There are a number of Scriptures that teach us that the scope of Christ's death was limited to the elect. Here are a few of them:
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for MANY (Matthew 20:28).
The "many" for whom Christ died are the elect of God, just as Isaiah had said long before,
By his knowledge my righteous servant will justify MANY, and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)
The Lord Jesus made it clear that His death was for His people when He spoke of the Shepherd and the sheep:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep....just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for THE SHEEP (John 10:11, 15).
The good Shepherd lays down His life in behalf of the sheep. Are all men the sheep of Christ? Certainly not, for most men do not know Christ, and Christ says that His sheep know Him (John 10:14). Further, Jesus specifically told the Jews who did not believe in Him, "but you do not believe because you are not my sheep" (John 10:26). Note that in contrast with the idea that we believe and therefore make ourselves Christ's sheep, Jesus says that they do not believe because they are not His sheep! Whether one is of Christ's sheep is the Father's decision (John 6:37, 8:47), not the sheep's!
...just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for US as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God....husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up FOR HER to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:2, 25-27).
Christ gave Himself in behalf of His Church, His Body, and that for the purpose of cleansing her and making her holy. If this was His intention for the Church, why would He give Himself for those who are not of the Church? Would He not wish to make these "others" holy as well? Yet, if Christ died for all men, there are many, many who will remain impure for all eternity. Was Christ's death insufficient to cleanse them? Certainly not. Did He have a different goal in mind in dying for them? [I am not here denying that the death of Christ had effects for all men, indeed, for all of creation. I believe that His death is indeed part of the "summing up of all things" in Christ. But, we are speaking here solely with the salvific effect of the substitutionary atonement of Christ. One might say that Christ's death has an effect upon those for whom it was not intended as an atoning sacrifice.] No, His sacrificial death in behalf of His Church results in her purification, and this is what He intended for all for whom He died.
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring a charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died---more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:32-34).
The Father gave the Son in our place. Who is the "our" of this passage? The text says that it is "those whom God has chosen," that is, the elect of God. Again, the intercessory work of Christ at the right hand of the Father is presented in perfect harmony with the death of Christ---those for whom Christ died are those for whom He intercedes. And, as this passage shows, if Christ intercedes for someone, who can possibly bring a charge against that person and hope to see them condemned? So we see what we have seen before: Christ dies in someone's place, He intercedes for them, and they are infallibly saved. Christ's work is complete and perfect. He is the powerful Savior, and He never fails to accomplish His purpose.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for HIS FRIENDS (John 15:13).
Are all the friends of Christ? Do all own His name? Do all bow before Him and accept Him as Lord? Do all do His commandments (John 15:14)? Then not all are His friends.
While we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself FOR US to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:13-14).
Both the substitutionary element of the cross (gave himself for us) and the purpose thereof (to redeem us...to purify) are forcefully presented to Titus. If it was the purpose of Christ to redeem and purify those for whom He died, can this possibly not take place?
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save HIS PEOPLE from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Christ will save His people from their sins Well, did He? Did He save His people, or did He not?
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
This is the common confession of every true believer in Christ. We died with Him, our Substitute, the one who loved us and gave Himself in our behalf.
We have seen, then, that the Word teaches that Christ died for many, for His sheep, for the Church, for the elect of God, for His friends, for a people zealous for good works, for His people, for each and every Christian.
Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
You build a statement concerning who can be saved around , the lie that Jesus did not redeem all, pay the price for all. supposedly by scripture that you say is infallible and that scripture does not contradict itself, yet when Jesus said all one needs to do is believe on him and he would be saved.
If I worded the question who does Jesus say can be saved, you would denial because of your doctrine.
Well it is true scripture is infallible and it does not contradict it self, but you continually reject the truth, the word of God, and the wisdom of God found in the word of God.
Thus my posting of the scripture you refuse to believe what Jesus
said.
Whosoever is eternal the infallible, incorruptible will of God, the word of God , whosever that believe that Jesus is the son of God.
Whosoever will believe in Jesus will be saved, IS true.
That does NOT mean they have the ability, and Jesus said that NO ONE has that ability UNLESS the father draws them.
If I say to everyone on CDFF:
Whosoever gives me ten million dollars I will build them a house.
Now, My offer is true, and NO ONE on this group has that ability!
So, anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved, but the only people who have that ability, have already been made alive spiritually by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:7,8; For the MIND that is set on the flesh is hostile to
God; IT does not submit to God's law, indeed it CANNOT; and those who
are in the flesh CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
1 Corinthians 2:14: The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts
of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and, HE IS NOT ABLE
TO UNDERSTAND THEM because they are spiritually discerned.
John 3:5-7; Jesus answered, "Truly, Truly, I say unto you, unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot ENTER the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you,
James wrote - "It bothers me that you would put the Good news of the Gospel in quotes. You have definitely over reacted."
Your "good News" is nothing like the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And lets don't even talk about over reacting. I would think the one who screams in caps, who has excessive use of !!!!! would be considered as one who is over reacting to make his point, as opposed to one who puts a couple words into quotes. A live debate with you would no doubt be deafening to the ears.
James wrote - "The good news is that although we have all sinned against God, God,in His mercy has made a way out for us, a way to escape the wrath that we all deserve. And that is through trusting in Jesus. We must repent and trust in Jesus and if we do this, the Bible says that we are adopted into God's family, and that we are declared perfectly righteous in the eyes of God, and we will have peace with God and will finally experience what life was meant to be. Since neither of us knows who will accept Jesus, we both share the gospel the same way."
