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The EVIDENCE from the Bible that Jesus died SPECIFICALLY for His people....
Posted : 7 Nov, 2011 03:57 PM
election itself saved no one; it only
marked out particular sinners for salvation. Those chosen by the
Father and given to the Son had to be redeemed if they were to be
saved. In order to SECURE their redemption, Jesus Christ came into
the world and tool upon himself human nature so that He might
identify Himself with His people and act as their legal
representative or substitute. Christ, acting on behalf of his
people, perfectly kept God's law and thereby worked out a perfect
righteousness which is IMPUTED TO THEM THE MOMENT THEY ARE BROUGHT TO
FAITH IN HIM. Through what He did, they are constituted righteous
before God. They are also freed from all guilt and condemnation as
the result of what Christ suffered for them.
All Calvinists agree that Christ's obedience and suffering were of
infinite value, and that if God had so willed, the satisfaction
rendered by Christ would have saved every member of the human race.
But he came into this world to represent and save only those given to
Him by the Father.
The Arminians also place a limitation on the atoning work of Christ.
but one of a much different nature. They hold that Christ's saving
work was designed to make possible the salvation of all men on the
condition that they believe, but that Christ's death IN ITSELF did
not actually secure of guarantee salvation for anyone.
Since all men will not be saved, a limitation must be admitted.
Calvinists say the Christ's death was all powerful but it was limited
to the elect, and Arminians say it was intended for everyone, but it
only made it POSSIBLE for God to pardon sinners, on the condition
that they believe.
For the Calvinist, the atonement "is like a narrow bridge that goes
all the way across the stream; for the Arminian it is like a great
wide bridge that goes only half-way across."
I heard a preacher once say "God casts a vote for you, the Devil
casts a vote against you, and you cast the deciding vote!"
As a Calvinist I would say something like, "This is God's universe,
He is merciful and loving, repent and trust in Jesus, and the Devil
is on a short leash and has no say in your salvation!"
A. The Scriptures describe the end intended and accomplished by
Christ's work as the full salvation of His people.
1. The Scriptures state that Christ came, not to enable men
to save themselves but to SAVE sinners.
Matthew 1:21: "...She will bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus, for he will SAVE HIS PEOPLE from their sins. '
Luke 19:10: "For the Son of man came to seek and to SAVE that which
is lost."
Galations 1:3,4: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our
Lord Jesus Christ, WHO GAVE HIMSELF for our sins TO DELIVER US from
the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
1 timothy 1:15: The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS and I am the
foremost of sinners.
Titus 2:14:...who GAVE HIMSELF for us to REDEEM US from all iniquity
and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for
good deeds.
1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also died for sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD, being
put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.
see also: 2 Cor. 5:21
2. The Scriptures declare that, as the result of what Christ did and
suffered, His people are reconciled to God, justified, and given the
Holy Spirit who regenerates and sanctifies them. All these blessing
were SECURED by Christ Himself for His people.
A. Christ, by His redeeming work, SECURED RECONCILIATION for His
people.
Romans 5:10: For if while we were enemies we were RECONCILED TO GOD
BY THE DEATH OF HIS SON, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall
we be saved by his life.
Ephesians 2:15,16: ...by abolishing in his flesh the law of
commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself on e new
man in place of the two, so making peace, and MIGHT RECONCILE US both
to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility
to an end.
Colossians 1:21,22: And you, who once were estranged and hostile in
mind, doing evil deeds, HE HAS NOW RECONCILED in his body of flesh by
his death, IN ORDER TO present you holy and blameless and
irreproachable before him.
see also:2 Cor. 5:18,19
B. Christ secured the righteousness and pardon needed by His people
for their JUSTIFICATION.
Romans 3:24,25:...they are JUSTIFIED by his grace as a gift, THROUGH
THE REDEMPTION WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS, whom God put forward as an
expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show
God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed
over former sins.
Romans 5:8,9: But God shows his love for us in that WHILE WE WERE
YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US. Since, therefore, we are now
JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, much more shall we be saved by him from the
wrath of God.
Hebrews 9:12:...he entered once and for all into the Holy Place,
taking not the blood of goats and calves but HIS OWN BLOOD, THUS
SECURING AN ETERNAL REDEMPTION.
1 Peter 2:24: He himself BORE OUR SINS in his body on the tree, that
we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED.
see also: 1 Cor. 1:30; Colossians 1:13,14
C. Christ secured the gift of the Spirit which includes REGENERATION
and SANCTIFICATION and all that is involved in them.
Ephesians 1:3,4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us in Christ WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING
in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before
him.
Titus 3:5,6:....he saved us, not because of of deeds done by us in
righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of
REGENERATION and RENEWAL in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out
upon us richly THROUGH Jesus Christ our Savior.
Hebrews 13:12: So Jesus also suffered outside the gate IN ORDER TO
SANCTIFY the people through his own blood.
see also: 1 John 1:7; Heb. 9:14; 1 Cor. 1:30; Acts 5:31
Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 5:25,26
B. Passages which represent the Lord Jesus Christ, in all that he did
and suffered for His people, as fulfilling the terms of a gracious
compact or arrangement which He had entered into with His heavenly
Father before the foundation of the world.
John 6:35-40: Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who
comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never
thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not
believe. ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVES ME WILL COME TO ME; and him who
comes to me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven,
not to do my own will, but THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME; and this is
the will of him who sent me, THAT I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING OF ALL THAT
HE HAS GIVEN ME, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the
will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in
him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last
day."
2. Jesus, the good shepherd, lays down his life for his sheep.
All who are "His sheep" are brought by Him into the fold and are made
to hear His voice and follow Him. Notice that the Father had given
the sheep to Christ!
John 10: 11,14-18: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
down his life for THE SHEEP...I am the good shepherd; I KNOW MY OWN
and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and
I lay down my life for THE SHEEP. And I have OTHER SHEEP, that are
not of this fold; I MUST BRING THEM ALSO, and they WILL heed my
voice.......THIS CHARGE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MY FATHER."
John 10: 24-29: [the unbelieving Jews demanded of Him] "If you are
the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and
you do not believe. The works that I do in my Fathers name, they
bear witness to me; but you do not believe, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT BELONG
TO MY SHEEP. MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM AND THEY
FOLLOW ME;AND I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH,
AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH THEM OUT OF MY HAND. MY FATHER, WHO HAS
GIVEN THEM TO ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL, AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH
THEM OUT OF THE FATHER'S HAND.
See also: John 17: 1-11, 20, 24-26
Those who say you can lose your salvation are contradicting what the
Bible says. If you are trusting in Christ,you are secure and can
KNOW that you are his,and NOTHING can snatch you from God's hand.
Sincerely,
James
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