John MacArthur and Grace to You: Heretical Teachings and Doctrines of Devils
Anyone who aligns with John MacArthur and defends his views, after reading this, would be rejecting the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. This article raises serious concerns about the implications of MacArthur’s teachings regarding the blood of Christ.
The Bloodless Salvation of Heretic John MacArthur
The Blood of Christ.
The Heretical Teachings of John MacArthur: A Critical Examination of His Atonement Theology
Introduction
John MacArthur, a prominent figure within evangelical circles, has garnered considerable attention for his theological positions, particularly within Reformed and conservative Protestantism. As a pastor, teacher, and prolific author, MacArthur’s views have shaped the theological landscape of modern evangelicalism, particularly in the realm of biblical exegesis and doctrinal clarity. However, despite his widespread influence, a critical evaluation of his teachings reveals significant deviations from orthodox Christian doctrines, particularly in relation to the atonement of Christ. This article seeks to critically examine MacArthur’s views on the atonement, specifically his minimisation of the role of Christ’s blood in salvation. This stance, we argue, is not only unbiblical but also heretical, presenting a distorted understanding of the core doctrine of salvation.
In engaging with this topic, this article will examine MacArthur’s theological approach in light of biblical exegesis, historical theological tradition, and the testimony of the early Church Fathers. By offering a detailed critique, we aim to show how MacArthur’s treatment of the atonement undermines central Christian doctrines, and in particular, distorts the biblical message of salvation as it pertains to the role of Christ’s blood.
The Theological Premise of John MacArthur’s Atonement Doctrine
Central to MacArthur’s doctrinal framework is the assertion that while Christ’s death is the pivotal event in the salvation of humanity, the literal shedding of His blood does not possess any intrinsic redemptive power. MacArthur’s position, articulated in various sermons and writings, reduces the act of atonement to a mere historical event, detached from the ongoing, transformative power that the blood of Christ imparts to the believer. He states:
“It is not the blood that saves, but the death of Christ” (The Death of Jesus Christ, John MacArthur).
While MacArthur does acknowledge the significance of Christ’s blood in a general sense, he rejects any notion that the blood itself holds salvific power apart from the death of Christ. This reductionist view of atonement is problematic, as it diminishes the depth and theological weight of the atonement narrative, particularly as it is presented throughout the entirety of Scripture.
MacArthur’s doctrine of atonement does not adequately account for the multifaceted nature of salvation as revealed in the New Testament. For him, the centrality of the blood of Christ appears to be secondary to the physical death of Jesus, which is portrayed merely as a demonstration of divine justice. This interpretation, however, overlooks the deep and rich biblical theology of Christ’s blood as the means of redemption, reconciliation, and justification.
The Biblical Testimony Concerning the Atoning Power of Christ’s Blood
The Old Testament Typology: Blood as Atonement
The significance of blood in atonement is not a novel concept introduced in the New Testament; rather, it is deeply rooted in the Old Testament sacrificial system. The Old Testament consistently affirms that blood, specifically that of sacrificial animals, serves as the means by which sin is atoned for. Leviticus 17:11 underscores this principle:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
This passage reveals that blood is not merely symbolic but essential for the atonement process. The animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant were not ultimate but were designed to point forward to the final, efficacious sacrifice of Christ, whose blood would be shed for the ultimate atonement of sin. MacArthur’s downplaying of the blood of Christ stands in stark contrast to the clear theological trajectory of the Old Testament sacrificial system, which foreshadowed the atonement through the blood of the Lamb (cf. John 1:29; Hebrews 9:11-14).
The sacrificial system, while provisional, emphasised the indispensability of blood for reconciliation between God and humanity. The blood of Christ, as the fulfilment of these typologies, carries the same theological weight and significance. To diminish this aspect is to sever the continuity of biblical redemption and neglect the full depth of the atoning work of Christ.
New Testament Teachings: Atonement Through the Blood of Christ
In the New Testament, the blood of Christ is repeatedly identified as the means through which the believer’s sins are forgiven and their relationship with God is restored. The Apostle Paul, for instance, writes in Ephesians 1:7:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
This passage highlights that redemption is accomplished specifically through the blood of Christ. Similarly, in Colossians 1:20, Paul affirms:
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.”
