Reconciled to God while enemies !

[Studyman]

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach⁠—
— Colossians 1:21-22

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned (or like you say: have been reconciled) to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
— 1 Peter 2:25

What do you think "NOW" indicate? Now like when they have faith in Christ or now like before they have faith in Christ?

After being reconciled are they still hostile in mind? Are they still straying? If not, is that after or before faith?

Great point. Paul tries to point this out to men in 1 Cor. 10, but "many" do not believe him.

Israel was "Reconciled to God" through the Blood of the Passover Lamb, while they were still in Egypt. (Symbolic of sin)
And these Scriptures were Inspired by God for our admonition and example, why? Because with "many" of these men who were reconciled to God while they were still in sin, fell in the wilderness.

Paul warns about this over and over in the Scriptures, but there are "many" who come in Christ's Name, that do not believe him.

Rom. 11: 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches (disobedient Jews) were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he "also" spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Passover, or being reconciled to God, is simply the beginning of the Journey of the man of God. And God has prepared for us the map and instructions for this journey, as Paul teaches the Body of Christ.

2 Tim. 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

There are "many" who Jesus said calls Him Lord, Lord, that spent their lives walking the popular path of this world, where religious men cast away God's map and His instructions and create their own path into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said they will be gnashing their teeth and weeping when HE points out to them that HE didn't even know Him.

Great points.

 

[Brightfame52]

Who is this World in 2 Cor 5:19 ?

2 Cor 5:19

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Is this world everyone without exception ? By no means, in fact the verse tells us who are comprised of this World.

Its everyone that has been reconciled to God, that God has reconciled to Himself ! Now does that apply to every human being without exception ? No it does not !

Secondly, its everyone that has not and God will not impute their sins unto them !

In other words, its a world of blessed men and women who David calls blessed here Ps 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

And Paul quotes the same in Rom 4:7-8

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Its a world full of men and women whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered !

Its a world full of folk that God will not impute sin, lay it to their charge ! And please note it says He will not do it, ever, not now, not in the future !

John Gill comments on Rom 4:8

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. As he does not to those whom he justifies in Christ, and by his righteousness; for the sins of such he has imputed to his Son, as their surety; and he has bore them, took them away, having made full satisfaction for them; so that these persons will never be charged with them: they now appear before the throne without fault, and are blameless and irreproveable in the sight of God, and therefore must be eternally happy; for he will never think of their sins any more to their hurt; he will remember them no more; he "will never reckon them to them", but acquit them from them, justify and accept them; wherefore they must be secure from wrath and condemnation, enjoy much peace and comfort now, and be happy hereafter.

Thats who the World is in 2 Cor 5:19, those who are #1 Reconciled to God, #2 Have no sins charged to them !

Is that all without exception ? Jesus shall say to many who evidently have iniquity laid to their charge this Matt 7:23

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Now how could they possibly be of those which it is said Ps 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. See Rom 4:7-8

which are those in 2 Cor 5:19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 11

 

[zoidar]

Who is this World in 2 Cor 5:19 ?

2 Cor 5:19

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Is this world everyone without exception ? By no means, in fact the verse tells us who are comprised of this World.

Its everyone that has been reconciled to God, that God has reconciled to Himself ! Now does that apply to every human being without exception ? No it does not !

Secondly, its everyone that has not and God will not impute their sins unto them !

In other words, its a world of blessed men and women who David calls blessed here Ps 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

And Paul quotes the same in Rom 4:7-8

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Its a world full of men and women whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered !

Its a world full of folk that God will not impute sin, lay it to their charge ! And please note it says He will not do it, ever, not now, not in the future !

John Gill comments on Rom 4:8



Thats who the World is in 2 Cor 5:19, those who are #1 Reconciled to God, #2 Have no sins charged to them !

Is that all without exception ? Jesus shall say to many who evidently have iniquity laid to their charge this Matt 7:23

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Now how could they possibly be of those which it is said Ps 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. See Rom 4:7-8

which are those in 2 Cor 5:19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 11

It's sad to see the wrong conclusions you make. However I don't see what I or anyone else can say to change your mind.

God bless!

 

[Brightfame52]

Who is this World in 2 Cor 5:19 ? 2

The world in 2 Cor 5:19 cannot be inclusive of any individual who is not reconciled to God, or who is unreconciled !

Therefore the message in Vs 20 2 Cor 5:19-20

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

This message or command cannot be to the unreconciled, that would contradict Vs 19, that they were already reconciled to God also Vs 18

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

So the Gospel command in Vs 20 " be ye reconciled to God" is not to anyone who is not already reconciled to God, the unreconciled !

Then why does Paul tell reconciled folk to be ye reconciled ? Its because, the word of Truth begets Faith in them, its a call to Faith, for Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God Rom 10:17 !

