2 Corinthians 5:14-15
This text provides only three categories of people. They are not all exclusive of each other. It is also not exhaustive in categorizing.
1. The Saviour
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2. Believers
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
3. All
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
With the second and third groups in mind, it seems apparent to me that the second group (the believers) are taken out of the third group of all people.
Paul says, as a matter of fact, that Christ died for all. He equates that all who Christ died for were dead. (The trouble is that logic will argue the example that all the dogs in my house are pets, but not all the pets in my house are dogs. I would counter that they could be.)
The equivalent opposite would be that all who were dead, Christ died for.
But now instead of leaving it as all, he breaks a group out of the all. He said that while Christ died for all, the believers who are called the living should do their living for Christ.
It follows, and I judge, that not all of the “all” are living.
Not everyone that Christ died for, is alive in Him. There are some people to whom salvation is offered who are not considered to be saved.
This text provides only three categories of people. They are not all exclusive of each other. It is also not exhaustive in categorizing.
1. The Saviour
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2. Believers
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
3. All
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
With the second and third groups in mind, it seems apparent to me that the second group (the believers) are taken out of the third group of all people.
Paul says, as a matter of fact, that Christ died for all. He equates that all who Christ died for were dead. (The trouble is that logic will argue the example that all the dogs in my house are pets, but not all the pets in my house are dogs. I would counter that they could be.)
The equivalent opposite would be that all who were dead, Christ died for.
But now instead of leaving it as all, he breaks a group out of the all. He said that while Christ died for all, the believers who are called the living should do their living for Christ.
It follows, and I judge, that not all of the “all” are living.
Not everyone that Christ died for, is alive in Him. There are some people to whom salvation is offered who are not considered to be saved.