Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church,
located at 905 Yadkin Street in Kingsport, Tennessee, would
like to invite you to listen to a message of sovereign grace
by their pastor, Gabe Stoniker. And now, Pastor Gabe Stoniker. I would like to bring a message
to you this morning from 2 Corinthians chapter 5. If you have your Bible
handy, and you would like to open it with me, we will be in
2 Corinthians chapter 5, and I want to begin by reading verses
14 and 15. It says, For the love of Christ
constraineth us, because we thus judge that if one died for all,
then we're all dead. 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. Now I have something I
would like for us to consider this morning, and it's a question.
This is an important question. This is one of the most important
questions that we could ever ask. This is one of the most
important questions we could ever consider. And it's this
question. Did Christ die for everybody? Did Christ die for everybody
when he died on the cross? Was He dying for everybody? The end of verse 14, what we
just read, it says, if one died for all, that's what we just
read. If one died for all. Now, did He die for everybody? Did He die for all? The beginning of verse 15 says,
and that He died for all. Did Christ die for everybody? That's our question. We're going
to turn to quite a few scriptures to find our answer. The first
one is in John chapter 3. Over in John chapter 3 verse
16 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him
might be saved." Now, did Christ die for everybody? Here's another
one. If you look with me at Romans
chapter 5, Romans 5 verse 18 says, Therefore, as by the offense
of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so
by the righteousness of one, The free gift came upon all men
unto justification of life. What is that scripture saying? Both of the scriptures we just
read. Did Christ die for everybody? Did he die for everybody? Let me read you another one.
In 1 John chapter 2, this is verse 2. 1 John 2 verse 2. And He is the propitiation for
our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world." Did Christ die for everybody? So important. This is so important
for us to look at. This is something we need to
get to the bottom of, and this is the reason why. If Christ
is our hope, we say that, we claim that, we plead that. Christ
is our hope. We're looking to Christ. We're
trusting in His death. If Christ is our hope and He
died for everybody, and anybody ends up in hell,
then we don't have a very good hope. If he died for everybody, and
that's our hope, and somebody ends up in hell, somebody ends
up going to hell after Christ died for them, then that person
didn't have a good hope, and neither do we. We have a terrible
hope. How can we look to him The exhortation
is look to Christ and trust Christ. How can we trust him? Really,
how can we look to him, hope in him? How can we hang our souls
on him? If he died for everybody, but
men and women are still going to hell, how can we do that?
If he died to save everybody, but men and women are still being
lost, then what difference did his death make? If he died to
keep him from being eternally lost, but men and women are still
being lost, what difference did his death make? What difference
at all? Now, did Christ die for everybody? Is that what these verses that
we just read, is that what they're saying? Through this word, I
want us to answer the question. I wanna give the answer. And
then through this word, I would like for us to explain the answer. And then through this word, I
would like for us to prove the answer. Every bit of that, we're
gonna do it through this word. All right, back in our text,
first, we're gonna give the answer. Back in 2 Corinthians chapter
five, In this letter, the Apostle Paul is writing to a particular
people. And in chapter 5, verse 14, he
says, for the love of Christ constraineth us. Constraineth us. Because we thus
judge that if one died for all, then we're all dead. He said,
the love of Christ constrains us. Constrain means holds together. It means to arrest. It means to keep the love of
Christ keeps us. That's what the apostle said
keeps us because we thus judge that if one died for all, then
we're all dead. Verse 15 says, and that he died
for all, that they which live, they, should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose
again. Verse 16 says, wherefore, henceforth,
no we, no man after the flesh, Yea, though we have known Christ
after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more." In verse
17, he says, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. If any man be in Christ. Who is all the us and the we? Who is he talking about? If any
man be in Christ. Did Christ die for everybody?
