Christ Died for All

“And that he died for all,

that they who live should not henceforth

live unto themselves,

but unto him who died for them

and rose again.”

(2 Corinthians. 5:15)

Christ died for all. Does that mean that He died in the place of every single person in the world? If so, then we would have to conclude that there is no more judgment because ALL for whom He died have been once and for all forgiven, justified, sanctified and glorified, Colossians 2:13-17. Not only that but to say that ALL means every sinner would be to state something for which the LORD Jesus did not even pray. In His High Priestly prayer to His Father, He declared in “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” (John 17:9)

Who then are the ‘ALL’ for whom Christ died? They are ALL without distinction and not ALL without exception. ALL without distinction means sinners of ALL kinds, from every tribe, nation, and tongue, Revelation 5:9; “For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood OUT OF every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Notice the words, ‘out of’ and not all of those of every kindred, tongue, people and nation. The Scriptures use the word ‘ALL’ and the word ‘world,’ in opposition to the false thinking of the Jewish nation that the Messiah would come to establish a Jewish kingdom to the exclusion of the Gentile nations. Therefore, the Scriptures declare that Christ’s work was for ALL, Jew and Gentile. His accomplished work was for ALL those sinners that the Father gave Him OUT OF every nation. ALL (Jew and Gentile) for whom He died are redeemed and reconciled to God.

Notice also that the ‘ALL’ for whom He died should LIVE, “...unto Him who died for them.” This certainly cannot mean every single person in the world because many die in their sins, never having been given Life by the Spirit of Christ. This promise of living is only for those for whom Christ die and it assures ALL for whom He died that they certainly shall live again, not only judicially in their standing before God but Spiritually, translated from death to life by the work of the Spirit, and in everlasting LIFE beyond the grave of this life.

ALL for whom Christ died, He redeemed and justified, Romans 5:9. They are therefore given the LIFE of FAITH by which they seek after Christ, believe on Him, rest in Him and hunger and thirst after Him, Matthew 5:6. The apostle Paul declared, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)‘ I am crucified with Christ,’ may also be translated, ‘I have been crucified with Christ.” ALL those for whom Christ died, for them he rose again; and who were justified, acquitted, and discharged when he was. Legally, His death was their satisfaction before God the Father, and when He rose again, His Life was for them.

In time, by the Spirit of Christ, they are made alive in their persons because of His accomplished death for them. Therefore, none shall perish for whom He died, John 10:28. ALL for whom He died will be drawn to Him in Faith and repentance and given everlasting life, John 12:32-33. This is not a promise for ALL without exception but ALL without distinction, Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female that the Father gave to the Son to save and did save upon completion of His work at the cross, Galatians 3:26-28.

ALL those for whom He died, shall most certainly be brought to Him and declare, ‘My only Hope, my only plea, is that when Christ died, He died for me.’