There are two Bible doctrines of which the average church member is totally ignorant.

1. -Man's absolute ruin by the Fall of our father Adam. Man is not going to be lost, he is born lost, he is not going to be condemned he was born condemned. The relationship between Adam and the whole race is one of union, of oneness, a representative union.

What the representative did, all whom he represented are regarded in God's sight as having done what their representative did. Hence, by Adam's sin being imputed to us, we become sinners, and having inherited Adams fallen nature, we become sinners by practice. (Rom.5: 12-19).

2. -The Death of Christ, and the nature of His death, and the extent of His atonement.

The Lord Jesus Himself tells us both of these things. (John 10:11-18). "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.... And other sheep I have...them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice"). Our Lord here is telling us the nature of his death...it was not as a martyr for the truth...nor as a moral example of self-sacrifice.

His death was for a people! He died for them to live, we lost life in Adam, and Christ died to restore that life to his people. As we inherited death from Adam, we inherit LIFE from Christ, by our union with Him.

For whom did He lay down His life? Not for fallen angels...but sinful men...not for men in general, but His people in particular, "The Sheep". The word of God is clear and plain on the extent of His death, of His atonement. "For the transgressions OF MY PEOPLE was he stricken, ...Thou shall call His name Jesus for he shall save HIS PEOPLE FROM their sin." (Isa.53: 8-Mt.1: 21)