我認為在加爾文主義五要點中，限定的救贖是最具爭議性，和最易引發混亂與恐慌的一點。這項教義主要是關於上帝最初的目的、計劃、或設計：差遣基督來到世上，被釘死在十字架。差遣自己的兒子在十字架上受死，使每個人都可能獲得拯救，這是父上帝的目的，但有可能上帝兒子的死不是對任何人都有果效？也就是說，上帝僅僅差遣基督到十字架上受死，使救恩成為可能，還是上帝從永恒就有一個救贖計劃，其中根據祂豐盛的恩典和永恒的揀選，祂設計贖罪，以確保救贖祂的子民？限定的救贖在最初的設計裡嗎？
我寧願不用限定的救贖這名詞，因為它會引起誤解。我更願意用明確的救贖或明確的贖罪，來表達父上帝設計的救贖工作，特別為選民提供救恩，即耶穌基督為祂的羊死，和為父上帝所賜給祂的人舍命。
我們經常聽到被用來作為反對明確的贖罪這觀念的其中一段經文，這段經文是彼得後書三章8–9節：「這一件事你們不可忘記：在主看來，一日如千年，千年如一日。 主決不耽延他的應許，像有些人以為他是耽延的一樣；其實他是寬容你們，不願有一人滅亡，卻願人人都悔改。」（《聖經新譯本》） 這段經文中的「一人」是「我們」的直接先行詞，我認為十分清楚，彼得說上帝不願意我們任何一個人滅亡，卻願我們所有人都得拯救。祂不是說所有人無一例外; 我們是指彼得所說的相信的人。我不認為，我們希望相信上帝差遣基督在十字架上受死，然後兩指交叉，期望有人會充分利用這次贖罪。 我們的神觀是有別的。 我們的觀點認為，救贖具體的罪人是上帝永恒的計劃，這個計劃和設計經過完美的構想，被完美地執行，以致上帝拯救祂的子民的旨意藉著基督的贖罪之工而成就。
這並不是說，在耶穌基督贖罪的價值或功德上設置一個限度。傳統上說基督的贖罪工作對所有人來說是足夠的。 也就是說，它的功績價值足以遮蓋所有人的罪（譯按：基督的救贖足夠償付所有人的罪債），而且任何信靠耶穌基督的人都肯定會領受贖罪所帶來的豐足恩福。明白福音必須普世地傳講同樣重要。 這是另一個爭議點，因為一方面，福音無一例外地邀請所有聽力所及範圍之內的人，但是，福音不是無條件地赐予任何人，在這個意義上說，福音的赐予不是普世性的。福音赐予任何悔改其罪的人。 顯然，基督贖罪的功績賜給所有相信的人和所有悔改其罪的人。
在下一篇文章，我們將思考郁金香（TULIP）中的 I，即不可抗拒的恩典（irresistible grace）。
TULIP and Reformed Theology: Limited Atonement
FROM R.C. Sproul
I think that of all the five points
of Calvinism, limited atonement is the most controversial, and the one that
engenders perhaps the most confusion and consternation. This doctrine is
chiefly concerned about the original purpose, plan, or design of God in sending
Christ into the world to die on the cross. Was it the Father’s intent to send
His Son to die on the cross to make salvation possible for everyone, but with
the possibility that His death would be effective for no one? That is, did God
simply send Christ to the cross to make salvation possible, or did God, from
all eternity, have a plan of salvation by which, according to the riches of His
grace and His eternal election, He designed the atonement to ensure the
salvation of His people? Was the atonement limited in its original design?
I prefer not to use the term
limited atonement because it is misleading. I rather speak of definite
redemption or definite atonement, which communicates that God the Father
designed the work of redemption specifically with a view to providing salvation
for the elect, and that Christ died for His sheep and laid down His life for
those the Father had given to Him.
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THE REDEMPTION OF SPECIFIC SINNERS
WAS AN ETERNAL PLAN OF GOD…ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ATONING WORK OF CHRIST. —R.C.
SPROUL
One of the texts that we often hear
used as an objection against the idea of a definite atonement is 2 Peter 3:8–9:
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to
fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” The
immediate antecedent of the word any in this passage is the word us, and I
think it’s perfectly clear that Peter is saying that God is not willing that
any of us should perish, but that all of us should come to salvation. He’s not
speaking of all mankind indiscriminately; the us is a reference to the
believing people to whom Peter is speaking. I don’t think we want to believe in
a God who sends Christ to die on the cross and then crosses His fingers, hoping
that someone will take advantage of that atoning death. Our view of God is
different. Our view is that the redemption of specific sinners was an eternal
plan of God, and this plan and design was perfectly conceived and perfectly
executed so that the will of God to save His people is accomplished by the
atoning work of Christ.
This does not mean that a limit is
placed on the value or the merit of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It’s
traditional to say that the atoning work of Christ is sufficient for all. That
is, its meritorious value is sufficient to cover the sins of all people, and
certainly anyone who puts his or her trust in Jesus Christ will receive the
full measure of the benefits of that atonement. It is also important to
understand that the gospel is to be preached universally. This is another
controversial point, because on the one hand the gospel is offered universally
to all who are within earshot of the preaching of it, but it’s not universally
offered in the sense that it’s offered to anyone without any conditions. It’s
offered to anyone who believes. It’s offered to anyone who repents. Obviously
the merit of the atonement of Christ is given to all who believe and to all who
repent of their sins.
In the next post, we will consider
the I in TULIP, irresistible grace.