AG STUDY GUIDE FINAL - The Forerunner

Dr. Thomas Nettles – What Paul is doing in that passage; he is defending his ministry to
the Gentiles. He said, “He appointed me as an apostle and a teacher to the Gentiles, I am
telling the truth, I’m not lying.” And in justification of his ministry to the Gentiles he is
emphasizing that the ransom of Christ is for all, not just the Jews, but for the Gentiles
also.
Another favorite passage often quoted by Arminians is found in the Second Epistle of
Peter:
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false
teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying
the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
~ 2 Peter 2:1
Focusing on the phrase “even denying the Lord who bought them” many modern-day
Arminians teach that Christ’s work on Calvary purchased salvation for everyone, even
for those who end up in Hell.
Dr. R.C. Sproul – John Owen would argue that this not only does not refer to Jesus, it
does not refer to His act of purchasing redemption for the elect on the cross. That which
is bought falls short of the purchase of redemption because there is nothing here about
the blood of Christ, nothing
here about the atonement, nothing here about the purchase of redemption. Those are
things that we add into the text.
It is important to note that the word for “Lord” is not the common word used in relation
to Jesus, “kurious.” It is the Greek word “despotes” from which we get the English word
despot. Its meaning is Sovereign Master, Creator or Ruler, and conveys the idea of
“owner.” The Greek word for “bought”, “agorazo”, in connection with “despotes” implies
the Lord’s de facto right of ownership as Creator. Peter is not teaching a universal or
general atonement. In fact, he is not teaching about the atonement of Christ at all. What
he is saying is that these false teachers are denying the Lord God, their Creator, who
made them, and as the Creator owns them.
If one maintains that Jesus purchased salvation for every single person — that what He
did He did for every person equally — then one would naturally expect that Jesus
would pray for everyone. Note again the great care and saving power Jesus has towards
those for whom He died.
“Therefore (because Christ continues forever as the unchangeable High Priest)
He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,
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