Warren
W. Wiersbe (AD 1929-2019) was a great preacher and writer. I have often recommended his Bible book
commentaries to young preachers and Sunday School teachers. They are some of the first Bible study books
you should buy. His commentaries are
available in individual volumes, or all combined in two volumes (Old and New
Testaments) in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary. Anything written by Wiersbe is worth reading.
What
did Warren Wiersbe believe about Calvinism and Limited or Unlimited
Atonement? No doubt he was what some would
call a Moderate Calvinist (names vary, aka Traditionalist, Non-Calvinist), but
he was not a 5-point Calvinist.
Following are some of his quotes on the Atonement. It is clear Wiersbe believed in Unlimited
Atonement, or, in other words, Jesus died for the sins of the world, and anyone
can be saved.
John 1:29
“Those
lambs could not take away sin, but the Lamb of God can take away sin. Those lambs were for Israel alone, but this
Lamb would shed His blood for the whole world.”
-Warren W. Wiersbe, Bible Exposition Commentary
John 3:16
“God
sent His Son to die, not only for Israel, but for a whole world.”
“He
has salvation for a whole world.” -Warren
Wiersbe
2 Corinthians
5:15-17
“Because
‘all things are become new,’ we also have a new view of people around us. We see them as sinners for whom Christ
died.” -Warren Wiersbe
1 Timothy 4
“The
title ‘Saviour of all men’ does not imply that everybody will be saved
(universalism), or that God saves people in spite of themselves; for Paul added
‘specially of those that believe.’ It is
faith that saves one’s soul (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Since God ‘will have all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), and since
Christ ‘gave Himself a ransom for all’ (1 Timothy 2:6), then any lost sinner
can trust Christ and be saved. Christ is
‘the Saviour of all men,’ so nobody need despair.” -Warren Wiersbe
2 Peter 2:1
“In
what sense were these people ‘bought’ by the Lord? While it is true that Jesus Christ died for
the church (Ephesians 5:25), it is also true that He died for the sins of the
whole world (1 John 2:2). He is the merchant
who purchased the whole field (the world) that He might acquire the treasure in
it (Matthew 13:44). When it comes to application, our Lord’s atonement is
limited to those who believe. But when
it comes to efficacy, His death is
sufficient for the whole world. He
purchased even those who reject Him and deny Him! This makes their condemnation even greater.” -Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, David C. Cook; 2007.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor,
May 21, AD 2019.
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