Did Jesus Die for Everyone?

That Jesus did not die for everyone is a statement I recently heard in a Calvinist/Reformed church, and it is apparently making its rounds in similar churches. Let me suggest from the beginning that this is an extremely problematic statement which is made out of ignorance of the plain teaching of salvation. It is also quite inconsistent with a plain reading of Scripture and how the early Apostles interpreted Scripture.

The idea behind this question is rather simple. First, the Calvinists and Reformed traditions believe that only a select few are elected and predestined to be saved. No one else can come to Christ because they are not elect and not predestined. I dealt with predestination in a lengthy post and with election in a short, easy-to-understand post.
https://www.anticipatingchrist.com/why-i-cannot-accept-modern-teaching-on-predestination/
https://www.anticipatingchrist.com/election/

The question also assumes the TULIP of Calvinism is irrefutably correct. TULIP stands for Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Preservation of the saints. Specifically, the question assumes that we cannot resist God’s grace because God sovereignly determines everything, thus, those upon whom grace is bestowed will be saved (Irresistible Grace). The question also assumes that limited atonement is a correct understanding of Scripture, meaning that only a few will be and can be saved from their sin. Another interpretation of TULIP is that God does everything – He draws us, He makes us alive, He responds to His grace for us, He saves us, and He begins the sanctifying process in us. It is a denial of any freedom of the human will. Thus, God’s grace could not possibly have been bestowed upon everyone.

There are multiple theological problems with these assumptions, and my post on election easily refutes it.

The one verse which I believe dismantles our question is 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” Let’s paint a simple scene. You were caught by the police violating a traffic law. Now, you are in court before the judge with the police officer accusing you of wrongdoing. The police officer does not need any witnesses because your infraction is all on video. The judge pronounces you guilty, and he imposes such a large fine that you cannot afford to pay it. If you do not pay it, you will lose your driver license and be sentenced to jail.

The judge decides to postpone the sentencing hearing. A few weeks later, you go back to the courthouse to hear your sentence. As the judge reads off the harsh sentence, off to the side of the judge’s bench stands an individual who says, “I have paid the penalty.”

Let’s stop here. If the judge pronounces a sentence on you, and you cannot afford to pay the penalty, then the judge is right to take whatever action is required. While the judge may be hesitant to deliver such a harsh sentence, the police officer, with a smirk on his face, reminds the judge of the law. He continues to accuse you and remind the judge of the harshness of your infraction.

But if there is an individual who has paid your penalty, while the judge no longer has reason to condemn you with the sentence, the individual who paid the penalty now stands in the shoes of the judge. The individual who paid the penalty has the right to judge. We may better understand this if I were a parent who paid the penalty for my child’s traffic ticket. Upon arriving at home, I can take the child’s car away, reduce driving privileges, or otherwise impose discipline. If the child paid the ticket, the child would have already been punished, and my punishment would not be meaningful.

This is the basic concept of salvation. We have broken God’s law (sin). Satan stands ready to accuse us, and the penalty for our sin is death, separation from God, and hell. But one, that is Jesus Christ, has taken the sins of the world upon Himself. John 1:29 He has paid the penalty required for sin and bought us through His death on the cross. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Now, because Christ has paid the penalty, He now stands in the place of the judge. Hebrews 9:27, 2 Timothy 4:1, Romans 14:10, John 5:22, 12:48 Christ determines our eternal fate. Christ’s payment of the penalty for our sin is what gives Him the right to judge.

Because He paid the penalty for our sin, Christ requires our lives in return. He requires belief on Him (John 3:16), submission to Him (Romans 12:1-2), and obedience to His commandments (Matthew 22:35-40). The study on 1 John which I just completed helps us better understand our proper response to Christ having laid His life down for us.

Our belief or unbelief in Christ, together with our submission or pride and obedience or disobedience of His commandments, is what makes His judgment righteous. First, Christ has the right to judge by paying the penalty, and second, His judgment is righteous based on our response.

If Jesus Christ did not die for everyone, then it necessarily means He did not die for all sin. This is very problematic because it must also mean that Jesus Christ did not overcome all sin, which also means He did not conquer hell and is not greater than Satan. Christ, therefore, becomes an inadequate sacrifice.

But there is more. Those for whom Jesus would not have died must find an alternative means to pay for their sin. Christ’s death on the cross is insufficient. This leads to a works-based salvation for “the unelect” because the unbelieving individual would have the right to stand before God and claim that their own death stands for their sin and must be accepted by God as payment for the penalty of sin.

Also, Romans 5:15-19 helps us understand that Jesus did die for everyone. Through Adam, we are all affected by sin. But Christ is the great reversal. If Jesus did not die for everyone, His death on the cross cannot reverse the curse of sin through Adam. But the plain teaching and very point of Romans 5:15-19 is the opposite – that Christ did indeed die to reverse the curse of sin.

We have broken God’s law and sinned. Satan stands before the throne of God accusing us and ready to haul us away into hell. Christ has paid the penalty for our sin, so He is our rightful judge. Our only hope to escape judgment to hell is to plead the blood of Christ, which requires belief in Him, submission to Him, and obedience to Christ. Christ’s judgment is made righteous based on how we regard His death on the cross for our sin. This is salvation simply explained.

#doubt #evangelism #faith #followingChrist #justificationbyfaith #obedience #salvation #sin #calvinismrefuted