the term ' Limited Atonement ' or ' Particular Redemption ' is used
to reply to the Arminian / Methodist doctrine of Universal Atonement
which came about way back in the 1600's when the followers of Jacob
Arminius thought it proper to start their own brand of a Protestant
Reformation.

so they came to the Dutch Parliament and presented their belief
system to them, and after 154 sessions which lasted over 7 months, it
was concluded that the position of Mr. Arminius was actually
heretical.

the Arminian doctrine than man is not a slave to Satan, sin and
death, and is able in and of himself to accept or reject Christ stems
from their belief that the atonement of Christ is ' universal '...
that is, Christ paid the penalty for the sins of all men everywhere,
and all one has to do is ' make a decision for Christ ' or ' accept
Jesus as one's Lord and Savior ' and thus become saved.

since Christ paid the penalty for the sins of everyone and everyone
is not saved, it is easy to see that such a teaching presents Christ
as a failed Savior, since many have gone on to perdition.