Did Jesus die for every single individual or for the believers only?
By Nick Bibile
The majority of the church believes that Jesus died all all the people of the world, even in evangelism, the tell the unbelievers that Jesus died for you, please accept him as God is presented with tears falling down his eyes, begging for people to come to him.
On the other hand we see some say, Jesus died only for his elect believers. Now both of these groups believe that the Bible is the truth, they believe in scriptures, then where does the problem lie? The issue is how they interpret scriptures, it all depends on your interpretation. Now let us take some of these scriptures and try to solve them.
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Ro 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
When you look at the above scriptures it looks pretty clear that Christ Jesus died for all people, meaning every single individual who has been born on this earth right? Yes, looks pretty convincing. Even the Greek word for all is pav pas pas. It means all men, each, every, the whole, everyone, every man.
Did you know when it comes to Hermeneutics which is the science of the correct interpretation of the Bible, context always rules the interpretation, whether you are studying a single word, one verse or a larger section of Scripture. The word “context” is derived from a Latin word meaning “to weave together”
Now this is what I mean, let us take the same word ‘all’ and see, when the scriptures say, ‘ALL’ does it mean every single individual?
Joh 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him.
Does it mean every single person in the entire world, in Russia, China, India and every single islands, all people including old the young, children, people in hospitals, jails every single individual go after him? No certainly not. Let me give you and example. When Pope John Paul II died the news media said, the whole world is mourning. Does it mean every single human being on the face of the earth was mourning? No, only a limited number
Lu 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Here we see the same Greek word pas is used meaning every single individual in the world. Was the whole world taxed? China, India, and every single country, all the islands? Certainly not. Words have meaning only as they are used in a context.
Mt 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Again the Greek word pas is used to mean every single individual. Was every single individual in Judea Judea, or all Jerusalem, baptized in Jordan? No absolutely not.
Lu 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Again the Greek word pas is used for every single person. Now let’s take in context, was good tidings of great joy for every single individual, including King Herod, no he wanted kill Jesus when he was an infant, was it for Pilate, the Pharisees? No it is only for those who believe.
Now let us take the following scriptures in context.
Question
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Answer
In this context, the will of God is efficacious, meaning effectual and productive, God’s will not fail. His will is for his good pleasure. It is based on thy will be done. Therefore, what is accomplished is his effectual will. The Antichrist is not saved and his followers are not saved.
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Apostle says that prayers and thanksgivings be made for all men, then he breaks down who are these all men. He goes on to say for kings, and for all in authority. This means not men who are only in low class of life but also to men who are in high class of life. It is clear that the word all here is to be interpreted as not every single individual but different classes of people. Let me give a good scripture that goes along with this to understand.
Ge 7:14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
When Noah and family went to the Ark, did he take every beast to the ark, every cattle, every creeping thing, every fowl and every bird? No, but every animal after his kind. This is speaking of not all the animals but only the different classes of animals. In the same way, Gods desire, his will is that all classes of men, men who are in high authority, low authority and different positions to be saved. The power of the gospel is not only to the Jew but also to the Gentile. Therefore, prayers and thanksgiving should be made to the Gentiles too who are in all classes of life.
If someone still does not believe then he has a problem with verse five.
1Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
If you say, the mediator, Jesus, came to save every single individual of the entire world, does every single individual in the world saved? Certainly not. Then did Jesus failed in his mediator’s job? Because many are not saved.
But if the mediator died only for a specific group of people, which the Father has given him, and none of those people will not perish but have eternal life, then the mediator accomplished his purpose.
John 6:37-39 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 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 on the last day.
So the truth is Jesus did not lose anyone whom the Father gave to him. Christ as the mediator did not fail but was victorious!
How about the following scripture?
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Again, we know that Christ did not pay the ransom price for every single individual; if all would be ransomed then all would be saved. Again, the context of this passage is all classes of people. The ransom price was paid for all classes of people. We notice that Paul was ordained to preach for the Gentiles. The ransom price was paid not only to the believing Jew but also for the believing Gentile. If the ransom price is paid for every single individual and if they are not saved, then the price that was paid is in vain, it has no value, as they are not all ransomed. The ransom price that Christ paid has infinite value as it satisfied the Father. The ransom price was paid for many for a limited number of people of all classes including the Gentiles.
Mt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Question
What about 1 Tim 4:10?
Answer
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.
First, I would like you to see how Paul made it clear as he distinguished between two. The word especially in Greek here is malista it means chiefly or above all.
Savior of all men.
Speciallyof those that believe.
I would like you to use common logic that both cannot be the same and true. If he is the Savior of all men, then why did Paul say especially of those that believe? They should be included in Savior of all men, because he is the Savior of those believe. However, Paul distinguished by saying especially of those that believe that means there is a difference of those that believe and the first statement Savior of all men. The meaning Savior of all men should be different or else it does not make any sense. If Christ is the Savior of all people, including all unbelievers then all must be saved, but some are lost and go to hell so he cannot be the Savior of all people.
The word Savior in Greek is sotare means a deliverer, one who saves from danger, also it means preserver.
The word Savior here in context is preserver. God is the preserver of all men, he gives them life and supplies them the needs, and he sends rain and the sunshine upon the righteous and the unrighteous. He supplies them the necessaries of life, but he takes particular care and special care of those who are his, the believers. They are his portion, his inheritance and the apple of his eye. They are distinguished from the unbelievers.
Question
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Answer
Again this scripture need to be taken in context. See the previous verse 5.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
See the word our, it is referring not to every single individual but to a limited number, it does not say every single individual is healed but we are healed.