The Truth is that they already are reconciled to God by and through Christ, and when they hear that Truth by the power of the Holy Spirit, they are commanded to believe it, they are commanded to believe what is already True ! There believing it doesn't make it true, it was true before they believed, and when they were enemies Rom 5:10 ! There believing it was Gods way of giving them personal knowledge of it and assurance of it !

 

[John Mullally]

Who is this World in 2 Cor 5:19 ?

2 Cor 5:19

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Is this world everyone without exception ? By no means, in fact the verse tells us who are comprised of this World.

Its everyone that has been reconciled to God, that God has reconciled to Himself ! Now does that apply to every human being without exception ? No it does not !

Secondly, its everyone that has not and God will not impute their sins unto them !

When Paul says world, he is speaking about everyone. A key to understanding verse 19 is found in the next verse which tells us to "be reconciled to God". That mean the "world" is not already reconciled. The message is this: “…be reconciled,” as we have been reconciled. As we are, you can be also. Receive reconciliation through faith and repentance.

2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (NIV)​

In Acts 20 where Paul gives his farewell to the Ephesians who he will never see again, he succinctly summarizes his Gospel message in verse 21.

Acts 20:18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.​

 

[Brightfame52]

Reconciled/Justified before God while being enemies !

Rom 5:9-10

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Now here's Grace, Being Reconciled to God, Justified before God, by the Death of His Son, while being enemies, that's the purport of these verses, meaning while those Jesus Christ died for were in a active state of rebellion, enmity, fighting and resisting God, they were completely Righteous before Him, and on their way to Eternal Glory ! For example, to further Illustrate what i mean, remember Paul the Apostle, when he was saul the persecutor of the Church / Believers in Christ, as here Acts 9:1

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Yes, while he was actively breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he was nevertheless reconciled to God, Justified and Righteous before Him, and on his way to Eternal Glory, even at that very moment ! He did not need to repent, believe, pray, or be water baptized or any of that, it was already a fact as much as Christ his Surety and forerunner was already in Glory in his behalf, and that's a fact, and the reason for that is simply the death of Christ, Gods Son for him, that's it ! And so it is with all for whom Christ died ! 11

 

[Brightfame52]

@John Mullally

When Paul says world, he is speaking about everyone.

Thats False, and I have explained why

 

[zoidar]

@John Mullally



Thats False, and I have explained why

Jesus took the punishment for all sin in the whole world, that's the truth! But we are not reconciled until we have faith, this is where you go wrong.

 

[John Mullally]

When Paul says world, he is speaking about everyone.

Thats False, and I have explained why

Calvinists reject scriptures that shows God's universal provision. There are many NT passages that reference terms translated as "world", "everyone", "all men", "all people", and "all" which mean "all people without exception" in regards to God's love and provision. I provide several examples from the NIV below. In some of these passages where those terms are repeated, Calvinists cling to an "all men without exception" for the first use, but not in subsequent uses (See 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 11:32, and Romans 5:18) even though the same original greek word is reused.

1. 1 Timothy 4:10 God is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
2. 1 Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
3. 1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
4. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
5. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
6. John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
7. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
8. Romans 11:32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
9. Romans 5:18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
10. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.,
11. Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
12. 2 Corinthians 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

 

[John Mullally]

Reconciled/Justified before God while being enemies !

Rom 5:9-10

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Now here's Grace, Being Reconciled to God, Justified before God, by the Death of His Son, while being enemies, that's the purport of these verses, meaning while those Jesus Christ died for were in a active state of rebellion, enmity, fighting and resisting God, they were completely Righteous before Him, and on their way to Eternal Glory ! For example, to further Illustrate what i mean, remember Paul the Apostle, when he was saul the persecutor of the Church / Believers in Christ, as here Acts 9:1

Pointing out that mankind are enemies of God, does not mean that we cannot confess our fallen state and reply positively to His message of reconciliation. There is nothing about being an enemy that implies or necessitates an inability to be reconciled to your enemy, just like there’s nothing about being a slave to sin which implies that you’re incapable of admitting that you’re enslaved when confronted. Just because you are a slave to sin, doesn’t mean that you cannot respond to God who offers to free you.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Yes, while he was actively breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he was nevertheless reconciled to God, Justified and Righteous before Him, and on his way to Eternal Glory, even at that very moment ! He did not need to repent, believe, pray, or be water baptized or any of that, it was already a fact as much as Christ his Surety and forerunner was already in Glory in his behalf, and that's a fact, and the reason for that is simply the death of Christ, Gods Son for him, that's it ! And so it is with all for whom Christ died ! 11

Transition from spiritual death into life occurs when we believe.