Paul’s language in these passages is unequivocal: it is not merely the death of Christ in the abstract, but His blood that effects redemption and reconciliation. This theme is further developed in the Epistle to the Hebrews, where the blood of Christ is described as purifying the conscience and providing access to the holy presence of God (Hebrews 9:14).
In 1 Peter 1:18-19, the Apostle Peter underscores the preciousness of Christ’s blood:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
This passage reinforces the centrality of Christ’s blood in the doctrine of redemption. The phrase “precious blood” is significant, conveying the immeasurable value and efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice. The blood of Christ, according to Peter, is the very means by which believers are redeemed, and to neglect its importance is to misunderstand the gospel.
The Connection Between Blood and Justification
The New Testament also closely ties the blood of Christ to the doctrine of justification. Paul writes in Romans 5:9:
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
This verse makes it clear that justification is not a theological abstraction but is directly linked to the blood of Christ. The act of justification—being declared righteous before God—is only possible through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, which is mediated through His blood. MacArthur’s minimisation of the role of blood in the atonement undermines the biblical doctrine of justification, which is predicated upon the blood of Christ as the decisive factor in salvation.
Historical and Patristic Views on the Blood of Christ
The early Church Fathers unanimously affirmed the centrality of Christ’s blood in the doctrine of salvation. Clement of Rome, writing in the late first century, extols the significance of Christ’s sacrificial death:
“On account of the Love he bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls” (Clement of Rome, 1st Clement, 49).
This statement reflects the early Christian understanding that Christ’s blood was not merely a symbol but the very means of salvation. For Clement, as for many early Christian writers, the blood of Christ is intrinsically tied to the forgiveness of sins and the reconciliation of humanity to God.
Similarly, the Epistle of Barnabas, written in the late first or early second century, emphasises the sanctifying power of Christ’s blood:
“For to this end the Lord endured to deliver up His flesh to corruption, that we might be sanctified through the remission of sins, which is effected by His blood of sprinkling” (Epistle of Barnabas, 7).
This patristic view of the blood of Christ as both sacrificial and sanctifying stands in contrast to MacArthur’s minimisation of its significance. The early Church’s witness is clear: the blood of Christ is central to the believer’s salvation, and any attempt to diminish its role distorts the gospel.
The Theological Consequences of MacArthur’s Atonement Doctrine
MacArthur’s reduction of the atonement to the mere death of Christ, separated from the centrality of His blood, has serious theological implications. By emphasising death over blood, MacArthur’s doctrine fails to account for the ongoing, transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice in the life of the believer. The Bible presents salvation as an ongoing reality, where the believer is continually sanctified and made holy through the blood of Christ. To overlook this is to miss the full depth of salvation as both a legal declaration and an ongoing work of grace.
MacArthur’s teachings also have implications for the doctrine of sanctification. If the blood of Christ is not central to the believer’s life, then the process of becoming more like Christ—the believer’s sanctification—is left without its foundation. The New Testament teaches that it is through the blood of Christ that the believer is both justified and sanctified (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 13:12). To reduce the blood of Christ to a mere historical event without recognizing its present, transformative power is to neglect a foundational aspect of the Christian life.
Conclusion
John MacArthur’s minimisation of the significance of Christ’s blood in the atonement is not only a theological error but a heretical distortion of the gospel itself. The Scriptures, the early Church Fathers, and the entire Christian tradition affirm that it is through the blood of Christ that salvation is achieved. By diminishing the role of Christ’s blood, MacArthur undermines the very means by which redemption, justification, and sanctification are applied to the believer.
For the integrity of the Christian faith and the preservation of orthodox doctrine, it is imperative that we reject MacArthur’s position on the atonement and return to a biblical understanding of Christ’s blood as central to the gospel. The blood of Christ is not a peripheral detail of the atonement; it is the very heart of the message of salvation.
John Hayworth updated 2025
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