I don't have to wonder or worry about whether this is a lost soul worthy of saving [elect in your mind, which demands that only some are worthy of the Sacrifice Christ made], or one that God deemed unworthy by way of His creation. So, no. We both don't really share the Gospel the same way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the one I share, invites all sinners to the Cross. Yours invites only the elect. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the one I share, includes a display of Jesus' love for all mankind by giving freely of Himself, enduring the Cross, for the sins of the world. Yours is for the sins of some.
And yes, I do find it disturbing that you can't share the love of Christ with the lost by telling them that Jesus loves them. After all, it was because of love that our sins were nailed to the Cross. God so loved the world that He gave His Son.
James wrote - "I would NOT tell them that because if they are lost they need to be concerned with Going to HELL! They need to repent and trust IN Jesus. You see how you are being hyper sentimental, and it has nothing to do with the truth?"
And of some have compassion, making a difference: - Jude 1:22
James wrote - "That is NOT TRUE! Good Grief, I have had to spend a LOT of time on this group explaining to people that the word "whosoever" does NOT necessarily mean you have the ability, and NOW, YOU are saying "whosoever" does not MEAN whosoever! It means ANYONE and john 3:16 is true for every single person on Earth!"
Do you not take the time to read what is written to you? Do you not see the contradictions you are making to your own beliefs? The time you have spent here explaining or defining the word "whosoever", is spent telling us that "whosoever" is not applicable to each individual in a "world" that does not consist of all humanity, but only a scattered humanity in certain areas of the world. It is those of us who believe "whosoever" means "any person", "every person" who believes, will have eternal life. It is those of us who believe the "world" includes all of humanity, that God loved enough to send His Son. You have never agreed with us. But now you're saying that John 3:16 is true for every single person on earth??? When you don't believe the "world" in John 3:16 doesn't include every single person on earth???
James wrote - "You need to read what I said again. Listen to yourself. Jesus dies for people in EVERY nation and tribe and tongue, and THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU????"
You're not over reacting here are you, James? No. You listen to yourself, James. You say "Jesus dies for people in EVERY nation and tribe and tongue". Scripture says that Jesus died for every person in every nation and every tribe and every tongue. That is the world. That is John 3:16. And out of those, any who believe, will not perish, but will have everlasting life.
James wrote - "So what if I would never say, "Jesus died for the sins of every person who ever lived". Do you HONESTLY think lost people care about that??? I mean, I will give you it sounds nice, in a Hallmark card kind of way. So what!"
More over reacting, James? Truthfully, I think you care less about it than the lost souls in this world. Let me tell you what the lost people of the world care about when it comes to sharing Jesus and their sin... They ask, they wonder if their sin can be forgiven. Some think they are too sinful to be forgiven. Some question as to whether God would hear them if they prayed. Some feel they have to clean up their lives in order to present themselves to God. But ALL I have ever witnessed to have at one time or another asked... Did Jesus really die for me? Does Jesus really love me? Maybe it's because of my career, maybe it's my style as to who I come into contact with, who knows, but if that's a Hallmark Card to you, I'd rather be found guilty of ascribing too much love to God than limiting His love.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:8,10
James wrote - "Okay, According to Jesus, HOW MANY people can come to Him that the father does not draw?"
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me. - John 12:32
James wrote - "Yes, I see that Jesus loved him. So? That man could have been saved later! But the Holy Spirit had not entered that man then, because the man rejected Jesus. Jesus said, "with man, it is impossible". So much for free will."
This does not negate the free will of man. The man chose to not give up his riches. Whether he was saved later, is not the point. He chose, at that time, to walk away from Christ. His choice. The fact that he was sad and grieved because of his choice, lends to the thought that he knew exactly what he was doing and that when he couldn't have the best of both worlds; Christ and the riches of the world or his earthly possessions, he chose the latter. Jesus illustrated how difficult it was for a rich man, who puts his riches before God, to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Impossible. However, His grace was sufficient to save the rich man if he had chosen to put Christ before his riches.
As to this term you throw around called total depravity, stripping from men the will to "choose"...
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: - Deuteronomy 30:19
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD. - Proverbs 1:29
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, [We are] witnesses. - Joshua 24:15,22
The Reason I am glad Jesus did not die for everyone who ever lived is because of the extreme EVIL that some people have committed their entire lives.
I remember being a member of First Baptist, and a team of doctors came in, and presented a detailed medical opinion of what Jesus went through BEFORE, and during His crucifixion.
Using the Scriptural data, they concluded that Jesus SHOULD have died BEFORE He got to the cross!
Jesus was whipped with a device that killed people regularly.
He was whipped by a man who did this all the time and was skilled at it.
They beat him, and did all manner of terrible things to Him, and this was for HOURS before He was crucified.
When I think of the EVIL that Pol Pot, and Mao, and Stalin, and Hitler have done.....when I think of the EVIL of murdering kings, and warlords, of Pedophiles, of people who did their utmost to trample and hurt other people all their lives...........
I am GLAD that Jesus did NOT die for them.
Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and without Him, I would be in Hell right this moment.
His life was perfect, and he ALWAYS did the right thing, and He died a horrible death to pay for the sins of His people.
That is bad enough, because even the people Jesus died for have sinned many, many times.
But some people on this Earth, are just so evil, that I am GLAD Jesus did not die for them.