John 5:24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.​

Paul would likely not have chosen to come to Christ, aside from Christ’s visible encounter along the road to Damascus, though even that is still speculation, just as anti-Christians do sometimes convert to Christianity without major revelations of God. Some even have a death-bed conversion. Clearly, God was not going to wait that long since He intended to call him to evangelism. Nonetheless, two facts remain: (a) God didn’t make Paul positively respond to His orders, and (b) others in similar circumstances chose not to act positively to God’s order such as Balaam and Jonah. Paul still had his own choice to make while he was blinded for three days. He could have chosen to harden his heart, like with Jonah and Balaam. It is question-begging to suppose that since Paul made the right choice, that his choice must have been made for him.

 

[Brightfame52]

Reconciled while being enemies !

False religionists, who reject Salvation by Grace, do also reject the Truth of God's Grace, that those Christ has died for, had been reconciled to God, by that Death, while they were enemies Rom 5:10

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

This reconciliation to God was without them meeting any conditions, not any requirements, in fact it occurred while they were in a state of hostility and hatred and enmity against God;

And it was while they were being so, that they were actually reconciled, that is brought into harmony and agreement with God, received into His Favor and Friendship ! Don't be deceived by false teachers, they were reconciled to God, not potentially reconciled to God, it was not just possibly and not actually, they were reconciled to God on the bases of the Death of Christ. If it was only made possible, Christ's Death fell far short of the Glory of God. They were all reconciled to God and put in harmony with Him, as they had been when they were in harmony with God in Adam before the fall !

The fleshly carnal mind ruled by pride cannot receive this Grace Truth, it rejects it every time ! 11

 

[Brightfame52]

Pointing out that mankind are enemies of God, does not mean that we cannot confess our fallen state and reply positively to His message of reconciliation. There is nothing about being an enemy that implies or necessitates an inability to be reconciled to your enemy, just like there’s nothing about being a slave to sin which implies that you’re incapable of admitting that you’re enslaved when confronted. Just because you are a slave to sin, doesn’t mean that you cannot respond to God who offers to free you.

Transition from spiritual death into life occurs when we believe.

John 5:24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.​

Paul would likely not have chosen to come to Christ, aside from Christ’s visible encounter along the road to Damascus, though even that is still speculation, just as anti-Christians do sometimes convert to Christianity without major revelations of God. Some even have a death-bed conversion. Clearly, God was not going to wait that long since He intended to call him to evangelism. Nonetheless, two facts remain: (a) God didn’t make Paul positively respond to His orders, and (b) others in similar circumstances chose not to act positively to God’s order such as Balaam and Jonah. Paul still had his own choice to make while he was blinded for three days. He could have chosen to harden his heart, like with Jonah and Balaam. It is question-begging to suppose that since Paul made the right choice, that his choice must have been made for him.

Those Christ died for are reconciled to God while they are enemies and unbelievers because Christ died for their enmity and unbelief. They cant die in their sins.

 

[Brightfame52]

Jesus took the punishment for all sin in the whole world, that's the truth! But we are not reconciled until we have faith, this is where you go wrong.

Thats false Jesus took the punishment only for all them that become believers, because He died for their unbelief and other iniquities.

 

[Brightfame52]

@zoidar

But we are not reconciled until we have faith

False and a denial of the plain Truth that those whom Christ died for are reconciled to God without faith and are being enemies. Rom 5:10

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

So you are not speaking truth.

 

[Brightfame52]

Reconciled while being enemies ! 2

As stated before, this is a Truth of the Gospel that proud religionist cannot and will not receive Rom 5:10

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

This Truth to them that perish is foolishness, but yet again, its the message of the Gospel of the Grace of God in Christ; yes that Believers, back before they became believers, when they were unconverted, unbelievers, in fact while even being active enemies, nevertheless they had been reconciled to God, how, by the Death of Gods Son for them.

The word enemies echthros means:

hated, hostile; subst: an enemy.

properly, an enemy; someone openly hostile (at enmity), animated by deep-seated hatred. 2190/exthros ("enemy"), implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a "personal" hatred bent on inflicting harm

Remember how the Apostle Paul acted towards the Church when he was unconverted and inflicting harm out of hatered for Christ and His followers as here Acts 9:1-2

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Well, when believers had that same spirit and hostility towards God/Christ, they had been Reconciled to God.

The word enemies also indicate that even when believers were under the power and control of the devil, as stated here Eph 2:2-3

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

While being adversaries to God, opponents of His, enemies in our minds towards Him by wicked works Col 1:21

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

even then, by the Grace of God, they were reconciled to God, meaning they were in a Right and pleasing relationship with Him, in His Favor, at Peace and Harmony with them ! He raised up Christ from the dead after He had died for their sins as the God of Peace Heb 13:20

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Yes, even while they were enemies, God was reconciled to them and at Peace with them, and they with Him, through Christ !

This the natural man, self righteous religionist cannot receive !

