Did Christ die for them that are perishing ?

[brightfame52]

Belivers are His Inheritance !

Ps 2:6-8

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Most in organized religions do not understand that believers are Christ's Reward for His Death's Accomplishment. The Resurrected Son here is encouraged to ask and the Father will give Him His Inheritance [Here Gentile Believers] and His Possession.

Thats why Jesus says of some Jn 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Back up in Vs 8 the word inheritance is the word nachalah and means:

possession, property, inheritance, heritage

a) property

b) portion, share

c) inheritance, portion

Its used here as heritage Mic 7:18

18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

So Christ as the Risen Saviour King has an remnant within the jews, and within the Gentiles or here called the Heathen. They are just as much His Inheritance and Possession as the elect jews were. Thats why Jesus said,other Sheep I have [possess] which are not of this fold, of the jews sheep pen.

Jn 10:16

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The One Sheepfold Is the House of Israel !

That word have is the word echō and means:

to have i.e. own, possess

There is another word in Ps 2:8, the word possession, a different word in hebrew but akin to the former, and its the word 'achuzzah

possession, property

a) land

b) possession by inheritance

This word has the connotation of taking hold of, seizing

The word ask in Ps 2:8

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Its the word sha'al and means:

to ask, enquire, borrow, beg

a) (Qal)

1) to ask, ask for

2) to ask (as a favour), borrow

3) to enquire, enquire of

4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)

5) to seek

But it also has a stronger meaning, that of to demand, there is a type of asking that can be demanding as here 1 Sam 8:10

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. Vs 5

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

But the Son demands what is His By Inheritance and Right for His Covenant Obedience to the Purpose of God ! Dan 7:14

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Thats who believes on Christ, those of His Inheritance, His Possessions ! Those whom He redeemed by His Blood !

 

[brightfame52]

He is the Captain of their Salvation by His Death !

Heb 2:9-10

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The Every Man in Vs 9, Christ by tasting death in behalf of them, becomes the Captain of their Salvation. So if He tasted death for one, He is that one's Saviour. What does this word Captain mean ? Its the word archēgos:

the chief leader, prince

a) of Christ

2) one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer

3) the author

In this context He is the Author of their Salvation by means of tasting death for them, by which He will lead them to Glory !

He is the Author in that He is the causation of their Salvation. He is the determinant of it.

By this, He is also the Author of their Faith Heb 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What Faith is that ? Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This Faith accompanies the Salvation He is the Author of Heb 2:10

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For Christ to taste death for someone, and that Person is not saved by it, makes His Death insufficient to save them, and deprives Him of being the Captain, or the Author of their Salvation.

The ASV

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

He is also the Pioneer of their Salvation

He is the Head of those He died and rose in behalf of, a went into the presence of God in the Heavenly regions to appear before God's for them as the Captain of their Salvation. Heb 9:12

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:24

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

As our forerunner or pioneer Heb 6:20

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Forerunner/prodromos:

a forerunner

a) esp. one who is sent before to take observations or act as a spy, a scout, a light armed soldier

b) one who comes in advance to a place where the rest are to follow

Thats also the definition of a pioneer:

a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others. 15

 

[brightfame52]

Christ's Victorious Death !

Christ by His death, has defeated death and satan, but only for those He died for and who eventually become believers. Its no doubt that Christ's victorious death landed the fatal blow that crushed the Head of the serpent for all whom Christ died Rom 16:20

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

As it was foretold in Gen 3:15

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

However this victory is solely promised to the Seed of the Women,and not all mankind. Whenever one comes to converting Faith by the Sanctifying Work of the Spirit per 2 Thess 2:13, then that is one for whom Christ by His Victorious death defeated satan in behalf of them, and this is how we know that Christ died for their sins, because they shall believe His Gospel Truth.

Yet many shall die in their sins including unbelief per Jn 8:24, and many believe not and are already condemned Jn 3:18. What the natural man fails to understand is that unbelief is caused by the victory of the devil over one, its one of his evil works, case in point Matt 13:18-19

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one[satan], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mark 4:15

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Luke 8:12

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

If you notice the luke account in Vs 12, it clearly states that its by satans activity that one does not believe and be saved, corresponding to satans activity here 2 Cor 4:3-4

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world[satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Also corresponds to 2 Thess 2:10

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Thats because they are victims to satan's deceptions !

