The Holy Bible plainly teaches that Jesus Christ DIED FOR ALL MANKIND, not
just a select few people (i.e., the saints). Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
was London's mightiest Baptist preacher, who is still admired and followed
today worldwide by many Christians for his multitude of printed books,
sermons and writings. Although mostly correct in his doctrines, one major
flaw in Spurgeon's theology was
his denial that Christ died for all men.
This heresy of John Calvin (1509-1564) is known as “Limited
Atonement.” This false doctrine is part of the 5-fold satanic lie of “Calvinism.”
These devil doctrines are all progressive. That is, one heresy begats another out of necessity. The false religious system of Calvinism is summed up with the acronym: T-U-L-I-P. The first is Total Depravity, teaching that man is so wicked that apart from God's divine intervention, no man would ever come to the Lord for salvation. Hence, the next heresy is Unconditional Election, which teaches basically that God chooses who will be saved. Since God “chooses” who will be saved, there must be a predetermined number of people. This is called “Limited Atonement.” Consequently, those select few whom God has chosen must be forced to get saved. This is called Irresistible Grace. And then, finally, since God chooses and forces a person to be saved (according to John Calvin), God will do what it takes to make those select few saints Persevere in holy living. From beginning to end, Calvinism is of the Devil.
One thing that John Calvin ignores is man's “freewill” (which God has given to every human being). Humans are not slaves. If Calvinism were true, then it would mean God overrides man's freewill, forcing Himself upon humanity, selectively deciding who gets saved and who doesn't. The Bible is very clear that God reaches out to “ALL MEN” to be saved, inviting them to believe the Gospel.
Here are several Scriptures which mention “all men” concerning salvation:
John 1:7, “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”
John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
1st John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”
Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
2nd Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”
Why would God's grace appear to “all men,” if only a few are chosen for salvation? Obviously, that wouldn't make any sense! Why would God command “all men” to repent if only a select few elect have been chosen? As you just read in John 12:32, Jesus foretold that after His resurrection and ascension into Heaven, He would draw “all men” unto Himself by the Holy Spirit. These are just but a few Scriptures, which plainly teach us that Christ died for “all men.”
Dr. Paul Reiter (1929-2013), professor at Appalachian Bible College for 35 years, has clearly and simply summarized the Scriptural teaching on this issue. FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? HE DIED...
- For all (1st Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 53:6).
- For every man (Hebrews 2:9).
- For the world (John 3:16).
- For the sins of the whole world (1st John 2:2).
- For the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
- For false teachers (2nd Peter 2:1).
- For many (Matthew 20:28).
- For Israel (John 11:50-51).
- For the Church (Ephesians 5:25).
- For “me” (Galatians 2:20).
*From unpublished lecture notes written by Dr. Paul Reiter, former professor at Appalachian Bible College, Bradley, West Virginia.
We read in Romans 5:6, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” It wouldn't make sense if Christ only died for some of the “UNGODLY,” but not for all of the UNGODLY!
Notice that the manner in which God manifests His love to the unsaved, is by Christ dying for us, “WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS”!
Some theologians contend that the pronouns “we” and “us” in Romans 5:8 indicates that Christ only died for believers. Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Taken by itself, this Scripture could be misinterpreted to support a pet doctrine. When interpreting the Bible, the rule is to never interpret any single passage of Scripture without taking into consideration the whole counsel of God. If all of the verses in the Bible agree with your suggested interpretation of a particular passage, then you know you've found the correct meaning. Scripture never goes against Scripture!
Biblically, Jesus Christ died for everyone! He did not die for the self-righteous! Jesus died for the thief! Jesus died for the fornicator! Jesus died for the idolater! Jesus died for the adulterer! Jesus died for the murderer! Jesus died for the drunkard! Jesus died for YOU and for ME! We are all ungodly sinners (Romans 3:23). God only saves ungodly sinners (Romans 4:5). When a person is required to mend their ways, turn from sins, forsake the world, and surrender “all” to Christ to be saved, this is “another Gospel” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4) which does not produce the new birth by God's Holy Spirit. Christ DIED on the cross for our sins, He was BURIED, and He bodily RESURRECTED three days later. This is “the Gospel” (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). If anyone “BELIEVES THE GOSPEL,” they are immediately, securely and forever saved.
