Christ

Christ’s Death Was Particular not Random

By Dr. Ken Matto

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1)

Christianity has drifted so far from the truth that when biblical truth is presented it is rejected. One of the most major rejections of truth is the reality surrounding the death of Christ. It is treated in the majority of churches as being random, in other words, it had no purpose or power until some person comes along and accepts it. When God created the world, did he have specific laws which govern the entire universe? The answer is yes and they are in play right now until the last day when the universe begins to collapse and then the New Heavens and New Earth will be created. The earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees and that is why we have the four seasons. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22) As you can read it was God who planned it that way back in Genesis. So there is really nothing random about the creation. The sun is 93 million miles away and if it was closer we would melt and if it was farther we would freeze. So there is a specific law of God governing each aspect of the universe and I don’t pretend to know them all.

God was very meticulous in forming the universe and the laws that govern it. Why then would he change his method and have Christ go to the cross to die for people who do not know if they are going to reject him or accept him? The idea of random salvation according to the fickle understanding of man does not fit the divine paradigm. If one looks at the Old Testament, we will see the Mosaic laws had sacrifices for specific things. There were:

Burnt offerings for sin

A peace sacrifice between the offender and God

A sin sacrifice for a specific sin

A trespass sacrifice for unknowing sins

The Daily Burnt Sacrifice

Sacrifices of remembrance

New Moon sacrifices

There were also libations and grain offerings which had a specific reason attached to each one. A person did not go to the temple to offer a random sacrifice as there was no such thing. The sacrifices were specific in nature and were for the people who were bringing the sacrifice whether it be for sin or a grain offering at harvest. So then it really breaks the Old Testament foreshadows of sacrifice to think that Christ went to the cross for people to reject or accept him. The biblical reality was that Christ went to the cross to redeem his people. The ones he died for were a specifically named group of people from before the foundation of the world.

⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:4-5)

If you notice that the Scriptures are very clear in the use of language. In both verses we see the word “us” which means that we were chosen and predestinated before the foundation of the world. The limited word “us” shows us the Christ died for a specific group of people and not everyone in the world. The false teaching of “Free Willism” instills the false belief that Christ died for everyone in the world but for a person to claim that forgiveness they must accept Christ and then they become saved but up until that time they remain unsaved. There is no such teaching in the Bible like that. Christ did not die for everyone in the world but only those who were named before the foundation of the world.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8)

Free Willism rejects the truth of Scripture and creates its own authority. As you can plainly see in Revelation 13:8 & 17:8 that the names of those Christ came to save are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. So therefore names cannot be added as free willers teach. Efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ is not predicated upon the rejection or acceptance of random people but upon the application to the named person. Once one of the named persons receives salvation, the sacrifice of Christ is completed in their life and they are saved eternally. There is no action to be taken on the part of the one receiving it.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

We read in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus was the author and finisher which is the one who began and the one who completed our salvation. So there is no way that a person on earth completes their salvation by accepting the Lord. In principle it was all accomplished before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) and physically done in 33 A.D. on Calvary which means that Christ was the one who completed it, not some dead sinner who thinks they have a free will.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:18)

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. (Romans 6:20)

The idea of free will is completely eradicated by these two verses alone. In 6:18 it states that when a person becomes saved they are servants of righteousness. In 6:20 it states that before salvation a person was a servant of sin. So where is the free will? Either you are a servant of sin which means you are unsaved or you are servant of righteousness which means you are saved. Where is the neutral zone where you can accept or reject Christ? There is no in between. I don’t normally do this but may I suggest that you pick up a copy of Martin Luther’s “Bondage of the Will.” It was written in response to the teaching of Erasmus in 1524 who believed in free will and that man can choose good or evil after the fall of man. Luther’s book was published in 1525. It will make a good addition to your library.

