“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

but also for the whole world

Jesus’ death for sin is sufficient for all, although it is efficient for only those who place their trust in His death for sin. Jesus died for more than the “elect.” The “whole world” does not mean the world of the elect.

2 Co.5:14-15, ¹⁴ “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

2 Co 519, “…that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

He. 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

The word “but” is a strong adversative – a marked contrast. Not only did Jesus die for the saved, but He died for the lost! This is a firm rejection of limited atonement. This does not imply that God will save everyone (2 Co 5:14-15,19).

Jn 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Jn 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Jn 6:51, “ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

1 Tim. 2:6, “…who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…”

Heb. 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

PRINCIPLE:

Jesus paid for all the sins of all non-Christians.

APPLICATION:

Jesus not only paid for the sins of Christians but the sins of non-Christians. He paid for the sins of every person. No one is ineligible to receive forgiveness. However, the non-Christian must appropriate by faith the provision of the death of Christ for his sin.

That qualification preempts the idea of universal salvation for all regardless of trust in Christ. God confronts the lost world, not with its sins, but with His own dear Son, who is the satisfaction for all sin.

Jesus did not die just for moral, religious people. He did not solely die for Christians. He died for all. This is good news to those without Christ. Jesus died for everyone. He did not die for white people; He died for people of all color and race.

2 Pe 2:1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them [Jesus even died for lost false teachers], and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

2 Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

1 Jn 4:14, “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”