Spurgeon on Universal Atonement and Calvinism

I had a conversation with someone the other day that seems to think that Calvinism is on the decline and that I will not make it as a young Calvinist pastor within the Southern Baptist Convention.  They also believe that Spurgeon agrees with them on their views of universal atonement (or in their views that everybody is chosen for salvation; you just need to choose God back), even saying that if Spurgeon was a Calvinist than they must also be considered a Calvinist.  Spurgeon was definitely a 5-point Calvinist in his beliefs.  In this post I simply just want to let Spurgeon speak for himself by quoting what he says in his Defense of Calvinism.  Enjoy.

Spurgeon on universal atonement/redemption:

Some persons love the doctrine of universal atonement because they say, "It is so beautiful.  It is a lovely idea that Christ should have died for all men.  It commends itself,"  they say, "to the instincts of humanity; there is something in it full of joy and beauty."  I admit there is, but beauty may be often associated with falsehood.  There is much that I might admire in the theory of universal redemption, but I will just show what the supposition necessarily involved.  If Christ on His cross intended to save every man, then He intended to save those who were lost before He died.  If the doctrine were true, that He died for all men, then He died for some who were in hell before He came into this world, for doubtless there were even then myriads there who have been cast away because of their sins.  Once again, if it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorably has He been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood.  That seems to me a conception a thousand times more repulsive than any of those consequences that are said to be associated with the Calvinistic and Christian doctrine of special and particular redemption.  To think that my Savior died for men who were or are in hell seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain.  To imagine for a moment that He was the substitute for all the sons of men, and that God, having first punished the substitute, afterward punished the sinners themselves, seems to conflict with all my ideas of divine justice. That Christ should offer an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that afterward some of those very men should be punished for the sins for which Christ had already atoned, appears to me to be the most monstrous iniquity that could ever have been imputed to Saturn, to Janus, to the goddess of the Thugs, or to the most diabolical heathen dieties.  God forbid that we should ever think thus of Jehovah, the just and wise and good!

Spurgeon on Calvinism:

The late lamented Mr. Denham has put, at the foot of his portrait, a most admirable text, "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9).  That is just an epitome of Calvinism; it is the sum and substance of it.  If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, "He is one who says, Salvation is of the Lord."  I cannot find in scripture any other doctrine than this.  It is the essence of the Bible.  Tell me anything contrary to this truth, and it will be heresy; tell me a heresy, and I shall find its essence here, that it has departed from this great, this fundamental, this rock-truth, "God is my rock and my salvation."  What is the heresy of Rome, but the addition of something to the perfect merits of Jesus Christ; the bringing in of the works of the flesh to assist in our justification?  And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer?  Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here.  I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism.  It is a nickname to call it Calvinism.  Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else.  I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith without works; or unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; or unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah.  Nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people that Christ wrought out upon the cross.  Nor can I comprehend a gospel that lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus.  Such a gospel I abhor.

Closing Thoughts:

I do not understand how people can simply try to shift the Word of God to fit their own desires.  The Bible is not a cultural book that changes with the times.  It is a revelation of the unchangeable God.  Thank God for his salvation.  Thank God that "Salvation is from the Lord."  Let us not boast in anything else other than the cross of Christ.

Preaching Christ Crucified,

Rev. Timothy R. Stokes

Encouragement in the Face of Death

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18


13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep,  that you may not grieve as others do  who have no hope. 14 For  since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him  those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,  that  we who are alive, who are left until  the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For  the Lord himself will descend  from heaven  with a cry of command, with the voice of  an archangel, and  with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be  caught up together with them  in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so  we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Death...

The word commonly draws fear into the minds of people all around the world.  The Bible tells us that death is an enemy of God.  If this is the case we have ever reason to fear death, right?

Wrong...

The Thessalonian church struggled with the issue of death.  They believed that only those living when Christ returned would be able to take place in the that glorious return.  This belief resulted from their former pagan beliefs that there was no hope for the dead.  Yet, Paul reminds them that they are no longer bound by their pagan religion and fears.  Through Jesus Christ, that great enemy of God was defeated.  "Oh death, where is your sting?"  For followers of King Jesus, death no longer has a hold on us.  Therefore, if death no longer has a hold on us and Christ has won the victory, then we cannot mourn like the pagans do.  We cannot mourn as though this is the end, when in turn we realize that in Christ this is only the beginning.

Paul even says one more thing in response to "those who are asleep:"  They will rise first.  On the most glorious day when Christ shall come "the dead in Christ will rise first" and then "we will meet them in the air."  Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we too have hope in the resurrection of our bodies at the return of the Son.  Praise Jesus!

Last, but not least, we are to encourage one another with this Truth.  Death is ever present.  Death is ever crouching at the door.  Yet, in Christ there is no longer any fear of death because death is not the end, but the beginning.

Thank God for the gift of life through His Son.  It is only by God's providence that you have been adopted as sons to receive the inheritance.  May God's grace be with you as you strive to bring glory to His name.  Amen.

Preaching Christ Crucified,

Rev. Timothy R. Stokes