Response to TJP's Comments on Particular Redemption

TJP wrote:

If Christ did not die for all men, then...

(1) there never was a possibility that all could be saved and hope was limited only to some;

(2) obviously some cannot avoid damnation;

(3) we must feel the insincerity of inviting all to be saved;

(4) unbelief is no longer a sin, especially for those who have no cross to believe on;

(5) it would be a sin for those for whom Christ did not die to believe on Him, because they would be believing a lie, a false hope;

(6) those who preach the gospel to every creature SIN because they preach good tidings to all men when in fact there aren't good tidings for all men in the cross;

(7) God would be insincere in commanding all men to repent, seeing if they did repent, they'd have no provision in the cross;

(8) why does He say He's not willing that any should perish?

(9) all for whom He did not die come into the world with the irrevocable sentence of damnation upon them;

(10) why should the Devil do anything, seeing God will hand over to him the largest portion of humanity without his lifting a finger?

I respond:

1) From God's perspective, yes, "there never was a possibility that all could be saved and hope was limited only to some," and further that was not just "hope" but "certainty." God is omniscient, which means that there can be no mere possibilities with him.
2) From God's perspective, yes, "obviously some cannot avoid damnation," and furthermore, not even one person can avoid damnation, except for the saving grace of God.
3) No, the statement "we must feel the insincerity of inviting all to be saved," is not the case, because we only proclaim salvation to all who believe, that is to say, we do not tell anyone that they will be saved apart from believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
4) No, the statement "unbelief is no longer a sin, especially for those who have no cross to believe on," is not the case, because faith was never "believing that Jesus died for my sins," but rather repenting from sin, and casting oneself on the mercy of God.
5) No, the statement "it would be a sin for those for whom Christ did not die to believe on Him, because they would be believing a lie, a false hope," is not the case, because it paradoxical: Christ died for all the believers.
6) No, the statement "those who preach the gospel to every creature SIN because they preach good tidings to all men when in fact there aren't good tidings for all men in the cross," is not the case, because the gospel is not "Jesus died for you," but rather "Repent and Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!" There are good tidings for those who believe.
7) No, the statement "God would be insincere in commanding all men to repent, seeing if they did repent, they'd have no provision in the cross," is not the case, at least because God is not taking any chances, since He is omniscient.
8) The answer to "why does He say He's not willing that any should perish" is that the verse is referring to classes of people, such as - especially - politicians/rulers. The gospel is not just for the poor of this world.
9) While it is true that "all for whom He did not die come into the world with the irrevocable sentence of damnation upon them," that is the result and reward of sin, and consequently it is a just sentence.
10) The answer to "why should the Devil do anything, seeing God will hand over to him the largest portion of humanity without his lifting a finger?" is the same as the question: "why did the Devil tempt Christ if Christ is God?" The answer is that the devil hates God and God's creation, especially mankind. The devil doesn't have to do anything to receive the company of the reprobate, and the devil cannot do anything that will prevent the elect from obtaining heaven. Nevertheless, the devil does seek to do what he can to hinder the gospel, ruin the happiness of Christians, and so forth. Even so, he is under God's control, as the Book of Job illustrates.


-Turretinfan