Question
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Answer
Taste in Greek geuo
“To make to taste,” is used in the Middle Voice, signifying “to taste” (a) naturally, Mt. 27:34; Lu. 14:24; Joh. 2:9; Col. 2:21; (b) metaphorically, of Christ’s “tasting” death, implying His personal experience in voluntarily undergoing death, Heb. 2:9; of believers (negatively) as to “tasting” of death, Mt. 16:28; Mr. 9:1; Lu. 9:27; Joh. 8:52 (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W.E Vine)
Look at the context again and it will explain what it means.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctified and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Who is everyone here in context? When you read in context verse 11 everyone is called his brethren and not every single individual. ‘I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.'” When read in context it can be seen that the passage has reference to sons; it has reference to the church; it has reference to the brethren; it has reference to those who are the children of God.
Question
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Answer
Again the context, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish Rabbi, Nicodemus, to Nicodemus the world means Gentiles. A good example is when we are in the church we say we are of Christ but those outside are of the world, it is the same concept the Jews had. They were the children of Abraham and the world was the Gentiles.
When Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” He is speaking to people who would believe in him, Jews and Gentiles scattered all over the world.
See the fulfillment of John 3:16
Ac 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (C/F Ephesians 1:4; 2 Tim 2:9)
Now again context rules over word studies. Take the word world and see what I mean.
Mt 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences!
Here we see just the opposite of God so loved the world, now it says woe unto the world.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Here again we see the difference between the believers and the world.
Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
We need to take John 3:16 in context, we see Jesus saying God so loved the world and in John as we see 17:9 He is not praying for the world. If God loves everyone then how come Jesus is not praying for all but only to the believers? Jesus did not pray only for his disciples but for all the believers.
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.
However he did not pray for those who will not believe. Does it mean that God hates unbelievers?
God does not hate all men as creatures but as sinners. God has a general love to all his creatures as he gives the rain, the sunshine to all. But Gods particular, intimate love is with the true believers.
Question
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Answer.
Again the context gives the answer.
The word propitiation has enormous value to atonement. Now in simple terms what does it means? It means to appease, meaning to pacify, to make quiet, to make still, and to calm a person’s anger.
The question comes when it says very clearly that he is the propitiation not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world. The author apostle John is a Jew. According to the Jewish mind, there were only two groups of people. The Jew and the Gentile. The world here is the Jew and the Gentile people who would believe in Christ Jesus.
1Jo 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Here we see clearly that cause of propitiation was because of his love for us, us are the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers. We did not love him first but God loved us first. However, without grace we cannot believe in Christ. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. (2 Tim 1:9)
The following is from John Gill. By the way John Gill at the age of 10 read through the entire Greek New Testament.
“The whole world,” in Scripture, unless when it signifies the whole universe, or the habitable earth, is always used in a limited sense, either for the Roman empire, or the churches of Christ in the world, or believers, or the present inhabitants of the world, or a part of them only, Luke 2:1; and so it is in this epistle, 1 John 5:19; where the whole world lying in wickedness is manifestly distinguished from the saints, who are of God, and belong not to the world; and therefore cannot be understood of all the individuals in the world.”
Question
Ro 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Answer
Read the context again. Begin from verse one.
Ro 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Only the believers are justified. Read all the way through it is speaking to the believers, and then verse six is past tense. When we were still without strength. We were ungodly before. Yes, Christ died for us when we were ungodly.
See Ephesians 2:3 past tense.
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
We were no different than all the other unbelievers in the past until God saved us by his grace alone.
His people are called:
The seed of the woman – Genesis 3:15.
(Note, not all mankind as there is a
difference between the seed
of the woman and the seed of the serpent.)
The seed of Abraham – Ge 9:9 And I behold, I
establish my covenant with
you, and with your seed after you;
God remembered the elect seed when they were in Egypt.
Isa 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom
I have chosen, the
seed of Abraham my friend.
Elect of God – Isa 65:9 And I will bring forth
a seed out of Jacob, and out
of Judah an inheritor of my
mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and
my servants shall
dwell there.
Mr 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall
gather together his
elect from the four winds, from the uttermost
part of the earth to the
uttermost part of heaven.
Peculiar People – Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for
us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works.
My Sheep – Joh 10:26 But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep, as
I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than
all; and no man is able
to pluck them out of my Father’s
hand.
Body of Christ – 1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ.
Lamb’s wife – Re 21:9 And there
came unto me one of the seven angels which
had the seven vials
full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me,
saying, Come
hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Holy nation – 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you
out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Jesus Commanded to preach the gospel. The gospel call
is universal to every
creature as we do not know who is elect and
who is not, so we are to preach
the gospel to everyone. The elect
will hear and will respond, as Jesus said,
“My sheep hears
my voice.”
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Let me conclude, the death of Christ is sufficient for all, but efficient only for believers.
Finally here is what John Owen have to say.
FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?
John Owen
John Owen, pastor, theologian, statesman, the prince of the Puritans (1616-1683), theologian, was born of Puritan parents at Stadham in Oxfordshire in 1616. At twelve years of age he was admitted at Queen’s College, Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree in 1632 and M.A. in 1635
The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either:
All the sins of all men.
All the sins of some men, or
Some of the sins of all men.
In which case it may be said:
That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so,
none are saved.
That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all
the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.
But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the
punishment due unto their sins?
You answer, “Because of unbelief.”
I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ
suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did,
why must that hinder them more than their other sins for
which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their
sins!”