I. For Whom Did Christ Die?

Calvinism = only the elect; Bible = All.  Jn 1:29 The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Ii. Why Did Christ Die?

Atonement = covering Gen 6:14  (Yom Kippur).  Lev 16:15 Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil…and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 So he shall make atonement …

Eze 18:4  "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.

Le 17:11  ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Heb 9:22 all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

A. We believe: Jn 3:14  "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15  "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17  "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18  "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20  "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21  "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

B. in the penal (Christ paid the just legal penalty) Rm 3:21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

C. vicarious/substitutionary (in our place instead of us) Isa 53:5  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

2 Cor 5:21, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

D. atonement (Jesus has our sins covered {see above})

Pr 16:6 By  loyal love and faithfulness atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD [one] departs from evil.

E. that expiates (make amends for) and propitiates (removal of wrath by offering a gift)

1Jn 2:2 He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (2:15-17; 3:1,13;4:4-5,14; 5:4,19)

1Jn 4:10  In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. (RSV)

F. the just wrath of God

Isa 59:2 your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

G. yielding forgiveness (letting the offence/debt go)

Ac 10:43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness/remission of sins.

H. redemption (to buy back or pay off a debt)

Col 1:14  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins

I. reconciliation (win over as a friend). Rm 5:10 if when 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.

J. And justification/(sanctification/glorification) (first aspect of salvation that reverses the effects of the Fall) .cf Rm 3:24 above}

Rm 4:25  who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification  5:18 thru  one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, so thru one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Rm 4:5  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted/reckoned/imputed for righteousness

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How could someone say (contra the Scriptures) that Christ only died for a select few? Why would God condemn and then save people?

2. Why does a person go to hell rather than heaven? Is there anything someone can do that would cause God to undo their forgiveness?

3. On what basis can you say you know for sure you’re forgiven and going to heaven? Your works, election, belief, acceptance, worship…?

4. Do most people experience all the benefits God has in store for them? What can you do this week to ensure you’ll get what’s planned?5.