So unbelief is clearly the work of satan. Now understand this, if Christ's death has defeated satan and his works as per 1 Jn 3:8

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

So hence, if and when anyone believes the Gospel,i its because the defeat of satan is being manifested, he can no longer keep them in unbelief as a testimony to Christ's Victorious death, but when one remains in unbelief, it means Christ's victorious death was not for them, and if we say that His death was for them, but they will not believe[a work of the devil] then we are saying that satan's work prevails over Christ's work for them ! This is blasphemy against Christ !

Finally let it be clear, for one to hear the Gospel, and not understand it and believe it to be saved, then they are victims of the Work of satan Matt 13:19

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Lk 8:12

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

2 Cor 4:3-4, and Christ, for those He died for, has destroyed the works of the devil 1 Jn 3:18. So if we insist Christ died for those who die in their sins in unbelief as Jn 8:24, then we side with satan and given give him the victory over a soul Christ died for, we admit the god of this world prevailed over Christ, there is no middle ground.

The only way to be found on Christ's side in this matter is to understand and acknowledge, that everyone of those Christ died for and defeated satan for, do believe, and those who don't believe and die in their sins Jn 8:24, Christ did not die for them !

 

[brightfame52]

The benefit of Christ's incarnation.

The benefit of Christ's incarnation, for those He came specifically to provide help as per Heb 2:16

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. or

16 For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.ASV

Which are God's Elect among mankind, and not all mankind in general, by it [His Incarnation] He worked out an Righteousness, one which is unblemished, its the very Righteousness of His own Obedience Rom 5:18,19

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.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

So the obedience of one in Vs 19 is the Righteousness of one in Vs 18 !

And this Righteousness is freely charged to them in the Mind of God, Rom 5:17

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ )

This free Gift of Righteousness is imputed to them even while they themselves are being unbelievers and enemies, thats why its an act of Grace on God's Part, for they did nothing to receive it, but contrary, they did everything to forfeit it , and thats why its a Gift; and this free Gift of Righteousness is what is revealed to them in the Gospel Rom 1:16-17

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.

17 For therein[The Gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

So God given Faith receives, apprehends the Spiritual Knowledge of this Gift of Righteousness by the Gospel, it being the Righteousness of the obedience of Christ Rom 5:18-19. 16

 

[brightfame52]

Sanctified through His Blood Alone !

Heb 13:12

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that[for the purpose that] he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

One of the sure accomplishments and benefits of the Death of Christ, for all the people whom He died or suffered, is that through it they are sanctified [made holy] I make holy, treat as holy, set apart as holy, sanctify, hallow, purify.

Through His Own Blood ! This accomplishment has nothing to do with their faith, believing or repentance. His Death or suffering unto death, in and of itself makes them in the estimation of God, Holy and Set Apart for the Holy Service of God. Heb 9:14

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

His suffering for them alone gives them forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation to God, even while in and of themselves they are being enemies ! And its by this suffering unto death or offering of Himself for them that they are being sanctified and perfected forever Heb 10:14

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

So understand this, those of you who teach falsely may i add, that Christ died or suffered or offered Himself for all mankind without exception and yet some of them are in danger of dying in unbelief and in their sins as Per Jn 8:24 and spending Eternity in Everlasting Punishment Matt 25:46, then you are basically saying that those whom Christ's death hath perfected forever, do nevertheless meet with such a horrible fate, and that is a horrible blasphemy against the blood of Christ !

 

[brightfame52]

What about Christ's Resurrection ?

What the religious world is in the dark on is the significance of Christ's Resurrection, and Ascension and final Exaltation to the Right Hand of God, what they fail to realize and understand is that all that was done by Him not as an private Individual, but as the Representative Head of God,s Elect and Body the Church, which are all those He died for; This is true so much so that in God's reckoning they [those He died for] are said to be raised up together with Him as Per Eph 2:5-6

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved )

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

" and hath raised us up together"

The greek verb συνεγείρω is used meaning:

I raise along with.

God did raise along with Christ those He died for and in the place of !

