6For while
we were still helpless, at the right time
Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But
God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.
9Much more then, having now been
justified by His blood, we shall be
saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10For if while
we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
I bolded the passage so folks could better see these points:
- The redeemed were helpless. They had and have no ability of themself (no freedom of choice) to be redeemed.
- Christ died for the ungodly that reconciliation resolves upon belief. But do not dismiss that the ungodly are no longer helpless, but empowered by God to believe (John 1). But not ALL ungodly! But the death of Christ was for the ungodly God chose to redeem. Proved in the statement, “...Christ died for US...”
- God demonstrated His love to us, the redeemed. Those in whom remain ungodly have such demonstrated love but only the redeemed are reconciled
- While the redeemed (we) were enemies, the redeemed (we) were reconciled to God throughout the death of the son. The blood was for all, but not all are reconciled. Christ died to reconcile the redeemed (us).
- Upon such reconciliation the redeemed (we) shall be saved by His life (the resurrection).
I do not find support for your opposing that certainly God loved the World, set the Son into the World, to redeem only the believing ones to whom Christ died and arose.
The blood did not bring redemption / reconciliation. Such was accomplished by the death and resurrection and only for the “US” - the believing ones.
This single area I declare the “reformers” went too far. They attached blood to reconciliation. The blood was for all sin of all creation (Kosmos), but the blood did not bring reconciliation.
When Christ stated, “It is finished.” That was not a declaration of reconciliation. His death would be useless to us, as Paul said, with out the resurrection.
And here is an error between in my view of Scripture and your statement(s).
1). The blood was shed for all. However, Christ did not die of blood loss, but laid down His life, by His authority of sustainer of all things, to take it up again by His authority.
2). You fail to honor the truth that God certainly loves, and cares for all; however, not all are empowered by that special love of kinship (sonship, adoption) found in the redeemed.
I pointed out this principle earlier in the thread.
Therefore, there is no denial of the truth, but that truth which you have long refused and will most probably obstinately refuse again and again.