For Whom Did Christ Die? God’s Elect!    

Romans 8:28-33

The objects of election and redemption are the same. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?--It is Christ that died!" That bold challenge of faith makes sense only if you understand that Christ died for God’s elect and infallibly secured the salvation of the elect by his death.

The “us all” for whom God delivered up his Son are the same as those whom he foreknew and predestinated, whose calling, justification, and glorification were secured from eternity by God’s sovereign purpose of grace toward them. Paul teaches this same thing in Ephesians 1:4 and 7. The “us” who are there said to be chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world are the same as those who have redemption in him through his blood and the forgiveness of sins. The objects of election and redemption are the same. No more were redeemed by Christ at Calvary than were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, and no less.

            God’s elect are special to him above all people in the world. Special things belong to them which belong to no one else. Yet, we see that everything which is said to be true of the elect is also true of the redeemed. Therefore, we must conclude, according to the Scriptures, that the elect and the redeemed are the very same people.

Are the elect the beloved of the Lord? Does the act of election spring from love? Election presupposes love. So the redeemed are the beloved of God and Christ. And our redemption by his blood flows from God’s everlasting love toward us in Christ.

Are the elect a people whom God has chosen for his peculiar treasure? The redeemed are purified by Christ to be a peculiar people to himself.

Do the vessels of mercy, afore prepared for glory, consist of Jews and Gentiles alike? So Christ is the propitiation, not for the sins of the Jews only, or the Redeemer of the Jews only, but for the sins of the Gentile world also, the Redeemer of his people among the Gentiles.

Are God’s elect a great number, a multitude which no man can number out of all nations, kindred, peoples, and tongues? So Christ’s redeemed ones are those he has redeemed unto God, out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

Is it true of the elect that they shall never perish, that they cannot be totally and finally deceived and perish? So, too, it is true of the ransomed of the Lord. They shall come to Zion with everlasting joy. Christ will never lose any part of the purchase of his blood.

            It is ludicrous to imagine that the Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of any whom he did not come to save. He came into this world to save his people (THEY WERE HIS PEOPLE BY DIVINE ELECTION LONG BEFORE HE CAME TO SAVE THEM!) from their sins by the sacrifice of himself as their Substitute. He chose his people, and them alone. He redeemed his people, and them alone. He prays for his people, and them alone. And he will save his people, all of them, and only them.

Don Fortner