A topic like this deserves a much fuller treatment, but I thought it would be beneficial to put forth a short case for the third point of Calvinism called Limited Atonement (or better yet, particular atonement). Now I don't think this is a point to divide over on either a first or second level, but I do think it is a point that has far reaching implications. I'll confess, I don't understand how 4-point Calvinism works. The entire point of sovereign grace is particularity in whom God chooses to save and how He does it for His elect, but I digress.
Here are some Scriptures that I believe imply particularity in the matter of for whom Christ died. I'll admit, I could be wrong, but I am pretty confident in my understanding.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours...And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth (John 17:9, 19 NKJV)
In this, Jesus' High Priestly prayer, He specifically identifies those for whom He is praying and by implication, whom He is going to the cross for. Notice, in verse 9, Jesus specifically says He is not praying for the world, but for those who were given to Him by God the Father. In the immediate context, this means the Twelve apostles sans Judas, but then in verse 20, our Lord widens His prayer to include all believers everywhere.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 5:12-21 NKJV)
This long section is Paul's classic statement of Federal Theology, the doctrine that both believers and unbelievers each have a representative who acted on their behalf. As for how it pertains to Definite Atonement, it seems clear that Adam's transgression actualized the condemnation of those whom he represented and conversely, Jesus Christ's obedience actualized the salvation of those He represented. Notice, that Jesus' obedience didn't make salvation possible - His death made it actual. Now certainly this couldn't pertain to all people without exception, or else all people everywhere would be saved and we would be left with Universalism. Therefore, I conclude that Romans 5 also indicates Particular Atonement.
For by one offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 NKJV)
This one is my personal favorite. I believe this one verse could by itself affirm both Particular Atonement and Final Perseverance. Here's how. The writer of Hebrews states that Jesus' one offering of Himself on the cross by itself perfected - not every person without exception - but specifically those who are being sanctified. Jesus' death actually accomplished this perfecting of His people. His death certainly did not perfect the finally reprobate. But the writer goes even further by stating that Jesus' sacrifice of Himself also perfected His people forever! There is no possibility of falling away (and even the passage later in chapter 10 that seems to imply that they can rules out the possibility of that happening in verse 39). This establishes the Perseverance of the saints.
There is certainly much more that could be said. More passages that could be cited and more arguments that I could make, but I hope this short case is encouraging for those who hold to Particular Atonement and challenging for those who don't agree with me to reconsider their position.
