God died for a specified group of people … If all mankind be distinguished into two sorts and conditions, severally and distinctly described and set forth in the Scripture, and Christ be peculiarly affirmed to die for only one of these sorts, and nowhere does scripture say He died for them of the other distinction, then did he not die for all; for of the one sort he dies for all and every one, and of the other for no one at all. But, -- First, there is such a discriminating distinguishment among men, by the eternal purpose of God, as those whom he "loves" and those whom he "hates,"
Romans 9:13; whom he "knoweth," and whom he "knoweth not:"
John 10:14, "I know my sheep;"
2 Timothy 2:19, "The Lord knoweth them that are his;"
Romans 8:29, "Whom he did foreknow;" Romans 11:2, "His people which he foreknew;" "I know you not," Matthew 25:12: so John 13:18, "I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen." Those that are appointed to life and glory, and those that are appointed to and fitted for destruction, -- "elect" and "reprobate;" those that were "ordained to eternal life," and those who "before were of old ordained to condemnation:" as Ephesians 1:4, "He hath chosen us in him;" Acts 13:48, "Ordained to eternal life;" Roman 8:30, "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." So, on the other side, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation;" Romans 9:18-21, "He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and another to dishonor?" Jude 4, "Ordained to this condemnation;" 2 Peter 2:12, "Made to be taken and destroyed;" "Sheep and goats," Matthew 25:32; John 10:1-18. Those on whom he hath "mercy," and those whom he "hardeneth," Romans 9:18. Those that are his "peculiar people" and "the children of promise," that are "not of the world," his "church;" and those that, in opposition to them, are "the world," "not prayed for," "not his people:" as Titus 2:14; Galatians 4:28; John 15:19, 17:9; Colossians 1:24; John 11:52; Hebrews10:10, 12, 13. Which distinction of men is everywhere ascribed to the purpose, will, and good pleasure of God: Proverbs 16:4, "The Lord hath made all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of evil." Matthew 11:25, 26, "I thank thee, O Father, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." Romans 9:11, 12, "The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger." Romans 9:16-17, "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth." Romans 9:28-30, "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 first-born 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." So that the first part of the proposition is clear from the Scripture. Now, Christ is said expressly and punctually to die for them on the one side: for his "people," Matthew 1:21; his "sheep,"
John 10:11, 14; his "church," Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:25, as distinguished from the world, Romans 5:8, 9, John 11:51, 52; his "elect," Romans 8:32-34; his "children," Hebrews 2:12, 13; -- as before more at large. Whence we may surely conclude that Christ died not for all and every one, -- to wit, not for those he "never knew," whom he "hateth," whom he "hardeneth," on whom he "will not show mercy," who "were before of old ordained to condemnation;" in a word, for a reprobate, for the world, for which he would not pray. John Owen