FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?
(By Emerson Blythe)

FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?

May seem to be a silly question... But it's not.

NO. 1. JESUS DIED FOR EVERYBODY.  "IT'S UNIVERSAL."

(2 Cor 5:14-15)  "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: {15} 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."

(John 1:29)  "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin 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 honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

(1 John 2:1-2)  "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: {2} And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

(Isa 53:6)  "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

PROBLEM: Though Jesus died for ALL, all will not be saved:
(Mat 7:13-14)  "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: {14} Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

NO. 2. CHRIST DIED FOR MANY. "IT'S SELECTIVE."

(Mat 26:27-28)  "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; {28} For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

(Mat 20:25-28)  "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. {26} But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; {27} And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: {28} Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

(Heb 9:28)  "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

(John 11:50-52)  "Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. {51} And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; {52} And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."

NO. 3. HE DIED FOR SINNERS. "UNDESERVING"

(Rom 5:6-8)  "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

(Luke 5:32)  "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

(Mark 2:17)  "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

BUT HE CALLS ON SINNERS TO "REPENT."

(Acts 3:19)  "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

(Luke 13:3)  "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

NO. 4. HE DIED FOR HIS SHEEP.   "IT'S FAMILIAL"

(John 10:11-18)  "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. {12} But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. {13} The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. {14} I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. {15} As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. {16} 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. {17} Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. {18} No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

(John 10:25-29)  "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. {26} But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. {27} My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: {28} And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. {29} My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

NO. 5. JESUS DIED FOR HIS FRIENDS.  "IT'S CLOSE"

(John 15:13-14)  "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. {14} Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

(Heb 5:8-9)  "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; {9} And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"

(Rom 6:17-18)  "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {18} Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

(1 Pet 1:22-23)  "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: {23} Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

NO. 6. JESUS DIED FOR US. "IT'S PERSONAL!"

(1 Cor 15:3)  "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."

(1 Th 5:10)  "Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

(1 John 3:16)  "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

NO. 7. HE DIED FOR ME. "IT'S INDIVIDUAL."

(Gal 2:20)  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

NO. 8. CHRIST NOT ONLY DIED FOR ME, HE DIED FOR MY BROTHER, EVEN THE 
   ONE I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

(Rom 14:1)  "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."

(Rom 14:7-9)  "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. {8} For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. {9} For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

(Rom 14:15)  "But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died."

(1 Cor 8:11)  "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?"

CONCLUSION:
DID CHRIST DIE FOR YOU???
He did in a way, for he died for all..
He died for sinners, and we are all sinners.
He died for His friends.  Are you one?
He died for His sleep. Are you in His fold?

Jesus died to make salvation available to all.  It is a reality only to whose who accept it.

(Titus 2:11-14)  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, {12} Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; {13} Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; {14} Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

HAVE YOU TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE BLESSINGS CHRIST DIED TO PROVIDE?