I mentioned last week that Ligonier's Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast is currently featuring Dr. Steven Lawson teaching on the doctrines of grace in the Gospel of John. It was been rich teaching, as Dr. Lawson looks at Jesus' own words that clearly support the sovereignty of God in salvation. You have to wonder how anyone can miss it!
The other morning as I was listening to the broadcast on particular atonement, that Jesus died to redeem a particular people for himself, I was struck by Dr. Lawson's point that particular atonement actually exemplifies the unity of the Godhead. Each person of the Trinity is working together in perfect unity to save one group of sinners, those chosen of God for salvation. Dr. Lawson explained that Arminians, whether they realize it or not, believe in a fractured unity of the Godhead. They believe:
1. God the Father looks down the "tunnel of time" and saves those individuals whom he knows will choose Christ as their Savior - a limited group of people.
2. God the Son laid down his life to save the whole "world," i.e. every person who has ever lived on this planet.
3. God the Holy Spirit woos only those who have heard the gospel of Christ - another limited group of people.
When Jesus said "I and the Father are one" in John 10:30, he was not saying that he and the Heavenly Father are the same person; rather, Jesus explained that he and the Father are one in mind, one in mission, and one in purpose. And that purpose was not to die for people without exception, but to die for people without distinction. With his blood, Jesus "ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Rev. 5:9)."
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