littleapologist said:
A Spurgeon question that I am curious to hear a response to:
If Christ died for all without excpetion, did He die for those that were already in Hell? If so, what was the purpose of His death for these people?
That really
is a great question, littleapologist. I love questions that get me thinking deeper about my faith and the things of God.
I believe that, yes, He did die for those that were already in Hell. As for the purpose of His death for those people, I'd say it was the same as it was for those that were already saved by faith. Those that have gone before, prior to Christ's coming, had already chosen to believe God by faith or not. That didn't change after their death, faith or faithless. I don't believe that the purpose of Jesus' death was for those saved or not (that puts the focus on men), but rather for the sake of the the fulfillment of the law (which keeps the focus on God and His righteousness), in accordance to God's righteousness. Just as with the baptism of Jesus, which was to fulfill all righteousness, such is true with all that Jesus did, I believe. He lived righteously. He preached righteously. He died righteously. A blood sacrifice was required as the penalty for sin, and that pure sacrifice was fulfilled in Christs death. The OT shows the need for such a sacrifice all throughout. Once the genuine sacrifice was made on the cross, the law had been fulfilled and those that believe by faith are no longer under the law. Those who are not of the faith, and are in hell, remain under the law for the judgment.
Even Abraham, in his day, was found to be righteous on account of his faith. Galatians 3:7-11: (7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. The gospel was given in the OT, and David often spoke of the coming of the Messiah, as did others in the days of old. By faith, they believed.
I know I went off a bit more than you were looking for in regard to faith, but I felt it important, and in direct relation to those that are of faith and those that remain under the law (whether OT or NT), so....
Nice to meet you, btw.
Many blessings, HITR