|
The word "all"All means all. To change what a simple word like "all" means into something so confusing is truly having a mind that is "corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). To begin with, look at just a few of the verses/passages that use the English word "all". Note: "all men" in KJV simply means everyone including men, women, and children."
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto me."
John 12:32 Christ has drawn everyone unto him, not just a select few. Remember this when looking at John 6:44.
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to
them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and ALL the world
may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith
of Jesus Christ unto ALL and upon ALL them that believe: for there is no
difference: For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus." Romans 3:19-24
Even Calvinists will agree that ALL have sinned and that mankind is born sinful. This is part of their first doctrine in TULIP, called Total Depravity. This is a very deceptive and tricky doctrine in that it sounds totally true when considering these verses and many more, but Calvinists take it one step too far and say that we are so depraved of anything good that we can't even believe on the Lord, or repent and call upon His name for salvation like commands us to, without Him helping us first. This too, is very unbiblical! The wonderful thing about these and other verses to follow, is that it is clear that where ALL have sinned, ALL are justified freely by His grace! We just have to believe, or have faith, to have access to this grace (Romans 5:1-2).
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon ALL men, for that ALL have sinned"
Romans 5:12
"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."
Romans 5:18 Same idea as before. It is clear and agreed upon that condemnation came upon ALL men. Why, then, is it not clear that the "free gift" of justification from that condemnation is available to ALL men?
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with ALL that in every place call upon the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." 1 Corinthians 1:2
Those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints are not some select group with special powers, they are the "ALL that in every place" who "call upon the name of Jesus Christ."
"For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive."
1 Corinthians 15:22
"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. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea,
though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no
more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 He died for ALL. Not just a few. ALL.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth
ALL men everywhere to repent"
Acts 17:30 God has commanded everyone to repent, and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Why would He command everyone to do it and then not allow certain people to be able to? This would give them an excuse why they were not able to be saved (Romans 1:20).
"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; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due
time."
1 Timothy 2:4-6
"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."
1 Timothy 4:10 This shows that "ALL men" means everyone in the world, including people who will reject Him and not believe. Christ died for ALL men, even the ones that do NOT believe and reject Him. Calvinists do not believe this. They believe in the "Limited Atonement", meaning that Christ only died for those that will believe on him. He didn't die for everyone, but only the ones he would allow to believe in Him throughout time. This is VERY unbiblical and 2 Peter 2:1 shows this.
"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."
2 Peter 2:1
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but
is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL
should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men."
Titus 2:11
God's grace has appeared to every person on this earth. We have to choose to
have FAITH in that grace in order to have access to it.
Romans 5:1-2 Now, the Greek word for "all" is "pas" and it used in the New Testament 1,243 times! This Greek word is translated into the following English words:
There is certainly no doubt that Christ died for every single soul on the earth and desires everyone to be saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Many will choose to "not obey the truth" (Romans 2:8) and not believe this simple, yet amazing Gospel and, therefore, receive indignation and wrath. To think that Christ did not die for every single person who has ever lived, or that not every person has the ability to believe and be saved is proof that one's mind has been "corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). 
|