The word is made up of Two words ἐγείρω:

I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up.

And σύν which means:

with, together with (expresses association with)

This also denotes the Union those had with Christ when He died in their behalf, a Union as in the Head and it's Body !

Hence All for whom He died and rose in behalf of as their Representative Head, they sit together with Him in Exalted Glory, their Life in Him, and this is True before they actually become physically born sinners and dead in sins, and afterwards converted to Faith. In fact that is why they must be converted and brought to Faith, that they partake of that Life they have above in their Representative Head, so they are born from above where Christ sitteth on the Right Hand of God. Thats what being born again means here Jn 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Literally its born from above !

Its the adverb anóthen: from above

And what Jesus is meaning, is that One must be born from Above from where their Life is with Him after being raised up together with Him !

All are born again down here in this Life who are before their New Birth, sitting together with Him after being raised up together as Per Eph 2:6

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Thats what it means to be born again or from above. Thats why Peter writes that believers had been begotten again by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, their Head, from the Dead 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Thats because they were raised up together with Him when He was raised up from the dead Eph 2:6 !

And that is the Great significance of the Resurrection of Christ for those He died for ! It ensures their birth from above ! 16

 

[brightfame52]

What about Christ's Resurrection ? 2

The New Birth is nothing less than Spiritual Resurrection, and all those who actually in the Purpose of God did raise up with Christ from the dead at His Resurrection as Per Eph 2:6

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:


They must as an benefit and as an evidence of their union with Christ when He rose from the dead as their Representative, they must be born again which is regeneration.

Thats why Jesus said to Nicodemus Jn 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

That was an clue that Jesus was going to die for Him, and as a result He must be born again !

 

[brightfame52]

What about Christ's Resurrection ? 3

As evidence of being in Union with Christ when He was raised from the dead after having being delivered for our offenses' Rom 4:25, all those He died for are given a Spiritual Resurrection from Spiritual death which is also called a New Birth, hence Peter writes of it here 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The us here is all for whom Christ died and were in union with Him when He died and rose,or when He was begotten from the dead. See Acts 13:33;Rev 1:5

And this being begotten in 1 Pet 1:3 is equivalent to the New Birth, for its the word anagennaō:

to produce again, be born again, born anew

metaph. to have one's mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God

Some Translations even read as this:

1 Pet 1:3

3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,AMP

3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.CEB

So through Christ's Resurrection and we being raised up together with Him Eph 2:6, we as an evidence of that Union with Him are given a New Birth, or born anew.

This is what Jesus meant here Jn 3:3,7

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Jesus is simply referring to the Accomplishment of His Death and Resurrection and its fruit of giving New Birth to all who are in Union with Him and whom He Represents.

Now lets look again at the word begotten again in 1 Pet 1:3, its the word anagennaō and means:

to produce again, be born again, born anew
metaph. to have one's mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God

What does that mean "to have ones's mind changed " ? That is the equivalent to Repentance. Lets look at Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

This word repentance is the greek word metanoia and means:

a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done

Yes, it means a Change of Mind, and that is exactly what being begotten again, the New Birth gives, a Change of Mind to live a new Life conformed to the will of God !

Thats why Peter says that Christ gives Repentance Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Now how does He give it ? By His Resurrection from the dead 1 Pet 1:3 ! He gives it by the New Birth.

So Repentance towards God Acts 20:21 is the Fruit of the New Birth, which is the Fruit of Christ's Resurrection, which is the fruit of His Death, the death He died for those whose offenses' were charged to Him Rom 4:25 !

New Birth is equivalent to and is immortal life, and the Gospel, when it comes to Salvation and Repentance, it brings immortality/life to light 2 Tim 1:10

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

So Repentance toward God is nothing but a bringing to light, or manifestation the New Birth which gives a Change of Mind to Live a New Life unto God conforming to His Will.

Thats what the Gospel does, when it comes to Salvation. Repentance unto God is but the manifestation of New Life given by New Birth and called forth by the Gospel ! 16

 

[brightfame52]

What about Christ's Resurrection ? 4

It's been shown from scripture that Repentance is given in the New Birth, because within it's sphere is a change of mind given. Remember the greek word begotten again in 1 Pet 1:3 anagennaō means:

metaph. to have one's mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God

Thats Repentance !

