Unbelievable! I take a day off and just look at what the troops go and do! Ya had to go and split the thread, for crying out loud! Apparently some have no life at all outside the web.
Well, for starters, I'd like to repeat what I've already said, but apparently was either missed by everyone, or ignored.
The death of Christ on the cross satisfied the justice of God for the sins of man. And that would be all men, everyone, just as Scripture plainly states.
Because the justice of God was satisfied, the penalty of sins was
paid in full, a loose translation of 'tetelestai', or "it is finished"; the last words spoken by our Lord on the cross. At that point, His mission was accomplished and is why He then "dismissed His spirit".
Because the penalty for sins was paid, no one goes to hell for punishment for sin. That would be double jeopardy. But God is perfectly fair.
In addition to paying the sin debt in full, that payment purchased (agorazo) eternal life for everyone. Yea, yea, there's no plain statement to that fact, but note Heb 9:12 says he "obtained eternal redemption". I take that as eternal life. So He literally holds the free gift (Rom 6:23) of eternal life for everyone in His own hands, because He purchased eternal life for everyone.
But...the ONLY way anyone can possess eternal life is through faith. Jn 6:40
The reason people are cast into the lake of fire is because they do not possess eternal life. Rev 20:15 iow, if your name is not found in the book of life, you are toast.
And you have no excuse, because Jesus Christ purchased eternal life for you, but you either weren't interested (agnostic), rejected it (atheist), or you thought you could make it to heaven on your own (religionist).
But, bottom line; no one will have any excuse for being toast.
otoh, in the Calvinist view, if Christ hadn't died for some people, they would ALL have an excuse for being there. It would be God's fault for passing them over, or not electing them, etc.
OK, have at it, boys.
