Part 3 – Who Did Jesus Die For?

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Light and Understanding.

Unless we study and understand “the word of truth” dispensationally, that is by “dividing” what in the Bible applies to Israel from what applies to “the body of Christ,” a word here in Matt. 20:28 should alarm us.

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

But, how could Jesus Christ say that He had come to “give his life a ransom for many?” For only many? Did He not die for the whole world? We need to understand that at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had come to pay the redemption-price for the nation Israel only (read Matt. 15:24). Recall that the angel of the Lord told Joseph in Matt. 1:21 about the virgin Mary: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people (Israel) from their sins.” The words “his people” then excludes the Gentiles. How do we know this? Isaiah 53:8, written 700 B.C., predicted this of Messiah to come:

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my (Isaiah’s) people was he stricken.”

Who would be Isaiah’s people? Israel of course! No Gentiles are in view here. But, we now know that in this age of “the Grace of God” Jesus’ redemptive work now applies to “ALL men.”

By contrast, returning to 1 Timothy 2:5-7, note very carefully the last words of verse 6 and all of verse 7: 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified ‘in due time.’ 7Whereunto I (Paul) am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I (Paul) speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles (all men) in faith and verity (truth).”

Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit here makes a startling claim, that Jesus Christ did not die for Israel only; He paid the sin-debt of the whole world (“all”). Notice the first word of verse 7— “whereunto,” meaning “to which purpose.” The purpose in that… in order for Jesus Christ to be declared a ransom for all nationsGod appointed Paula preacher, and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity (truth).” Paul is the ‘due-time testifier’ of this unrestricted, worldwide grace message for “ALL men” without regard to race.

Now let’s look at the second part of God’s will… which is to “come unto the knowledge of the truth…” Being saved from sin unto eternal life is exciting enough, but there is as someone once said “truth within truth.” There is more to God’s plan than simply keeping us out of Hell. However, sadly, most believers in Christ never get beyond the simple fact of ‘salvation.’ We must move onward, because there’s something more!

As we’ve seen, God’s plan for us also involves com(ing) unto the knowledge of the truth.” Key to this is for us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Tim. 2:15) You see, all the Bible is true, but not all of it is true for us today. God’s dealings with man changed through the several dispensational ages. The Lord has selected Paul to be “the (one) Apostle to the Gentiles” to communicate a special set of doctrine to us Gentiles today. At the heart of that message is Paul’s “ALL-men” gospel. This information was unknown prior to Paul.

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3But hath in due times’ manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” (Titus 1:1-3)

“But none of these things move me , neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I (Paul) Have Received Of The Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the Grace of God.’” (Acts 20:24).