Acts2.21
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Did Jesus Christ die for everyone without exception, that is, the entire human race, from the time of Adam, to the last person on earth? Or, did Jesus Christ die for only a certain few, that is, the "elect"?
I believe that one text from the New Testament, among many others, is very clear to the fact, that Jesus Christ not only died for a limited number of sinners, those He chose before the foundation of this world, His "elect", as some Reformed and Calvinists put it.
The text is from The Apostle Peter's Second Letter, chapter 2, verse 1:
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction"
It is very clear from the language here, that these "false prophets", and "false teachers", cannot be part of the "elect", whom Jesus would have chosen to salvation. As these are said to "bring on themselves swift destruction", language that cannot be used for those who are born-again believers!
The normal word for "Lord" (κύριος), is not here used, but rather, "δεσπότης", which is also used for Jesus in Jude 4, which context is very similar to the second chapter of 2 Peter. This Greek word is for an absolute ruler, in a good sense when used for Jesus Christ, and God elsewhere, which is for His Sovereignty. Some have supposed that this Title, "δεσπότης", because it is not the usual one used for Jesus Christ, "κύριος", does not refer to Jesus, but to God the Father. This reasoning is used to try to weaken the application of this verse to the Death of Jesus Christ, and its scope. The context, as we shall see, clearly shows that it is Jesus Christ, and not the Father, Who is meant.
It should be noted, that these heretics, who are destined to "swift destruction", by their false teachings, are said to have been BOUGHT by the Lord Jesus Christ. Here we have the use of the Greek verb, "ἀγοράζω", which is used for the purchase of slaves, in classical Greek, and has exactly this meaning when used for the Death of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Apostle Paul tells Christians, that they had been ""ἀγοράζω", with a price". Exactly the same thing he says in chapter 7:23. In Revelation 5:10, the Apostle John uses "ἀγοράζω", for believers, where it is translated, "redeemed". Likewise in chapter 14, verses 3-4. No doubt on the use of this word in the New Testament, and its relation to the Death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thus, it is very clear to those who don't have theological preconceptions, that Jesus Christ did not only die for the "elect", but also for those who sadly will end up in hell.
I believe that one text from the New Testament, among many others, is very clear to the fact, that Jesus Christ not only died for a limited number of sinners, those He chose before the foundation of this world, His "elect", as some Reformed and Calvinists put it.
The text is from The Apostle Peter's Second Letter, chapter 2, verse 1:
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction"
It is very clear from the language here, that these "false prophets", and "false teachers", cannot be part of the "elect", whom Jesus would have chosen to salvation. As these are said to "bring on themselves swift destruction", language that cannot be used for those who are born-again believers!
The normal word for "Lord" (κύριος), is not here used, but rather, "δεσπότης", which is also used for Jesus in Jude 4, which context is very similar to the second chapter of 2 Peter. This Greek word is for an absolute ruler, in a good sense when used for Jesus Christ, and God elsewhere, which is for His Sovereignty. Some have supposed that this Title, "δεσπότης", because it is not the usual one used for Jesus Christ, "κύριος", does not refer to Jesus, but to God the Father. This reasoning is used to try to weaken the application of this verse to the Death of Jesus Christ, and its scope. The context, as we shall see, clearly shows that it is Jesus Christ, and not the Father, Who is meant.
It should be noted, that these heretics, who are destined to "swift destruction", by their false teachings, are said to have been BOUGHT by the Lord Jesus Christ. Here we have the use of the Greek verb, "ἀγοράζω", which is used for the purchase of slaves, in classical Greek, and has exactly this meaning when used for the Death of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Apostle Paul tells Christians, that they had been ""ἀγοράζω", with a price". Exactly the same thing he says in chapter 7:23. In Revelation 5:10, the Apostle John uses "ἀγοράζω", for believers, where it is translated, "redeemed". Likewise in chapter 14, verses 3-4. No doubt on the use of this word in the New Testament, and its relation to the Death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thus, it is very clear to those who don't have theological preconceptions, that Jesus Christ did not only die for the "elect", but also for those who sadly will end up in hell.