 

[John Mullally]

Reconciled while being enemies ! 2

As stated before, this is a Truth of the Gospel that proud religionist cannot and will not receive Rom 5:10

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

This Truth to them that perish is foolishness, but yet again, its the message of the Gospel of the Grace of God in Christ; yes that Believers, back before they became believers, when they were unconverted, unbelievers, in fact while even being active enemies, nevertheless they had been reconciled to God, how, by the Death of Gods Son for them.

The word enemies echthros means:

hated, hostile; subst: an enemy.

properly, an enemy; someone openly hostile (at enmity), animated by deep-seated hatred. 2190/exthros ("enemy"), implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a "personal" hatred bent on inflicting harm

If enemies cannot be reconciled, as you say in the last paragraph above, then Romans 5:10 makes no sense. Enemies are commonly reconciled and reconciliation, like friendship, involves a conscientious decision by both parties as we see in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

My scripture examples in Post 389 support that God is the savior of all people and wants to reconcile with everyone, but that reconciliation is conditional and does not happen until people believe on God's son (John 5:24, John 3:14-17, Mark 16:15-16, and many other verses).

rec·on·cil·i·a·tion​

/rekənˌsilēˈāSH(ə)n/​

​

noun​

1. the restoration of friendly relations.
   "his reconciliation with your uncle"
2. the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
   "he aims to bring about a reconciliation between art and technology"
   

 

[Brightfame52]

If enemies cannot be reconciled, as you say in the last paragraph above, then Romans 5:10 makes no sense. Enemies are commonly reconciled and reconciliation, like friendship, involves a conscientious decision by both parties as we see in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

My scripture examples in Post 389 support that God is the savior of all people and wants to reconcile with everyone, but that reconciliation is conditional and does not happen until people believe on God's son (John 5:24, John 3:14-17, Mark 16:15-16, and many other verses).

rec·on·cil·i·a·tion​

/rekənˌsilēˈāSH(ə)n/​

​

noun​

1. the restoration of friendly relations.
   "his reconciliation with your uncle"
2. the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
   "he aims to bring about a reconciliation between art and technology"

You have a problem with the word of God They for whom Christ died were reconciled to God by His Death even while being enemies Rom 5:10

 

[zoidar]

You have a problem with the word of God They for whom Christ died were reconciled to God by His Death even while being enemies Rom 5:10

If you say they are still enemies after reconcilation, then there was no real reconcilation happening.

If you say they were reconciled without faith and thereby no longer enemies, then there is no need for faith to be saved.

The third option is they were reconciled as as enemies through faith, and are thereby no longer enemies and will therefore be saved by Christ's life.

Of course you dismiss the the third option, leaving you with a complicated and problematic theology.

 

[Brightfame52]

If you say they are still enemies after reconcilation, then there was no real reconcilation happening.

If you say they were reconciled without faith and thereby no longer enemies, then there is no need for faith to be saved.

The third option is they were reconciled as as enemies through faith, and are thereby no longer enemies and will therefore be saved by Christ's life.

Of course you dismiss the the third option, leaving you with a complicated and problematic theology.

Thats your denial of the word of God

 

[John Mullally]

You have a problem with the word of God They for whom Christ died were reconciled to God by His Death even while being enemies Rom 5:10

The bible clearly teaches that Christ died for all.

1. 1 John 2:1-2 clearly states that he atoned for the sins of the whole world.
2. Hebrews 2:9 clearly states that Christ tasted death for everyone. He would not taste death for those He did not die for.
3. 1 Timothy 2:1-6 states that God desires for all people to be saved, which is confirmed by Christ giving himself a ransom for all people.
4. There are other examples of this in the scriptures I listed in post 389.

Although Christ's atonement (through His death and resurrection) is provided for all people, it is only applied to believers. The atonement itself does not save without faith, as it neither perfects nor sanctifies anyone in the absence of faith. One must look upon Christ in order to receive the benefits of His atonement, illustrated at John 3:14 and Numbers 21:6-9. The common view of Calvinists is that the only thing that can be gleaned from Numbers 21:6-9, when quoted at John 3:14-15, is the manner in which Jesus was lifted up, which symbolized the Cross. However, the provision at Numbers 21:6-9 was also a form of an atonement, and therefore it becomes very telling. It satisfied God’s justice. It would save their life. There was a condition attached to it, as stipulated by God. It was God’s sovereign choice to make it efficacious only upon active participation. In spite of the existence of the provision, if someone chose not to look upon it, then they perished, even though everything necessary for their salvation was fully provided. That provides some terrific lessons for Calvary. People can perish and die in their sins today, even though everything necessary for their salvation has been fully provided by God. It’s not a double-payment by sinners in Hell, but rather people having declined to receive the payment that would have otherwise satisfied their debt, thus establishing a basis for accountability.

John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.​