Have you noticed how unpopular it's become to suggest that human beings might have any limits?

I don't know about you, but I'm regularly informed by TV, music, movies and ad campaigns

that there are literally no limits to what I can achieve.

If I can dream it, then I can be it.

Which is great news, because since watching a recent documentary about Michael Jordan,

I've decided I want to be the MVP of the Chicago Bulls.

So what if I'm a 48-year-old with a dodgy knee,

who consistently struggles to throw balled-up paper into a trash can three feet away. Stop limiting me with your

words and your facts. I suspect this limitophobia partly explains why some of us react against

the theological concept of limited atonement. How could the perfect atonement one for for us by the Eternal Son of God, be in any sense, limited?

Mindful of this unhelpful implication, some theologians have wisely taken to calling it definite atonement instead.

But whichever term you use, what it means is simply this.

Jesus died to fully secure the salvation of his people, not just to make the offer.

Limited or definite atonement is rooted in biblical texts such as Mark chapter 10 verse 45, which says, the son of man came to give his life as a ransom for many that is

Christ didn't die merely to make a ransom offer his death actually was the ransom and it was

completely effective for the many to whom it applies that truth is reinforced by Revelation chapter 5 verse 9, where

the worshippers in heaven sing to Jesus, worthy are you for you were slain and by your blood

you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Well, think about Ephesians chapter 5 verses 25.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Again, though Christ freely offers salvation to all,

his death actually achieved salvation specifically for his bride, the church.

...