I suppose it comes down to semantics.
@prism
No. One position is that Christ did NOT die for all and the other is that Christ DID die for all. The difference isn't "just semantics" the difference is real. It's not "just semantics."
Here are just some of the Scriptures that verbatim, flat-out, literally STATE that Jesus died for all. for everyone, for the whole world:
1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 3:16 “For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death
for everyone.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has
died for all
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world!
2 Corinthians 5:15 And
he died for all
2 Corinthians 5:19 That is, in Christ God was reconciling
the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself as a ransom
for all.
There are several more.
Here are the Scriptures that state, "No, Jesus did not die for all but rather ONLY for ______________."
Crickets.
Since there is an elect , outside of which none are saved, it might as well be said Christ died for His elect...not 'all'.
Except that's wrong. That contradicts Scripture, a Church Council, and 2000 years of Christian faith.
And IF Scripture is wrong (so often) and never gets it right.... if Jesus died ONLY for some unknown some... then no one can be told that God loves them, no one can be presented with the Gospel (unless we make it clear this probably doesn't apply to them)... no one can be told that forgiveness is available for them. And of course, no one can know if the Cross is FOR THEM (odds are, it's not). We KNOW that Christ died for us (for you, for me) for only one reason: The Bible states (so often, so boldly) that Jesus died for all people, I'm a people (LOL) so therefore..... Friend, there is no list in Scripture of the lucky few for whom Jesus died.
There's a very fundamental reason why Scripture makes this point so often, so clearly, so boldly. Why Christianity has stressed it for so long. Why the Council declared it as de fide dogma. Without it, there is no certainly that the Gospel, the Cross is for ME (indeed, if Limited Atonement is true, it's very likely NOT for me). And if Limited Atonement is true (and the BIble wrong), then why didn't Jesus repeatedly say "I'm probably NOT your Savior, I did NOT come for most people, God ONLY loves some unknown few?" His whole ministry would be dishonest, at best.
Friend, for 2000 years, Christianity has affirmed that personal justification hinges on TWO things - both essential - the Cross (the atoning work of Jesus) AND faith that apprehends/applies that. It affirms that the Cross is universal but faith is not.
.
