The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Arminian Atonement of John Piper

it is absolutely true that anyone who believes upon Christ with a true saving faith will be saved.

The problem here, IF the quote is accurate and in context, is the "Christ died for all sinners..." This connotes a universal atonement which denies an actual vicarious SUBSTITUTIONARY death, i.e., Christ actually paid the penalty for those whom He died, and the Holy Spirit infallibly applies all the merits of that death to those same individuals who were predestined to salvation from all eternity. It is absolutely impossible to try and maintain that Christ died for ALL, without exception, and then add in the condition that His death is only applicable to those who believe. For the faith that is exercised is one of the merited benefits of Christ's atonement. The most devastating argument against this sort of view just so happens to be probably the most simplistic argument ever penned and that was by John Owen which you can find HERE.

Unfortunately, John Piper is infamous for making unguarded or outright heretical statements. How he has been able to gather such a following is beyond me, from a human standpoint. Don't people think any longer? Don't people compare what men say/write with their respective church's confession?

But again, the initial statement that "whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" is incontrovertibly true. The "calling" is of course referring to one who reaches out to embrace Christ with a Spirit-wrought faith. It isn't the typical evangelical, "Asking Jesus into your heart" or "Making Jesus your Savior", or "Raising the hand at some revival meeting", etc.