The Nugget:
Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
The Question:
Did Jesus really die for the sins of all persons? Did Jesus even die? Followers of Islam sometimes deny that Jesus died. They also sometimes deny that he died for sins, because sin still continues.
My Answer:
Ayigbe Eseme, I do believe you are mistaken when you say “But study through the Bible reveals that Jesus was killed by people and not that he died for the sin of the people. Meanwhile, the sins he supposedly died for are still with us even in larger portions [or, greater extent].” (You must forgive me for putting on my English teacher hat and editing your helpful comment so that it reads like it should in the best English).
The Bible teaches in Acts 2:23,
Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (KJV)
Act 2:23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (ESV)
Notice that the Scripture declares Jesus most certainly was crucified; most certainly he was killed: therefore, most certainly He died. But His physical death was not the end of the story! We read in the next verse “the rest of the story”:
Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (KJV)
Act 2:24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (ESV)
Following verses in Acts 2:25-36 give the Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in this event.
The fact that God used evil men to accomplish His ultimate will happens throughout the Bible. One example (there are many more) is when God used the king of Assyria as the rod of His anger to punish His own people, as stated in Isaiah 10:5. The cross references given there make an interesting study, as I recall.
The fact that God used evil men to crucify Jesus Christ is no argument against the fact that Jesus died FOR the sins of all men, for this teaching is affirmed frequently elsewhere in the Bible:
2 Corinthians 5:14, 15,
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (KJV)
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
2Co 5:15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (ESV)
Jesus Christ died for all men without limitation. The Calvinists and those who follow them are gravely mistaken on this point. They fail to see that God’s PROVISION is for ALL, but the BENEFIT of that provision is CONTINGENT upon meeting the conditions for salvation: our continuing belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our behalf. That is what the grammar of the Greek New Testament clearly declares.
Jesus died explicitly to remove or to take away our sin and our sins. This He does by His grace for all who truly place their faith in Him. This, again, is directly affirmed by the grammar of the Greek New Testament most emphatically and clearly.
That there is still sin in the world, even increasing sin and rebellion against the God of the Bible, just reveals that those engaged in this sin have not truly believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, all people, all individuals, are free to choose whether to believe the Gospel as it is written in the New Testament. Those who fail to choose life will continue in their spiritual death, but those who will place their faith in what Jesus Christ has done for them will reap the benefit of the gift of eternal life.
Please feel free to ask any question or present any objection to what I have shared with you from the Bible. You may discover that even as a retired English teacher, I may be able to help answer any question or concern you may have. Thank you for the good questions you have shared, Ayigbe Eseme, which make possible such good and interesting discussion.
Dear Mr. Smith, I appreciate your clear, thoughtful, & especially Biblical response ! Jesus warned about the danger of grave error, for people who “know neither the Scriptures, nor the power of God”. The reason we’re blessed with all 66 Books is, because the full mind & heart, plan & provision, + the Character of Holy God took centuries to manifest .. perfectly culminating in the Gift of His Son in human flesh .. & now glorified. Only a comprehensive study of Heaven’s Entire Revelation can open our minds to the Big Picture Truth .. & that, only by His grace & the Spirit of God. A Calvinist (or anyone) who tries to make sense (or nonsense) of the Bible by some resort to human wisdom (or earth bound analysis) will inevitably miss the deeper meaning of the Cross, the depth of our own spiritual bankruptcy, & their own abject need to be saved I .. heart, mind & soul. Such will in the similar measure lack some part of Christ’s own compassion for the Most evidently wayward people .. on whom the Good Shepherd has certainly Not given up. Nor will I ! Thank you for speaking the Whole Truth about our beautiful Redeemer God, with such gentle encouraging patience & Love ! … Kenny from Scarborough .. drawn ever deeper into His Word since 1970
Dear Kenny,
Thank you for such an encouraging, Scriptural response!
I hope you will continue to visit here and make further comments as the Lord leads.
If you are not aware of my recently released Bible study tool, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, I hope you will learn elsewhere on this site where to get a copy for use with the free e-Sword Bible software.
May the Lord grant you the riches of His grace as you continue to study the Word of God.