Did Christ Die For Everyone? - John 17:9

 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” - John 17:9

My father was a generous man. They said of him that “he never met a stranger.” So it came as no surprise that when we had company over he would always insist to my siblings and myself, “Make sure everyone gets something to eat.” He wanted to make sure that “everyone” was fed, but did he actually and technically mean “everyone?” Everyone as in everyone on the planet? Well you can see that he meant everyone who was visiting our home. My point here is that semantics must be considered, especially when terms like “everyone” or “everybody” are used, especially in the Bible. Christ was very specific when He chose to be. No cryptic parables or unfathomable commands. Jesus could cut straight to the point, as the title verse shows. But there are still many evangelical Christians who believe that Christ died for all of humanity. When even He said He did not come to save everyone. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” - Matthew 7:21. There are countless times in the Bible when Christ refers to “His sheep” as opposed to all sheep. “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” - John 10:14. It is vitally important for us to understand that if “all the people” were ultimately going to heaven (Universalism) Christ need not have suffered and died for us in the first place. There would be no such place as hell! But we know there is such a place of eternal suffering because Jesus told there is. “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” - Luke 12:5. In fact, of all the prophets and apostles who are mentioned in our Holy Bible, it is Jesus who has more to say about hell than any other! But those of us who are truly Christ’s sheep need not fear the warnings of Jesus.  “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13: 41-42. No, Christ didn’t die for everyone but He is the Good Shepherd and for His sheep (the elect) who believe in Him eternal salvation awaits us by the grace of God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.