Once man fell in Eden, the will was placed in bondage to sin and was not free. The word for “servants” in both verses is the Greek word “doûlos” which can also be understood as “slave or bondage.” An unbeliever is in bondage to sin and goes from sin to sin in contrast to the believer who goes from faith to faith. It is interesting that the teaching is found in the very verse that sparked the Reformation.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)

When Luther saw this verse he stated: “When I discovered that, I was born again of the Holy Ghost. And the doors of paradise swung open, and I walked through.”

So we see that free will requires a random sacrifice of Christ while the Bible clearly teaches the sacrifice of Christ was limited to the Elect named before the foundation of the world. The verses which I will give shows the reality that Christ’s sacrifice was for a particular group and not for the whole world are normally avoided in free will churches and if they are read, the substance of the verse is always skimmed over without it ever being studied and that is done because it takes man off the throne and puts God back where he belongs. We can’t have that because we must not confront the pride of man.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Many Randomites or free willers like to use the word “whosoever” as a proof that salvation is available and open for anyone and any time. When we compare Romans 10:13 to John 6:37, we see that the “whosoever” does not refer to anyone at any time but refers to the Elect of God, those whom the Father gives to the Son. There are many people who call upon the name of the Lord and many of those are in false churches. Romans 10:13 is an establishing verse showing that those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The word “shall” shows us that a person will become saved. This means that calling upon the name of the Lord goes beyond the verbal. “Shall be saved” is a promise to all those God has named before the foundation of the world and is not a promise to those unbelievers who are not named. “Whosoever” is then another term for the Elect of God. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The Randomites use 2 Peter 3:9 as their proof text that God wants everyone in the world to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 has to do with the Elect of God and his promise that everyone who was named before the foundation of the world will become saved sometime during their lifetime.

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39)

John 6:39 builds upon John 6:37 in emphasizing the fact that the Father is the one who gives the true believer to the Son. Those that the Father gives the Son will never lose their salvation as Jesus states that “I should lose nothing.” We don’t read anywhere a statement like “Christ came to save those who trust in him” which I heard from Erwin Lutzer on the radio. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) Do we read anything in that verse about a person trusting Christ before salvation? No we do not because a spiritually dead person cannot trust what he or she cannot see. Trust in the Lord comes only after salvation has been established in a person’s life. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)

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 6:44)

John 6:44 teaches us that no one can come to Christ unless they are drawn by the Father and as we read previously it is the Father who gives the believers to His Son. This verse is one which puts to death the idea that anyone can come at any time. The words “no one” is one word in the Greek and is in the Cardinal form. The Cardinal form denotes a specific number such as one, two, or three, etc. John 6:44 is straightly telling us that not one person can come to the Lord Jesus Christ on his or her own. The word “can” is a word of ability not permission. Why doesn’t every human have the ability to come to Christ? Simply because they are dead in sins. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13) The word “dead” has behind it the Greek word “nekrous” which means “dead or lifeless.” A dead person can only be one thing and that is dead until a resurrection takes place. The Elect of God are spiritually dead until God the Father resurrects our soul and places the Holy Spirit within us to give us spiritual life and then we are given to the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity.

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 6:65)

Back in John 6:44, Jesus had stated that no one could come to Him unless the Father draws them. This is why He gave a discourse concerning the difference of the flesh and Spirit. Man thinks he can come to God by way of his religion but the fact is that salvation is not dependent upon the sinner. Those named before the foundation of the world unto salvation, will receive the Holy Spirit which is the granting of salvation. No mere human in the flesh can ever command the Holy Spirit to indwell them. The idea of “making Christ your savior” is absolutely foreign to the Scripture. It is God the Father who makes Christ your Savior by giving you to Him and then He indwells you. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) Jesus knew their grumbling and why they grumbled. He also knew that they were spiritually dead and would be totally incapable of coming to Him on God’s terms which completely omits any and every act of the flesh. No person can self-regenerate. It must come from an outside source just like the raising of Lazarus symbolizes.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

