DOCTRINES OF GRACE – CATEGORIZED SCRIPTURE LIST

by Nathan Pitchford
(http://pitch.fitzage.com/)

Unconditional Election

1. God is Sovereign

2. He exercises that sovereignty in actively ordaining everything

1. Man is not permitted to question his sovereign acts

2. God elects [i.e. chooses, predestines, foreordaines ]

2. His angels

   1 Timothy 5:21   I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality

    

3. His peculiar people, Israel

   Exodus 6:7   'I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians

   Deuteronomy 7:6-8   "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (7) "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; (8) "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt

   Deuteronomy 10:14-15   "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. (15) "The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day

   Psalms 33:12   Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance

   Isaiah 43:20-21   The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. (21) This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

4. Individuals to salvation

   Psalms 65:4   Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple

   Matthew 24:24   "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect

   John 6:37   "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out

   John 15:16   "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you

   Acts 13:48   And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

   Romans 8:28-30   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

   Romans 9:10-24   And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (11) (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), (12) it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." (13) As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! (15) For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." (16) So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. (17) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." (18) Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (19) You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" (20) But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" (21) Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? (22) What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, (23) and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, (24) even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles

   Romans 11:5-7   Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6) And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. (7) What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded

   Ephesians 1:3-6   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved

   Ephesians 1:11-12   In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (12) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory

   1 Thessalonians 1:4   knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God

   1 Thessalonians 5:9   For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ

   2 Thessalonians 2:13-14   But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (14) to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ
    

5. Individuals to condemnation

2. His motivation in election

2. His own good pleasure

   Eph 1:5   Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

   2 Timothy 1:9   who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began
    

3. The display of his glory

   Isaiah 43:6-7   I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth; (7) Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.

   Romans 9:22-24   What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, (23) and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, (24) even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles

   Ephesians 2:4-7   But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus

   1 Corinthians 1:27-31   But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (28) and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, (29) that no flesh should glory in His presence. (30) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; (31) that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.

   Proverbs 16:4   The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom
    

4. His special love

   Deuteronomy 7:6-8   "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (7) "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; (8) "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt

   2 Thessalonians 2:13   But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth

5. His foreknowledge

2. But not:

Total Depravity

2. Man is constituted a sinner by his relationship with Adam

   Psalms 51:5   Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me

   Psalms 58:3   The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies

   Romans 5:18-19   Therefore as by the offence 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. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
   
    

3. He is therefore unable
    
   2. To do anything good

      Genesis 6:5   And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

      Job 15:14-16   "What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? (15) If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight, (16) How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water

      Psalms 130:3   If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand

      Psalms 143:2   Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous

      Proverbs 20:9   Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

      Ecclesiastes 7:20   For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin

      Isaiah 64:6   But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away

      Jeremiah 13:23   Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

      John 3:19   And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

      Romans 3:9-12   What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. (10) As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; (11) There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. (12) They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.

      James 3:8   But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison

      1John 1:8   If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
       

   3. To believe in God (or come to him)

      John 6:44   No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

      John 6:65   And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

      John 8:43-45   "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. (44) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (45) "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me

      John 10:26   But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

      John 12:37-41   But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, (38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" (39) Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: (40) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." (41) These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him

   4. To understand the truth

      John 14:17   "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

      1Corinthians 2:14   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
       

   5. To seek God

   Romans 3:10-11   As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.
   
    

4. He is dead in sins

   Genesis 2:16-17   And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

   John 3:5-7   Jesus answered, Verily, verily, 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.

   Ephesians 2:1-3   And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others

   Colossians 2:13   And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses
   
    

5. He is blinded and corrupt in his heart

   Genesis 6:5   And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

   Genesis 8:21   And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done

   Ecclesiastes 9:3   This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead

   Jeremiah 17:9   The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

   Mark 7:21-23   For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

   Joh 3:19-21   And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in [by] God.

   Rom 8:7-8   Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

   John 3:19-21   "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (21) "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

   Ephesians 5:8   For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

   
    

6. He is captive to sin and Satan

   John 8:34   Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.

   John 8:44   "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it

   Romans 6:20   For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.

   2 Timothy 2:25-26   in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will

   Titus 3:3   For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another

   1John 5:19   And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.
   
    

7. He performs actions freely according to his nature, but his nature is wholly evil

Limited Atonement

 

2. God purposed to redeem a certain people and not others

   1 Chronicles 17:20-21   "O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (21) "And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people; to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt

   Matthew 22:14   For many are called, but few are chosen.

