"The two ways of conceiving the issue stand in sharp contrast before us now. On the one hand, there are the universalists, or advocates of general grace, who maintain this position: When Jesus died on the cross, it was God's will and Christ's purpose to bring about the kind of atonement that, if need be, was sufficient for all men. In addition, they contend that this atonement, offered in Jesus' name to all men, would be a blessing to as many as, according to Jesus' intention, desired to accept this salvation, while the atonement would remain unused only by as many as did not believe, even though it was so appointed for them and even though Jesus had intended and expected that they would believe.
On the other hand, there are the particularists, or advocates of special grace, who teach this: The church must preach to all creatures that there is atonement obtained through Christ's death for everyone who believes, has believed, or will believe; that is, because all believers are elect, atonement is only for the elect, not according to the [foreseen] result, but according to Christ's purpose and God's counsel. Particularists also teach concerning the application of this salvation that it is not concerned with possibly but as yet unconverted persons; on the contrary, it has to do with a persons whom the Lord loves with an eternal love, even before they were born, and whom he calls by name." - Abraham Kuyper, Particular Grace
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