Now, the New Birth also gives a Hope, a Lively Hope 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Now what is this Lively Hope ? Its Two Words in the original.

The first is lively zaō which means :

o live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
to enjoy real life
to have true life and worthy of the name
active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting

The second word is hope elpis and means:

expectation of evil, fear
expectation of good, hope
in the Christian sense
joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
on hope, in hope, having hope
the author of hope, or he who is its foundation
the thing hoped for

This is the companion of and accompanies Faith. Faith is according to Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In fact that word hope is translated Faith here Heb 10:23

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised )

Its the word used here Rom 4:18

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

So, not only does Repentance comes from the New Birth but so does Hope and or Faith, the substance of things hoped for Heb 11:1

BTW that means all the characters following Heb 11:1 were Born Again, their Faith also being the product of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. He was also the author and finisher of their Faith Heb 12:2.

So both the Repentance and Faith of Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

They are both products of the New Birth, present within each Person begotten again by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ! 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

And it is for these that God has been longsuffering for as here 2 Pet 3:9

9 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.

Whose the All here ? Why its all these of 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Its all them that have been begotten again by the resurrection of Christ from the dead up until the end of the Gospel age.

Because all of them shall be begotten again and within that given a Lively Hope and a Change of Mind = Repentance, and the Gospel shall bring them to Light 2 Tim 1:10

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

 

[Doran]

2 Corinthians 5 says Christ died for all.

Not everyone benefits from His death without faith.

If that's the case, then "all died" [with Him] (2Cor 5:14). And if "all" means all men w/o exception, then everyone must be saved since they died with Him, and this further means "all" will live with Him.

 

[Frankj]

If that's the case, then "all died" [with Him] (2Cor 5:14). And if "all" means all men w/o exception, then everyone must be saved since they died with Him, and this further means "all" will live with Him.

The way I understand it, which is not a popular way for most, is that when Christ died for all ''all' were not saved but 'all', the unrighteous as well as the righteous, were given the choice of salvation through him which they did not have before his sacrifice.

Others will disagree, some (IMO) bizarrely so.

But since each will face the Lord for himself each has to decide for himself what it means.

 

[Doran]

The way I understand it, which is not a popular way for most, is that when Christ died for all ''all' were not saved but 'all', the unrighteous as well as the righteous, were given the choice of salvation through him which they did not have before his sacrifice.

Others will disagree, some (IMO) bizarrely so.

But since each will face the Lord for himself each has to decide for himself what it means.

Sticking with 2Cor 5:14, since Lamb of God appealed to 2Cor 5, her interpretation cannot be correct unless she is a Universalist. 2Cor 5:14 reads:

2 Cor 5:14
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
NIV

This last qualifying clause in the verse is critical to proper interpretation, since Paul taught elsewhere that anyone (i.e. any believer) who has died with Christ will most certainly live with Him (Rom 6:8; 2Tim 2:11). For this reason, I understand "all" to be used in the narrow sense of all believers w/o distinction in 2Cor 5:14), as opposed to all w/o exception. And "universal" sounding terms are very often used in a restrictive sense in scripture.

 

[Frankj]

Sticking with 2Cor 5:14, since Lamb of God appealed to 2Cor 5, her interpretation cannot be correct unless she is a Universalist. 2Cor 5:14 reads:

2 Cor 5:14
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
NIV

This last qualifying clause in the verse is critical to proper interpretation, since Paul taught elsewhere that anyone (i.e. any believer) who has died with Christ will most certainly live with Him (Rom 6:8; 2Tim 2:11). For this reason, I understand "all" to be used in the narrow sense of all believers w/o distinction in 2Cor 5:14), as opposed to all w/o exception. And "universal" sounding terms are very often used in a restrictive sense in scripture.

This is all true.

I still tend to think that we still must make the choice for ourselves as to whether to believe or not, that Holy Spirit only comes into us if invited (a limited way of putting it) and through Holy Spirit we are guided toward that choice but we still have to choose it, it isn't something that is done for us (of curse, this brings up the Freewill argument which there never seems to be agreement on).

