Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
...
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
What's a reformist to do? Drop your philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Chrisoooot and believe what the word of God actually says. The righteousness of God is unto all and upon all them that believe as it is God's will for all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth!
Your limiting the atonement that took place for the world (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV) is a rejection of the word of God (not to mention a refusal to 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) and makes you an enemy of the cross! This is why there are no niceties to be exchanged with the likes of people like you.
I would be interested to know how you explain using II Corinthians 5:19 in a universalistic sense, considering the full context and purpose of Paul's epistle, including his warnings in II Corinthians 6:14-16.
Without a doubt, Paul does not universally include all men as being saved in Christ, which belies the notion that all men are reconciled to God or all men were justified unto righteousness by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
IOW's anyone can quote isolated verses, and claim they teach all kinds of things, by interpreting them out of context. Such is improper hermeneutics; only used by those who do not consider ALL of scripture to found their beliefs.
The righteous souls that are reconciled and saved in Christ, ALL believe unto everlasting life, only because God in His grace has gifted them with faith to believe, and granted them repentance. This is the Gospel that is reiterated throughout the entire bible. These are God's people, as Paul assures the church in II Corinthians 6:16-18.
And please note, within the context of the very same epistle, Pauls's warning in II Corinthians 11:12-15. If Christ's atonement reconciled all men unto God, why this warning to the Christians? How do you answer these things?
By claiming the free will of sinners has the power and capacity to undo Christ's work on the cross?
I don't think so, and would be interested in how you could possibly argue it . . .