Here is another interesting verse which puts the death knell the concept of free will or Randomism. Christ tells the disciples that they have not chosen him but he chose them. He tells them this to keep any pride from welling up in them concerning salvation. Did not Christ seek the disciples? They did not seek him or choose him but they were already chosen by God including Judas the devil. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:11) Christ choosing his disciples was a fulfillment of Ezekiel 34:11 which can be widened for the entire body of believers. God the Father names the Elect before the foundations of the world and then tells us that he is the one who seeks and searches for his sheep. We find nothing that the sheep was searching out and seeking the shepherd. The word “chosen” means that the Lord Jesus Christ determined who His disciples were going to be. Jesus did not walk up to the disciples and say to them, “Would you like to make me your savior since I have a wonderful plan for your life?” The Lord Jesus walked up to those who were named before the foundation of the world and commanded them to follow Him. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. (Mark 2:14) Levi who is Matthew heard the Lord’s call to him and immediately arose and followed him. There was no begging on the part of Jesus for Levi to make him Lord of his life. Jesus spoke to a predestined, qualified person and Levi obeyed him.

Let’s take a look at our theme verse from the beginning of this article. The Jews had been after Jesus for a long time and wanted to arrest Him so they could have Him executed and be rid of Him. Now was the time they had been allowed to seize Him. Up until this divinely appointed time, they were unable, better yet, disallowed by divine decree from apprehending Him. His earthly ministry was about to come to an end and He would then go back to His Heavenly Father. The last part of this verse is troubling to the universalist that believes God loves everyone. This verse states that Jesus loved a specific group of people and that was the ones who were His true disciples, the saved ones. The ones whom Jesus loved were the ones that He died for and are called “his own.” And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) Matthew 1:21 does not state that He came to save the whole world from their sins but only His people. His people are born again Christians. That is the group which He loved and that is the group which He died for to make payment for their sins. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2:13-14) Colossians 2:13-14 does not state that He nailed the handwriting of ordinances of every person in the world. Notice the words God uses in verse 13, “you” and “us.” In verse 14 he uses “to us.” “Us” means a specific group. Let us say there are four friends at my house and I say let’s order pizza for dinner. I will order enough for the five of us and not for the whole neighborhood. It is the same with salvation. God named a specific people He was going to save from the foundation of the world as we have previously seen.

Last Will and Testament

¹⁶ For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (Hebrews 9:16-17)

Hebrews 9:16-17 speaks about the last will and testament of Christ. When someone makes out a will, they still have the freedom to change that will while they are still living. Once the person dies, the will becomes a document which cannot be changed or altered in any way. In Revelation 13:8 we read that in principle Christ was slain from the foundation of the world which means that those named were sealed in the document and no other names can be added. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:22) Just as a legal will on earth cannot be altered by the court or the lawyer, neither can the last will and testament of Christ be altered. Only those named will be recipients of the inheritance in that will. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) The Holy Spirit being the earnest or down payment seals our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession which will come about on the last day. The purchased possession is the entire body of believers. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

Summary

We have seen that Christ came to save his people otherwise known as “his own.” He did not die for the sins of the world in hopes that people will “accept him.” The biblical reality is that Christ accepts us as evidenced by the fact that the Father is the one who gives the believer to the Lord Jesus Christ. The true believer was named before the foundation of the world and until that divine list is exhausted the world will continue but once the last one is saved, then the end shall come. So the randomness of the free will movement is non-existent in the Bible and is a creation by the pride of man who believes they have the authority to “make Christ Lord of their lives.” Unsaved man does not have that authority since God is the one who made Christ Lord and Christ as we read in Acts 2:36. So the true biblical teaching is that Christ accepts us from the hand of the Father and the Bible does not teach that we can accept Christ. That belief is prideful error on the part of those who preach and teach it. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) Whatever is not of faith is sin and whatever is taught as doctrine which is not in the Bible is sin!

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