Jesus' Sacrifice
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Jesus' Sacrifice- Almost everyone would understand that these two words, when placed together, would be defined as the sacrifice which Christ made. However, when we begin to talk about Christ's sacrifice, many take on non-biblical ideas and twist scripture concerning Christ's sacrifice to fit their presuppositions. So this page was put up years ago because of the countless debates I had been in discussing the topic 'For whom did Christ die?' Scripture is plain that Christ only laid down his life for his sheep. Nowhere can we find a place in scripture, whereby Christ's stated that he was laying down his life for the goats. Did Jesus Die For Everyone ? Many today think that Jesus died for everyone. This is absolutely not the case. If we would take all the scriptures dealing with Christ crucifixion and weigh the evidence, then the only conclusion would be is that Jesus died for his elect only. Some say that he died for everyone, but did not secure salvation for anyone, but only made it possible on the condition of receiving him. They then make receiving him the grounds of their justification and not the faith that is given to those that God has ordained to receive him. Jesus plainly declared that he was laying his life down for his sheep and that his sheep follow him and know his voice. Read John 10. How much plainer can that be? It doesn't take a theological degree to figure that one out. He turns right around and tells the religious crowd of the day that they believe not because they are not of his sheep John 10:26. What Determines My Status As A Sheep? Am I a sheep because I choose Christ ? or Did God choose me to be a sheep ? I have got to lean towards the later. I do not only lean towards it, but fall that way. Jesus did not just make salvation possible for me while on the cross, but he actually died for my sins. He secured salvation for me. God chose me from the foundations of the world and wrote my name in the Book of Life of the Lamb Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8,17:8. Christ secured my salvation when he died on the cross. Show some scriptures proving your point, some would say. Ok, I think I will. Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify MANY; for he shall bear THEIR INIQUITIES. [Those that are justified through his knowledge, he died for] Isaiah 53:12 .........and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Matt. 20:28.........and to give his life a ransom for many. Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mark 10:45..........and to give his life a ransom for many. Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many............ My status as a sheep was determined by God before the foundations of the world. He saved me. He chose me. Where is God's sovereignty in the church today? I know the objections. Some object and say that the Bible speaks of 'world,' 'all,' and 'every man.' They take scripture out of context and try to press a universal meaning on those particular scriptures. Before I go any further I want to add that John 3:16 is one of those scriptures whereby the opposition holds as a universal scripture. For God so loved the world........ Certainly by sending his Son Jesus into this world he proved his love for man. But the question is: Is he trying to save every man? I said it proved his love for man in general and not for all men in particular. Also the scriptures plainly declare that he loves those who loves his Son (See John 14:21,23). God loves his elect that he chose to give to his Son. Romans and Ephesians were written to the church and not to the world. Many use the next scripture and place it in tracts to give out to none believers. However, Paul is writing to the redeemed that were in Rome. Rom. 5:8 says, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is talking to God's elect and not the world. You say: Prove this. Okay, I will. Read the next scripture after that one. Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, WE shall be saved from wrath through him. Who are those of whom are justified by his blood? Who shall be saved from wrath thru him ? The whole world ? No!!! Those that he commended his love towards by having his Son die for them and justifying them by his blood. See Eph. 2:4. But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Who did God have mercy on and of whom was his great love directed towards? Those that he quickened and brought alive from the dead. See the next scripture. Eph. 2:5 Even when WE where dead in sins, hath quickened US together with Christ, [by grace are YE saved;] So God loved his elect that he chose from the foundations of the world and that was scattered all over the world. Here are some of the vain protest against God saving who he wants to save . Rom. 5:18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. {In Adam all died whether they sinned after the same sin as Adam or not, [see vs.14], but in Christ the free gift came upon all. If this means that the free gift came upon all the world as it did with Adam, then we conclude that no one will be lost because of forcing the same scenario on this "all" that came upon "all" after Adam sinned, and would lead us to universalism. But if we look at vs. 17 we see another way of interpreting the "all" of vs. 18.} Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more [they which receive abundance of grace] and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, even Jesus Christ. Only those to whom God gives his abundant grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life by Jesus Christ. For the scripture goes on to say that were sin abounded, grace did much more abound verse 20. God gives this grace to whom he pleases. The scripture says, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy...... No one can convince me that God is giving his grace to some tribe that is across seas worshiping a monkey (Of course, we have monkey worshipers in the U. S. also). God might be showing them mercy, by not destroying them, but certainly he is not showing them grace or unmerited favour. Unmerited favour is only being shown where Christ is being preached. God saves a sinner through the preaching of the gospel by showing him unmerited favour {GRACE}. Also no one can convince me that everyone that lives where the gospel is being preached is being shown unmerited favour. Only those whom God chooses to save is given the gift of grace. See Eph. 3: 7; 4:7. In Rom. 11:5 Paul declares that even among the Jews, there is only a remnant according to the election of grace. Here is proof of this same scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. {Will all, every man, and the world be made alive in Christ? Let's see.} 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. See this scripture states that every man doesn't necessarily mean every man in the world. Only those that are Christ's will resurrect to eternal life at his coming. Here is a scripture that uses "all". 2 Cor. 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. {then were all dead is in the wrong verb. The New king James corrected this. The scripture should say, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, THEN ALL DIED. Only Christians are to count themselves dead in Christ. Rom. 6; 7:4; Col. 3:3} 2 Cor. 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not hence forth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Rom 6:10 goes with this. The scripture says in 2 Cor. 5:19 That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto them the word of reconciliation. Now if it is true, as those which deny limited atonement say, then this scripture could be paraphrased like this: God was in Christ reconciling every one in the world unto himself not holding their sins against them , and hath committed to everyone in the world the ministry of reconciliation. See the mass confusion when universalism is pressed upon the scriptures.
DEATH FOR EVERY MAN Hebrews 2:9 says that Jesus tasted death for every man. Now this can't mean every man in the world in the light of verse 10. Heb.2:10 says that he done this to bring many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them bretheren, 2;12 Saying I will declare thy name unto my bretheren, in the midst of the church I will sing praise unto thee. 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Here is a favorite of mine: 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The scripture plainly declares who God is long suffering towards and it is the Us-wards mentioned here. He is long suffering waiting on his elect to come in. One more scripture that the adversaries of God's salvation uses, is : 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Now with all the scriptures I have done used it should be obvious what this scripture is saying, but since it's not here goes: John is saying that Jesus is the propitiation for the Jews sins and for the world's. John was a Jew, that is why he said , our sins and also the sins of the world. The Jews were saying, If Jesus is our Messiah then he isn't the Gentiles Messiah, but John said , not for us Jews only but for the world's. But it can't mean everyone in the world or you have universalism. Paul said the same thing. 1 Tim.4:10........who is the Saviour of all men [specially of those that believe] vs.11 These things command and teach. Acts 4:12 no other name given among men, whereby we must be saved. with Hebrews 10:26 ....there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. Jesus is it. You can't go back to the temple and offer a bullock. SOME SAY THAT I HAVE TO TWIST THE SCRIPTURES AND MAKE THEM SAY THAT JESUS IS ONLY SAVING HIS ELECT, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, USING SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE, I BELIEVE THE TWISTING IS ON THE OTHER HAND. |
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Read Loraine Boettner's writings on "Limited Atonement" J. I. Packer's Introduction to John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ The 'Almost Debate' of White versus Hunt and the 'Follow Up' (Mp3) The Particular Redemption Debate at the Westminster Assembly by Lee Gatis Substitutionary Atonement Series: 2 Parts by Jon Cardwell (Mp3) |