My name is Craig Ireland and I have the great privilege of serving our Risen Christ, as Pastor/Teaching Elder of Hope Christian Church.

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The ‘WHY’ Question

That great 18th century theologian, Jonathan Edwards wrote a discourse titled, A Dissertation Concerning The End For Which God Made The World wherein he opens the matter of the “why” question with this grand, all-clarifying sentence,

“Indeed this affair seems properly to be an affair of divine revelation.^[1] In order to be determined what was designed, in the creating of the astonishing fabric of the universe we behold, it becomes us to attend to, and rely on what HE has told us, who was the architect. He best knows His own heart, and what His own ends and designs were, in the wonderful works which He has wrought.”^[2]

by John Piper

Sin: The ultimate outrage of the universe:

Particular Redemption/Limited Atonement - Some Questions Answered

(This is not meant to be an exhaustive defence, just some persoal thoughts on the subject. For a more thorough defence of Limited Atonement, please see John Owen's, 'The Death of Death in the Death of Christ')

Most people acknowledge that Reformation Theology has at its centre, the idea that man is morally incapable of pleasing God or turning to Him without God first freeing their will to do so. This system of theology (sometimes termed Calvinism) is often presented in the acronym T.U.L.I.P. A kind of theological shorthand that was formulated at the Synod of Dort (1618-1619).

At the heart of the infamous TULIP is the most controversial point called Limited Atonement indicated by the ‘L’. This view has always come under much scrutiny and there is a growing trend amongst Reformed folk today to abandon the ‘L’ and embrace a kind of 4 point formulation.