Notice in the following Scripture that God doesn't just love future believers; but rather, “THE WORLD.” Furthermore, the Bible extends the invitation to be saved to “WHOSOEVER” desires to be saved. John 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.” If Calvinism were true, in that God chooses who will or won't be saved, then how could “whosoever” be saved? The word “whosoever” means anybody? How could God love Christ-rejecters whom He knows will never accept Him? The Bible teaches that God loved the whole world so much, and so He sent His only begotten Son into the world (to bleed, suffer and die on a cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God), for the sins of all humanity. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay! Thank you Jesus!!!
The following is an amazing passage of Scripture, which plainly tells us that Jesus “bought” all false prophets, even those who deny Him. 2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” Jesus doesn't forgive sins; Jesus has already paid for everyone's sins with His own precious blood. Hence, forgiveness is a gift from God to anyone who believes the Gospel. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Amen . . . TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH!
I love the following Bible verse. 1st Timothy 4:10, “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” Amen, first we see the deity of Jesus Christ here, Who is almighty God, the Savior of all men. Isaiah 45:15, “Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.” Carefully notice that JESUS IS “THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN,” SPECIALLY OF THEM THAT BELIEVE! Clearly, the Bible teaches that Jesus is the Savior, even of the unsaved.
By the way, some sincere theologians have attempted to distinguish a difference between the old English spelling of “Saviour” verses the modernized spelling “Savior.” I have studied the issue and there is NO difference. There is only one Greek word for “saviour” in the Bible, soter (a deliverer, preserver). Just like other words; such as, labour and neighbour, which have been modernized to labor and neighbor, saviour is now savior. The only difference is that we properly capitalize the word when referring to our dear Savior, Jesus Christ. 1st Timothy 4:10 plainly proclaims Jesus is the Savior of all men! Whether you receive Him as your personal Savior is a matter solely up to you my friend. John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
The following Bible verse is plain evidence that Jesus died for all mankind, and not just for a select few chosen by God. 1st John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Amen, did you read that . . . AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY! The word “propitiation” is beautiful. The word “propitiation” is the Greek word hilasmos, which means, “to appease one's wrath, an expiator (to make amends).” 1st John 2:2 is clear evidence that Christ didn't just make amends for our sins . . . “for ours only.” Rather, Jesus appeased the wrath of God the Father and made amends for “THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.” Jesus accomplished this when He sprinkled His liquid blood upon the Mercy Seat in the heavenly Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12, 22; 12:24). 1st John 2:2 is so plain that it behooves me to refute Pastor Charles Spurgeon as a “heretic” on this matter. How could Spurgeon have believed and preached that Jesus only died for believers? As I have just shown you from the Holy Scriptures, Jesus Christ died for all men!!! Mr. Spurgeon was influenced by the rotten doctrines of Calvinism (i.e., the teachings of John Calvin, 1509-1564).
Nearly every preacher quotes Romans 5:8, but not verse 9. Romans 5:8-9, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” God's wrath is reserved for all unrepentant humans who perish in their sins without Christ! It is Jesus' precious blood that appeases the great wrath of God the Father. Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Only Christian believers will escape the wrath of God, which is reserved for the lost in the Lake of Fire. 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
There are many more Scriptures teaching us that Christ died for everyone, not just Christians. God's unconditional love for all mankind sent His only begotten Son to the cross, as a perfect sacrifice to pay for the sins of all humanity. It is difficult for me to understand how Charles Spurgeon, or any other Baptist preacher, could conclude that Jesus didn't die on the cross for all sinners!