   1 Peter 2:8-9   and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. (9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

   [see "God elects individuals to salvation"/God elects individuals to condemnation"]
    

   2. It is for these in particular that Christ gave his life

      Isaiah 53:10-11   Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. (11) He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities

      Matthew 1:21   And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

      John 6:35-40   And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (36) "But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. (37) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (38) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (39) "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (40) "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

      John 10:3-4   "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (4) "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice

      Acts 20:28   "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood

      Ephesians 5:25   Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
      [we are commanded to love our wives in the same way that Christ loved the church and gave himself for it; therefore, if Christ loved and gave himself for all people in the same way, we are commanded to love all women in the same way that we love our wives]

      Hebrews 2:17   Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people

      Hebrews 9:15   And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
       

   3. It is for these in particular that Christ intercedes

      John 17:1-2   Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, (2) "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him

      John 17:6-12   "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. (7) "Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. (8) "For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. (9) "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. (10) "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. (11) "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (12) "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled

      John 17:20-21   "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (21) "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me

      John 17:24-26   "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (25) "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. (26) "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.

      Romans 8:34   Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us

       

   5. The people for whom Christ intercedes are the same as the people for whom he offered himself up as a sacrifice

   Hebrews 7:24-27   But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (25) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (26) For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; (27) who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself

   Hebrews 9:12   Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
   [note context, in which entering into the holy place is explicitly for the purpose of intercession]

   Hebrews 9:24-28   For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; (25) not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; (26) He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (27) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation

   [For a fuller understanding of the indissoluble connection between sacrifice and intercession, read Hebrews chapters 7-10]
   
    

3. The atonement of Christ is effective
    
   2. To justify

      Isaiah 53:11   He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
      [the single effective cause of justification in view here is the bearing of iniquities; all whose iniquities Christ bore must be justified]

      Romans 8:34   Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us
      [the argument here is that the fact of Christ's death, resurrection, and intercession is in itself an incontrovertibly effective reason for non-condemnation; if this verse is true, then no one for whom Christ died and was raised to intercede may be condemned]
       

   3. To redeem and cleanse from sins

      Ephesians 5:25-27   Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

      Titus 2:14   Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
       

   4. To propitiate the Father

      1John 2:2   And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
      ["propitiation" means "the turning away or appeasement of wrath"; therefore, by definition, the Father has no more wrath against those whose sins have been propitiated]

      1John 4:10   Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
       

   5. To raise to new life

   2 Corinthians 5:14-15   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
   [the argument is a simple "if/then" proposition: "if" Christ died for someone, "then," with no other conditions, that person died with him and was raised again]

   1 Peter 3:18   For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit

   [See also, "Jesus' death purchased for his people a new heart; – faith; – repentance". Jesus died in order to establish the New Covenant (Mt. 26:26-29, etc.); the New Covenant promised faith, repentance and knowledge of God (Jer. 31:33-34, Ez. 36:26-27, etc.); therefore, Jesus died in order to provide faith, repentance, and knowledge of God, as the fulfillment of a unilateral promise. This means that his death had a definite purpose which was intended for some and not others. His death effectively purchased faith; not all have faith; and so his death had an effective intent that was limited to certain persons.]
   
    

4. Those whom God purposed to redeem include all who believe

   John 3:16   "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
    

   2. From every nation

      Revelation 5:9   And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation
       

   3. From every class

      Galatians 3:28   There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus

      1 Timothy 2:1-6   Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time
      [the first "all men" is explicitly tied to all classes of men, which gives warrant for understanding the second "all men" in the same way]
       

   4. Therefore, Christ's saving work is commonly spoken of in terms of "all," "world," etc.

      John 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

      Titus 2:11-14   For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works
      [in the context of "all men" is the delimiting concept of a peculiar people, zealous of good works]

      Hebrews 2:9-10   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. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
      [notice that the many sons whom Christ brings to glory gives a contextual delimiter to the term "every"]

      2 Peter 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
      [note that this desire is explicitly limited to "us" (Peter was writing to fellow-believers) in the context]

      1John 2:2   And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
      [propitiation means "appeasement of wrath"; either Jesus appeases God's wrath against all, and therefore hell (which is the place where God's wrath resides) is non-existent; or the "whole world" means something different than "every individual who ever lived". See John 11:51-52, and "The word 'world' is often used in the sense of 'many,' or 'all of a set'"]

   5. The word "all" is often used to indicate all of a set, or even many representatives of a set

      Matthew 10:22   "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved

      1 Corinthians 6:12   All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any

      1 Corinthians 15:22   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

      Matthew 2:3   When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

      John 4:29   Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

      Acts 10:39   "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree

      Acts 17:21   (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

      Acts 21:28   crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.

      Acts 26:4   "My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know
       

   6. Or, to indicate all "classes" or "nations," not all individuals

      Matthew 5:11   Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of ["manner of" is not in the Greek] evil against you falsely, for my sake

      Acts 2:17   'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams

      Acts 10:12   Wherein were all manner of ["manner of" is not in the Greek] fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
       

   7. The word "world" is often used in the sense of "many," or "all of a set"

   Luke 2:1-2   And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

   John 6:33   "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

   John 12:19   The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!

