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.
I have a question twosparrows, How many times does God have to say something before you believe it?
In Christ,
When we look at the apostles doctrine that specifically addresses how to be saved we see this central truth:
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
10:19 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 � For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Note five times the term he that believes or believeth and again in one of the greatest context of the bible
Jn 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Mr 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Joh 6:35 And Je
sus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Jo 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1Jo 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
The simplicity of The gospel is in he that believeth on him.
So when Jesus said he was the truth, and all men where liars,
Oh I remember man said that is your interpretation
Jesus again said you (man) where to have no interpretation, but then again Jesus said walk in the light, as he is in the light.
Man said walk in my light, we have reformed it to be our light.
Jesus said he is not a respecter of persons.
Man said that only applys to the elect.
You know this Jesus and man deal are like day and night, oh I forgot he created all evil for his own good.
What in the world is this post doing on a bible forum???????
Good news you all Jesus is the son of God and he died for you, and we are here to tell you come on in for you are reconciled to God the father and you will receive the remission of sins, he that believeth Jesus is lord and sayeth it is saved!!
That is the good news you all
Mans word it is not good you all, when you listen to man,listen only to the word of God thru man.
That man you all is not telling the truth. the one that says man can not believe the word of God
Steve wrote - "Arminian Speaking;Oh Father thankyou for making me a very accepting guy,You see IM not like that sinner down the street ,He wouldnt accept you at all,Im not like him,I got something special,Uh....an accepting power that that sinner just dont have....go ahead Lord,just throw something right at me....I guess your power isnt good enough for "ALL"....But me Im acceptng....Just mark that down on my old glory card Lord,because after all you dont have the power to grant me salvation lesson I accept it,Hmmm,if you look at it that way,your kind of powerless,theres something you CANT do,that is make it possible for me to be saved if its against my nature,but thats ok Lord,See im a very accepting fellow and I got a power you dont,that is to change my heart myself when its against my nature.So you just sit Down and relax Lord,I got this....Ill just turn on my accepting power full blast and change my old hard heart,and Ill make these old blind eyes see!Ill go round acting all sweet and nice and humble tellin folks about you....but Me and you Lord we gots us a secret....That is my accepting nature changin power!"
He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool. -Proverbs 10:18
Just wanted to remind you how ACCEPTional i am,in case you forgot....see i know your not really All-powerful cause you have to rely on us for our salvation,after all Lord if we dont make ourselves see and change our own natures,why your hands would be tied,cuz your a really powerful God and all,but you do have your limitations.Gee what if none of us had accepting powers,then Christ would have died for nothing,wouldnt that be a shame,oh well good thing I got these special accepting powers Lord,Im Special....with my accepting abilities and all....you can count on me Lord,cus me and you we is partners see.....you offer I accept....I dont need your help accepting Lord on a count of these special powers and all,hmmmmmm,I wonder why you didnt give everybody these special accepting abilities lord...Oh well...hehe...just glad I gots em"
These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. -Proverbs 6:16-19
SOoooo....are the professed Reformers callin us All Reprobate and Unsaved ? Or are they Tellin us we aint got no Faith ? Or are they just being Servents of the Most Low ?...Ima just courious thats all...xo
1. Did God choose whom He would show mercy to before the world was made, or did He merely look into the future and see who would have faith?
2. Did the fall kill mankind spiritually so that all people are born with not only original sin, but a will enslaved to sin so that they don't have the ability to choose Christ? OR...did the fall just give us an example not to follow, and we still have a perfectly freewill, and we can come to God on our own?
3. Did Jesus die for everyone who ever lived, or did He die for the one's the Father gave Him?
4. Is God's grace irresistible, or can we reject it with free will?
5. Arminians are divided on whether or not a true Christian can lose their salvation, but Calvinists believe that God will CAUSE His chosen people to persevere to the end.
