The Nugget:
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.
The Muslim Challenge:
My Answer to the Challenge:
You and many others have made a mistake about how long Jesus was in the tomb as well as what day He died on the cross and was subsequently buried.
The key to the proper chronology is found in Luke 24:21 where the two disciples state “and beside all this, today is THE THIRD DAY SINCE these things were done.”
They said this on the Sunday that Jesus arose bodily from the dead. Jesus was not limping along as he joined their company and entered into conversation with them. Jesus arose in a glorified body that while it still showed his scars, the scars were healed.
If Sunday was the third day since, then
Saturday was the second day since, and
Friday was the first day since, so that
Thursday was the actual day of His crucifixion and death.
To suggest that Jesus did not die for others totally contradicts what the New Testament record teaches:
2 Corinthians 5:15
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.
King James Version
Dig deeper by studying the cross references for 2 Corinthians 5:15 as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
2 Corinthians 5:15
he died. Eph 5:2.
for all. Many imagine that, because Christ has died for all, all shall be saved; but redemption is by no means so extensive as the curse (Charles Simeon on Gal 3:13). +*2Co 5:14 note. +*Rom 5:18, 1Co 1:13, %*Gal 2:20, 1Th 5:10, +*1Ti 2:6, +*Heb 2:9.
that they. 2Co 3:6, Deut 32:6, Eze 16:6; Eze 37:9; Eze 37:14, Hab 2:4, Zec 10:9, Luk 15:24, Joh 3:15, 16; **Joh 5:23; **Joh 5:24; Joh 6:57, Rom 6:2; Rom 6:11, 12; Rom 8:2; Rom 8:6; Rom 8:10; *+Rom 14:7; *+Rom 14:8, **1Co 6:19; **1Co 6:20, *Gal 2:20; Gal 5:24, 25; Gal 6:14, Eph 5:14, Col 2:12; *Col 3:1, 2, 3, 1Pe 4:6, 1Jn 4:9; 1Jn 5:18.
which live. or, the living. 1Co 4:11, Col 2:13, *1Jn 5:12; *1Jn 5:13.
henceforth. 2Co 5:16, 2Ki 5:17, Rom 6:6, Eph 4:17, 1Pe 1:14, 15; *1Pe 4:2, 3, 4.
live unto themselves. Deut 32:6, 1Sa 12:10, *Mat 25:40, Luk 1:74, Rom 6:2; Rom 6:13; Rom 12:1; Rom 14:7, 8, 9; Rom 14:13, 1Co 6:20; 1Co 10:33, Gal 2:19; Gal 6:14, Php 1:20, 21; Php 2:21, Col 3:17; Col 3:23, 1Th 5:10, 1Ti 5:6, 2Ti 3:2, *Tit 2:14, Heb 13:20, 21, Rev 1:18.
but unto him. 2Co 4:5; 2Co 8:5; 2Co 12:10, +*Gen 49:10, Exo 21:5, Deut 6:5, Psa 26:3; Psa 116:12, Pro 23:26, Zec 7:5, Mat 10:37; Mat 25:40, Mar 12:17, Luk 4:39, *Joh 12:32; Joh 13:17; Joh 14:15; Joh 14:21; Joh 21:15, Rom 14:8, 1Co 6:13, *Gal 2:20, Eph 3:21, Php 2:21; Php 3:7, 8, 1Th 1:3, 2Th 2:1, Heb 13:13, 1Pe 1:8, 1Jn 4:19.
which died for them. Deut 32:6, 1Co 1:13.
rose again. Joh 14:19, *+Rom 4:25; Rom 6:10, 1Co 15:17, Php 3:10.
Dig yet deeper by studying the cross references and the note given for 2 Corinthians 5:14 as found in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2 Corinthians 5:14
the love. 2Co 8:8, 9, Gen 29:20, Exo 21:5, Deut 6:5, Jdg 16:15, Psa 26:3, Song 1:4; Song 5:2; Song 7:12; Song 8:6, 7, Hos 11:4, Mat 10:37, 38, Luk 7:42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, Joh 14:15; Joh 14:21, 22, 23; *Joh 15:12; *Joh 15:13; Joh 16:27; Joh 21:7; Joh 21:15, 16, 17, Rom 8:35; Rom 12:1, 1Co 16:22, Gal 5:6, *Eph 3:17, 18, 19; Eph 6:24, 1Th 1:3, 2Ti 1:13, +*Heb 6:10, *1Pe 1:8, *1Jn 3:16; *1Jn 4:19.
of. FS181E, +Gen 3:24.
Christ. Eph 4:20; Eph 5:2.
constraineth. Gr. sunechō (S# G4912, Luk 4:38). Gen 19:3, 1Sa 28:23, 2Sa 23:16, 1Ch 11:18, Job 32:18, Psa 116:12, Pro 7:21; Pro 23:26, Isa 11:6, +Luk 4:38 g. Luk 8:45 g. Luk 24:29, *Act 4:19; *Act 4:20; *Act 16:15; +Act 18:5; Act 20:22.
because. Rom 2:2, 1Co 2:14.
if. FS184A, +1Co 15:2.
one died. Rom 5:15; Rom 14:9, Rev 1:18.
for all. Exo 12:6, Isa 53:6, %Mat 20:28; %+*Mat 26:28 note. Joh 1:29; Joh 11:50, 51, 52, Rom 5:18, **1Ti 2:6, *Heb 2:9, **2Pe 3:9, **1Jn 2:1; **1Jn 2:2.
then were all dead. Are all dead? Clearly the Bible teaches that all are dead in trespasses and sins (+*Rom 5:12, **Eph 2:1). As many as are classed as “dead,” just so many Christ has died for; thus Christ has died for all, without limitation. 2Co 3:7; 2Co 3:9, Eze 37:11, Hos 13:1, Luk 15:24; Luk 15:32, Joh 5:25; Joh 11:25, *Rom 5:12; *Rom 5:15; Rom 8:3; Rom 14:7, 8, 9, *Eph 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Col 2:13, 1Ti 5:6, Tit 3:3, 1Jn 5:19.
My Comment:
I encourage all who may read what I have posted here to carefully consider that we need to be motivated by the love of Christ for us as well as our love for Christ and what He has done for us.
Much misunderstanding of the Bible and what it actually teaches arises from our failure to do our homework! We need to go back to the Bible itself and learn what it actually teaches. Though the godly pastors and sincere teachers who have taught us the Bible have greatly blessed us all, neither they nor ourselves are perfect in our knowledge.
We need to accept correction from God’s Word, the Bible, as we take time daily to read and study it more.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.