Accomplished in Death - part 2 of 4

Opportunity or Accomplishment
As we have seen in looking at only a couple of passages, Christ died for His sheep which are indeed a named people to be saved. Why then does it seem that everyone is invited to partake in being sheep? For example, just two chapters later, John 12:35-36 is a command for the audience to "walk while you have the light...while you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." Is it here meant that all have the ability to walk in this mentioned light? I answer with this: Has Jesus ever told anyone to do something that they had not the power in themselves to do? Has He not told the man with the withered hand to stretch it out? (Mark 3:5) Has He not told the paralytic to take up his bed and walk? (John 5:8) Has He not told Lazarus to come out of the tomb? (John 11:43) One must suppose that all men with withered hands have the ability within themselves to stretch out their hands and become like new. One must suppose that all paralytics have the power in themselves to take up their beds and walk. Furthermore, one must assume that all who have passed from this life have the ability in their dead selves to dig themselves out of their darkened graves. Of course, the power to do these such things had to be granted, or given, to them by God. They had not the power in themselves apart from the giving of it. Therefore, when all are told to walk in the light, or to choose Christ as their savior, it is not an accurate assumption that all have the power or ability in themselves to do so; in fact, they cannot, unless, however, it is granted or given to them by God. It is also everyday evident that all do not heed to this command, as the unbelievers cannot believe as a consequence of not being named sheep (John 10:26; John 12:40), and believers do believe as sheep who have been, and because they have been, appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48).

Christ's death was indeed an accomplishment that secured the eternal salvation of those who have been appointed to eternal life and believe. Christ gave Himself for us "to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works," (Titus 2:14). His sheep have been redeemed. His sheep are His own purified possessions. Entering into the holy places He secured for His sheep eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). And it is by His being made a curse that we have been redeemed and secured (Gal. 3:13) and reconciled (Rom 5:10). Furthermore, 2 Cor 5:19 says, "that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them..."; we have been reconciled by the salvific work of Christ.

Tomorrow...World Meaning Everyone, World Meaning Believers World Wide