 자신들의 모든 죄에서 구속받는다 점은 사실이다. 하지만 누가 사람들에게 자원하는 마음을 주는가? 스스로일까, 하나님이실까? 하나님께서만이 모든 구원의 유일한 공로자 이시다. (요한복음 6:44; 빌립보서 2:12-13)
마. 누구를 위해 그리스도께서 돌아 가셨나? 네 가지의 가능한 답들이 있겠다.
1) 그리스도께서 에덴동산의 아담으로 부터 인류의 모든 죄들을 용서하시려 돌아 가셨다. 모든 사람들이 구원받는다. (허위)
2) 그리스도께서 모든 사람들의 얼마간의 죄들만을 용서하시려 돌아 가셨다. 그리스도께서 모든 사람들의 죄들을 얼마만큼은 남겨 두셔서, 누구도 구원받을 수 없다. 단 하나의 조그만 죄라도 영벌을 받기 때문이다. (허위)
3) 그리스도께서는 그 어느 누구의 죄들을 위해서도 돌아 가신 게 아니다. 따라서, 모든 사람들은 영벌에 처해 질 것이다. (허위)
4) 그리스도께서는 어떤 사람들의 모든 죄들을 구속하려 돌아가셨다. (진실)
(에베소서 1:4; 1:13-14)
주요 공부과제:
1) 예수 그리스도의 구원하실 능력이 충분하다는 게 무슨 뜻인가?
2) 예수 그리스도의 구원하실 능력의 유효함을 맛보는 사람들은 누구 누구인가?
Study on the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans – 26 (Special Session on the Calvinism – 5 Points – Part 5)
Five Points of Calvinism
3. Limited Atonement
a. What the Limited Atonement is not is that God’s Atonement is not limited in its power. Rather His atoning power is sufficient to save all mankind. Yet, according to His good will, in His eternal decree God saves only His pre-determined number of people, the elect. Thus, His atoning power is effective for His elect only. In other words, God’s atoning power is sufficient for all, but effect for His elect only.
b. The Universalism teaches that God eventually saves everyone and all of mankind. The Bible says otherwise, though. (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15) Indeed, the Reformed Theology teaches a different kind of Universalism: Jesus Christ died for the world that is without distinction, not without exception.
“28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:28)
“9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)
c. The Arminian asserts that Christ died for all the sins of the world. We, the Reformed say that God wants to include all sorts of men and women in His elect, NOT ALL MANKIND, though.
“3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:3-6)
“ 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
d. Furthermore, the Arminians argue that still people need to be willing to be saved. Absolutely true that those who are willing to come to Jesus and put their faith in Jesus will be saved from their sins. Yet, the key issue is that who causes their willingness? They themselves, or God? God is the only author of our salvation.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:44)
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
e. For whom did Christ die? There are 4 possible answers:
1) Christ died for all the sins of all men since Adam in the Garden of Eden. All men will be saved: False.
2) Christ died for some of the sins of all people. None of men can be saved, because all of the men have some sins leftover not atoned for by Christ. One small sin is enough for the eternal punishment and curse. Therefore, none of us will be saved: False.
3) Christ died none of the sins of all men. All men will be lost in eternal punishment: False.
4) Christ died for all of the sins of some men. The Father chose those whom Christ died for to atone their all sins: True.
“4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” (Ephesians 1:4)
“13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Study Question: 1) What is the sufficiency of the atoning power of Jesus Christ?
2) Who are the recipients of the efficiency of the atoning power of Jesus Christ?