Here is the answer. No, he did not. I understand
that's a shocking thing to hear. I understand that. But it's the
truth of God's word. Christ did not hang on that cross
and shed his blood and cry, it is finished. Salvation is accomplished
for everybody. He did not cry that. He died. for every soul that God the Father
placed in Him. Every soul His Father gave to
Him. Only those who are in Christ
will be redeemed from destruction. Only those who are in Christ
will be kept. Only those who are in Christ
are going to be made to be new creatures through His death,
through His burial, and through His resurrection. Well, then
let's ask this question. Why did John 3,16 say, God so
loved the world? Why is that written? Why did
we just read in 1 John 2, verse 2, that Christ was the propitiation,
not for the sins of John and the other apostles only, but
also for the sins of the whole world? Why did we read that? Here's the answer. It's because
God in his goodness, God, in His kindness, He chose to have
mercy on. He commanded the good news of
the death of Christ to be preached to the Jew first and also to
the Gentile, to the Jew and to the Greek. If you were born in
the tribe of Judah, you're a Jew. If you were born into any other
nation on this earth, You are a Gentile. I am a Gentile. And
if it were not for these glorious verses of Scripture that tells
us that the gospel is to be preached unto all the world, our God came
to save the world. If it were not for these wonderful
verses of Scripture, I couldn't have any hope. In my simple mind,
I would think that Christ came to save the nation of Israel
and the country of Greece. Jews and Greeks, that's it. But
in His goodness, He said, I'm going to allow my grace, I'm
going to allow my mercy to go out into all the world, this
entire world. I'm going to send it to the uttermost
parts of the earth. That's who it's going to. Look
with me, if you would, at Revelation chapter 5. Revelation 5 verse
9 says, and they sung a new song, those who are in heaven, those
who are in glory, they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy
to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast
slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, and watch these
next two words, out of. every kindred and tongue and
people and nation." Those two little words, out of, two very
small words, but they are so important. They are so important
to understand the truth of God's salvation. Out of those who are
crying, thou art worthy for thou was slain and has redeemed us
to God by thy blood, out of. every kindred, every tongue,
every people, every nation. God's mercy has redeemed men
and women out of the whole world. The whole world. Our Lord did
not die for everybody. The declaration of the gospel,
the declaration of His death, forgiveness through His death,
it goes out to all the world. We're preaching it to all the
world. Our Lord said, you preach this unto all the world. But
His actual death only applies to the souls who God the Father
placed in Him. The souls that God gave to the
Son to find mercy in Him. All right, now let's prove that.
We're going to prove that by the Word. We've given the answer.
Did Christ die for everybody? No, He did not. He did not. We have explained the answer.
God's mercy and grace is not just confined only to the nation
of Israel. God sent it to the whole world.
All right, now let's prove the answer by the word. This has
to be proven to us by the word. It must be. We cannot rest in
any man's opinion on this subject. This is too important. You and
I, we need to see it in the Word. The only way that we can know
this is so is by the Word of God Himself. All right, look
with me, if you would, at Matthew chapter 1. In Matthew chapter
1, verse 21 says, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name Jesus for He shall save His people. He shall save His people from
their sins. Who did He come to save? Who
did Christ come to save? Who did Christ die for? Here's
the answer. His people. His people. Christ is the successful Savior. Men are standing up everywhere
today begging people to accept Him so He can save them. Christ
would love to save you, they say. He wants to so badly. He's standing there waiting on
you to allow Him to pull that trigger. That's not so. That's not so. That's an unsuccessful
Savior. That's a Savior that can only
save you if you let Him. That's not the God of the Bible.
That's not the Christ of Scripture. He is the successful Savior. He is not trying to save anybody. Christ is not trying to save
anybody. Christ does not need anyone to
accept Him as their personal Savior. He begs no one. Christ
begs no one to save them. No one. He is the successful
Savior. He came to save a particular
people. He gave His life for that particular
people. He has lost not one of those
particular people. Not one. He is the successful
Savior. He shall save His people from
their sins. He shall. All right, now if you
look with me at Matthew chapter 7, Verse 21 says, Not everyone
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven. This is the Lord Jesus Christ
saying this. Not everyone that says unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he
that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven. What is the
will of the Father which is in heaven? He said, this is my beloved
son, hear him. Hear Him. Believe on Him. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Bow the knee to Him. At His name,
every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord. That's the will of the Father. Verse 22 right here says, Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? And in thy name have cast out
devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works. And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye
that work iniquity. Now, if he died for everybody,
as many preach and believe today, if Christ died for everybody,
does that verse mean that he would die for them? He would come here and die for
them, but then not acknowledge that He knew them? Does that
mean He would come and literally give His own life for them, but
then not let them into the kingdom, die for them to save them, and
then turn them away from the kingdom? No, He said, all that the Father
giveth Me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I
will in no wise cast out. Not one soul that the Father
gave to me, not one soul I gave my life for, shed my blood for,
I will not turn that soul away. I will not cast that soul out. Won't do it. Look with me again
at John chapter three. This time, verse 3 says, Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Our
Lord is talking to a man named Nicodemus. And he said, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How
can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second
time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, barely,
barely, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee,
ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth,
And thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh and whither it goeth. He's saying the wind blows and
you don't know where it came from. You don't know where it's
going. So is everyone that is born of the spirit. So is every
soul that is born of God's spirit. It's of God. It's of God. Man has no influence and no control
over it. None whatsoever. It's of God. In the same way that we had no
part in our physical birth. Think about that for just a moment.