Aside, but dealing with this from a real life (but fictional) situation, have you ever watched the movie The Encounter? It deals with making the choice to accept or reject Christ and its implications and leads one to ponder our own choice and why we made it.

 

[Doran]

This is all true.

I still tend to think that we still must make the choice for ourselves as to whether to believe or not, that Holy Spirit only comes into us if invited (a limited way of putting it) and through Holy Spirit we are guided toward that choice but we still have to choose it, it isn't something that is done for us (of curse, this brings up the Freewill argument which there never seems to be agreement on).

Aside, but dealing with this from a real life (but fictional) situation, have you ever watched the movie The Encounter? It deals with making the choice to accept or reject Christ and its implications and leads one to ponder our own choice and why we made it.

No, I have not watched that movie.

And I certainly believe that God's elect do actually make choices to repent and believe the Gospel -- by only by the grace (power) of God (Act 18:27; Rom 12:3; 1Tim 1:14, etc.)

 

[Lamb]

This is all true.

I still tend to think that we still must make the choice for ourselves as to whether to believe or not, that Holy Spirit only comes into us if invited (a limited way of putting it) and through Holy Spirit we are guided toward that choice but we still have to choose it, it isn't something that is done for us (of curse, this brings up the Freewill argument which there never seems to be agreement on).

Aside, but dealing with this from a real life (but fictional) situation, have you ever watched the movie The Encounter? It deals with making the choice to accept or reject Christ and its implications and leads one to ponder our own choice and why we made it.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Those who are dead in the spirit can't make a choice for life but it's given to them. They can choose to reject it though.

 

[brightfame52]

What about Christ's Resurrection ? 5

Why must all those Christ died for must be born again ? Remember Jesus told Nicodemus this Jn 3:6-7

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

This I believe is a clue that Nicodemus was one of those for whom Christ came to die, because all for whom He died must be born again, whoever they may be. This is why.

All for whom Christ died, by His death, death has been abolished ! Remember Paul wrote here 2 Tim 1:10

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

That word abolished katargeō which means:

to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency
to deprive of force, influence, power
to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish
to cease, to pass away, be done away
to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one
to terminate all intercourse with one

Christ's death for those He died for put an end to the power of death that the devil had over them Heb 2:14

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

One of those effects of his power of death is spiritual death, and spiritual blindness to the Gospel. Remember Paul wrote as to why some believe not ! 2 Cor 4:3-4

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world[the devil] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The blinding of the minds to believe not is spiritual death and the devils power in action.

Remeber Jesus said once this Lk 8:12

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Well that is what Paul means here in 2 Cor 4:3-4

But that's being lost in spiritual death.

Spiritual death is one of the wages of sin Rom 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But now, all for whom Christ died, their wages of sin, death has been paid in full, and by His Death their death for sins has been abolished.

to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one

Those Christ died for are legally discharged from or loosed from the wages of sin which is death.

Now, as an evidence of their discharge from death for the wages of sin, because of what Christ has done for them, they must be given the opposite of death, which is Life ! The Spirit for all whom He died and discharged them from death, He gives them Life as Per Jn 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

That word quickeneth is zōopoieō and means:

to produce alive, begat or bear living young
to cause to live, make alive, give life
by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate
to restore to life
to give increase of life: thus of physical life
of the spirit, quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life

Simply speaking, the Spirit gives Life from Christ to all for whom He died, and abolished death for them. He did away with the reason and cause of their spiritual death, sin !

He did away with is penalty. Remember Heb 9:12

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood[from His death] he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Now, this eternal redemption has been obtained for all whom He died. The word Redemption here is the greek word lytrōsis and means:

a ransoming, redemption

deliverance, esp. from the penalty of sin

Now what is the penalty of sin ? Rom 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

They are by His Blood delivered from that penalty !

And so the evidence of being no longer under the penalty of sin which is death, even spiritual death, because of the death of Christ, is for the Spirit to give them Life from Christ, which Life is the New Birth. Its New Life to Live to God.

Remember to be begotten again means by the word anagennaō:

to produce again, be born again, born anew

metaph. to have one's mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God

Thats why its imperative that everyone Christ died for be born again, for its evidence of His Victorious Death over the devil , he that hath the power of death over them Heb 2:14 ! 16