How Jesus Died for “All” and yet for a Particular People Some passages speak of Christ’s dying for “all” men and of His death as saving the “world”, yet others speak of His death as being definite in design and of His dying for particular people and securing salvation for them. 1.) There are two classes of text that speak of Christ’s saving work in general terms: (a) those containing the word “world”-e.g., John 1:9, 29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:14 (b) those containing the word “all”-e.g., Romans 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 3:9. One reason for the use of these expressions was to correct the false notion that salvation was for the Jews alone. Such phrases as the “world”, “all men” and “every creature” were used by the New Testament writers to emphatically correct mistakes. These expressions are intended to show that Christ died for all men without distinction (i.e., He died for Jews and Gentiles alike), but they are not intended to indicate that Christ died for all men without exception (i.e., He did not die for the purpose of saving each and every lost sinner). There are other passages which speak of His saving work in definite terms and show that it was intended to infallibly save a particular people, namely, those given to Him by the Father Matthew 1:21: “… for he will save his people from their sin.” Matthew 20:28: “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 26:28: “… for this my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin.” John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 11:50-53: “Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. He did no say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.” Acts 20:28: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Ephesians 5:25-27: “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle of any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Romans 8:32-34: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any chare against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?” Hebrews 2:17; 3:1: “ Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people… Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession…” Hebrews 9:15: “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:28: “… Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many …” Revelations 5:9 “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” The Five Points of Calvinism by David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, and S. Lance Quinn ISBN: 0-87552-827-9 | 