What role did you and I play in our physical birth? When it
came time for us to be conceived and grow in the womb and be born
into this world, what part did we have? What decision did we
make? Did we accept our parents to
be our personal parents? No. It was of God. And we were born and at some
point down the road we were notified of the fact that we're alive
and these are our parents and we're in this family. The same
thing applies spiritually. It's of God. It's of God. It's not in a family bloodline.
This is what John chapter 1 verse 13 says. It's not in a family
bloodline. It's not in the will of the flesh. It's not in the
will of man. It's of God. It's of God. Salvation is not an offer. It is not an offer. Salvation
is the will and the purpose and the work of the Almighty God. It's God's choice. It's His work. He does it in His time. It's
God's call. Over in John chapter 10, Verse
1 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not
by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way,
the same as a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth, and
the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name,
and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his
own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for
they know his voice. And a stranger will they not
follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of
strangers. There's a shepherd who has his
own sheep. They know his voice. He said
in verse 14, I am the good shepherd and know my sheep, and am known
of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even
so know I the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. That's who I lay down my life
for. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd. And then he said in verse 24,
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long
dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us
plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you,
and you believed not. The works that I do in my Father's
name they bear witness of me, but you believe not, because
you are not of my sheep. As I said unto you, My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give
unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them
me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out
of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." Did
Christ die for everybody? No, He did not. He died for His
sheep. He died for His sheep. Not one
drop of his precious blood was wasted. Not one drop. Over in John 17, he said, he
was praying to his father and he said, Father, I pray for them.
I pray for the ones you gave me. I pray not for the world.
but for the ones that you gave me out of the world. I pray for them. I love them. He makes intercession to his
father for the sheep. Now I want to leave us with this
right here. This question. Our Lord did not die for everybody. We've seen that now. He only
died for his sheep. But I want to find out this question
right here. Did Christ die for me? He didn't die for everybody,
but did he die for me? Do I belong to him? Well, look
with me, if you would, in Luke 19, verse nine says, Jesus said
unto him, this day is salvation come to this house for as much
as he also is a son of Abraham. He's in the covenant that God
made with Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. He answered us right there
in Luke 19 verse 10. He said, I came to seek and to
save that which was lost. Now, did Christ die for me? Did Christ die for me? Well,
let's ask this question. Are we lost? Are we lost? If he leaves us to ourselves,
are we absolutely lost? Without his mercy, without his
grace, will we die in our sins? Do we cry, Lord, I'm lost? Without
you, I'm lost. If you do not come find me, I'm
gonna die right here. If our answer is, oh, no, I'm
not lost. I know some people who are, but
not me. If that's our answer, well, then we have our answer.
But if we cry, Lord, as blind Bartimaeus did, Jesus, thou Son
of David, have mercy on me. I'm lost. If we truly need him
to die for us, and beg and cry out for that mercy in His blood,
then we have our answer. That's who He came to save. Till
next week, may the Lord bless His Word to our hearts. You have
been listening to a message by Gabe Stoniker, pastor of Kingsport
Sovereign Grace Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. If you would like
a copy of this message, or to hear other messages of sovereign
grace, log on to our website at ksgctn.org. If you would like to come and
worship with us, our service times are Sunday morning Bible
study at 10 o'clock a.m., worship at 1045 a.m., and 6 o'clock p.m.,
Wednesday evening at 730 p.m. Please tune in next week for
another message of God's free and sovereign grace.