Gospel
Recently I posted a rather long comment on the atonement from a youtube video that asked the question "For Whom Did Christ Die?"
This is an often debated question. Did Jesus die for every single person who ever lived or did He die only for the elect? Is everybody's sins covered or only those who believe?
Bible verses can be used to support each viewpoint but it is my belief that Jesus does not love everybody in the same way and that those He chose to salvation were chosen before the world began and His selection was not based on any foreseen faith in the creature. There's no good news in that idea once we understand the extent of the fall of man and his depravity.
Here's my initial post and the response that followed from a young woman. Finally today I received another posting from a man.
It is the faith of Jesus Christ that justifies us and gives us peace with God. Please open your Bible and read (Rom 5:1; Gal. 2:16) If it sounds unloving for God to choose only some to salvation then you do not know the extent of your sin and wickedness. You think God owes you salvation but you are an enemy to God by your rebellion and sins. You do not understand mercy.
By God's justice you deserve eternal damnation (Romans 3:23; 6:23) and will not come to Christ that you might have life. The Arminian God is a false God that is dependent on the so called free will of man. Is this free will of man above God and more powerful than the sovereign God of holy scripture? By no means. God says I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." Romans 9:15 "...so it is not of him that willeth or him that runneth but of God that showeth mercy." vs 16
As one brother has well said: "Jesus Christ BORE the transgression of His people. The sins of His people were IMPUTED to Him. Jesus Christ actually became GUILTY by imputation. He remained perfect in His character and conduct, but He was counted guilty because sin was imputed to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that Jesus Christ was actually MADE SIN for us. Now let's get into the atonement. You can already see by the passages in Leviticus and Isaiah how imputation and atonement are connected. If Christ atoned without imputation, then he must have either atoned for no one or atoned for Himself. We know that both of these are impossible. In order to make atonement, Christ must be the SUBSTITUTE and REPRESENTATIVE of a certain number of people.
What is ATONEMENT? It is reconciliation.
What does it mean to RECONCILE? To RECONCILE means "to restore to friendship or harmony." Jesus Christ, when He suffered, bled, and died, restored friendship between God and those for whom Christ died.
How was this friendship restored? Jesus suffered the just punishment for the sins of all His people; God's wrath was poured out on Jesus; and God's wrath was appeased.
Let's turn to Romans 5:10-11: Romans 5: (10) For if [while] being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life; (11) and not only [so], but also glorying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now received the reconciliation."
This reconciliation is atonement and the gospel that most Arminians have heard is a false gospel that leaves salvation in the hands of a sinner who is blind, dead and unable to believe and repent except the grace of God in the day of power grants repentance and faith to the unbelieving sinner. May you begin to seek God if you are still lost and living in darkness and sin. Unless you begin to feel your lost condition and see your many sins over the course of your life you will continue in your sin and rebellion to be condemned for your unbelief. "He that believeth NOT IS CONDEMNED already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)
Kristy- You don't know they'll be condemned (last paragraph). You said yourself at the beginning that mercy is for God to give as he sees fit.
Me-Kristy I know that those who do not believe will be condemned. This means those who continue in their wickedness and unbelief God will destroy. (Psalm 145:20) That's what God says. The wrath of God is upon those outside of Christ.
Kristy- How do you know that?
Me-Kristy do you believe the Bible? If you believe the Bible how do you not know that?
Kristy-Yes, I do believe the Bible. It says not to judge others, and that is what you're doing. You don't know who's going to be condemned. That's for God to decide.
Me-Kristy and now you are judging me aren't you? Yes you are. Stop and think. You're making a judgment with your statement. NOTE: When the Bible says not to judge others you must take that in its proper context. God doesn't forbid all judgment because Jesus told us to "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 God condemns all unbelief and if you do not believe this then you do not believe God's word for He says "He that believeth not IS CONDEMNED already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotton Son of God. (John 3:18) Perhaps you are still under God's judgment and it would seem so or you would not argue with me on such a simple to understand matter. If you don't agree with God's word then you are a judge of God's word and not a doer and so remain a unbeliever and condemned. Repent and pray for forgiveness.
Kristy-No, I was not judging you. I didn't say you are or are not saved or condemned. I didn't even say that you were wrong. I was only cautioning against certainty. As long as we are living this life, we have more to learn, and certainty stifles the openness of mind that is necessary to learn and grow.
Michael-It is a loving God who would choose ANYONE. The Scriptures do not limit the love of God because He elects some. His love is seen in the fact that He saves anyone at all. We are all born haters of God and in His grace He saves unworthy sinners who receive Grace, the rest receive Justice, but no one receives injustice. I like your response Carlton.
Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos on https://www.YouTube.com/user/LAStreetPreacher CONTACT at [email protected]
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...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
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