   Acts 19:27   "So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.

   Romans 1:8   First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
   
    

5. Additional reasons that the atonement of Christ is not for all the sins of all people
    
   2. God punishes people in hell, which would be unjust if their sins were atoned for

      Mark 9:43-44   "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched; (44) "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.
       

   3. If one were to say, "their sins are atoned for, but that atonement is not applied because of unbelief," he fails to realize that unbelief is likewise a sin

      Hebrews 3:12   Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

       

      ["The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for either:

      1) All the sins of all men;

      2) All the sins of some men; or

      3) Some of the sins of all men.
       

      In which case it may be said:

      1) If the last be true all men have some sins to answer for, and so none are saved;

      2) That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth;

      3) But if the first is the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer, Because of unbelief. I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!"
      [John Owen,  The Death of Death in the Death of Christ]
      
       

   4. God bears eternal wrath against people, which by definition means that his wrath against them has not been propitiated [appeased]

   1 Thessalonians 2:16   forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost

   2 Thessalonians 1:6-9   since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (7) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power
    

6. Intentions of Christ's death other than atonement
    
   2. To make a public display of demons

      Colossians 2:13-15   And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it
       

   3. To rule over everyone

      Romans 14:9   For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
       

   4. To redeem creation

      Isaiah 35:1-4   The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; (2) It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God. (3) Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. (4) Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.

      Romans 8:20-23   For the creature [in Greek, same word as "creation," verse 22] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature [in Greek, same word as "creation," verse 22] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
       

   5. To lay the foundation for a genuine gospel call

      John 6:39-40   "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (40) "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

      John 7:37-38   On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

   6. To provide temporal mercies for the non-elect

Irresistible Grace
 

2. Faith and Repentance (as well as the new heart which is able to produce them) are themselves gifts of God
    
   2. A new heart

      Deuteronomy 30:6   "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live

      Ezekiel 11:19   "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh

      Ezekiel 36:26-27   "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them
       

   3. Faith

      John 3:27   John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

      Philippians 1:29   For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake

      2 Peter 1:1   Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

      Acts 16:14   Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul

      Acts 18:27   And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace

      Ephesians 2:8-10   For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
       

   4. Repentance

   Acts 5:31   "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins

   Acts 11:18   When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

   2 Timothy 2:25-26   in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will

   1 Corinthians 4:7   For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it

   
    

3. The Father writes his own word upon (places the fear of himself in, etc.) his people's hearts

   Jeremiah 31:33   "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people

   Jeremiah 32:40   'And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me

   Matthew 16:15-17   He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven

   Luke 10:21   In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight

   John 6:45   "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me

   2 Corinthians 4:6   For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

   
    

4. The beginning of salvation is the sovereign impartation of spiritual life into a heart which had been dead, thereby causing it to exercise faith

   1 John 5:1   Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him

   Ezekiel 37:3-6   And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." (4) Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! (5) 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. (6) "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."'
   Ezekiel 37:11-14   Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' (12) "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (13) "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. (14) "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'

   John 1:11-13   He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (13) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

   John 3:3-8   Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (4) Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (8) "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

   John 5:21   "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will

   Ephesians 2:1-5   And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

   James 1:18   Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures

   1 Peter 1:3   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

   1 John 2:29   If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him

   
    

5. True offers of grace in the outward gospel call may be resisted by men who do not have this new heart

   Acts 17:32-33   And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them.
   
    

6. In fact, true offers of grace will always be resisted by such men

   John 10:24-26   Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." (25) Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. (26) "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you

   John 12:37-40   But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, (38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" (39) Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: (40) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.
    

7. But there are some whom God causes to come to him

Perseverance of the Saints
 

2. What God begins, he finishes

   Psalms 138:8   The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

   Ecclesiastes 3:14   I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

   Isaiah 46:4   Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

   Jeremiah 32:40   'And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.

   Romans 11:29   For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

   Philippians 1:6   being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

   2 Timothy 4:18   And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
   
    

3. Of all whom he has called and brought to Christ, none will be lost

   John 6:39-40   "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (40) "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

   John 10:27-29   "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

   Romans 8:28-31   And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

   Romans 8:35-39   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

   Hebrews 7:25   Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

   Hebrews 10:14   For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
   
    

4. God's preservation of the saints is not irrespective of their continuance in the faith

   1 Corinthians 6:9-10   Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

   Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

   Ephesians 5:5   For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

   Hebrews 3:14   For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

   Hebrews 6:4-6   For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

   Hebrews 10:26-27   For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

   Hebrews 12:14   Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

   Revelation 21:7-8   "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (8) "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

   Revelation 22:14-15   Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (15) But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
   
    

5. However, it is God who sanctifies us and causes us to persevere