Some suppose that Romans 5:10 teaches that all of mankind, including the goats, tares, and non-elect are reconciled to God, but this is not an accurate understanding of the verse, and we will explain here, why it is an inaccurate understanding of the verse.
Here is the verse: (Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. )
#1. The pronouns in this verse are not referring to “goats, tares, the non-elect, or each individual in the world.” Here is the proof.
A. The book is not written to the: “goats, tares, the non-elect, or each individual in the world.”
A2. The book is written to the saints. Romans 1:7-8 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [8] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
Romans 1:7,8 begins using plural nouns such as: all those, you. It is wrong then to immediately think that this plural “you” is referring to Pharaoh, Goliath, Korah, Judas. These men are not saints, their faith is not being spoken of in “all the world.”
Consider another use of “we” in Romans prior to Romans 5:10, found in Romans 4:1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
This “we” cannot be referring to Pharaoh, Goliath, and millions of individuals because Abraham is not their forefather, but Paul says “WE gained by Abraham, OUR forefather.”
B. The numerous pronouns (I have counted 17x) found in the immediate context of Romans 5, are all referring to “the saints” of Romans 1:7-8, not “each individual on the planet.”
Despite using the term “we”, all pagans do (are) not:
1. ) v.1 have peace with God; Every individual on the planet does not presently “have peace with God”, because it is a present tense reality, based on a past tense reality of “already been justified”, thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet but only the saints of Romans 1:7-8.
2. ) v.1 acknowledge Jesus as "our Lord" relationally, nor by position. (Phil 2:11). The present tense verb "have peace" is stipulated by the past tense verb "having been justified". If one is not already justified he will not have peace with God.
3. ) v.1 "already been justified." Every individual on the planet is not “already justified” , thus they do not have peace with God, thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet but only the saints of Romans 1:7-8.
4. ) v.2 stand in God's grace; Every individual does not stand in God’s grace, thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet. but only the saints of Romans 1:7-8.
5. ) v.2 rejoice in hope of God’s glory; Every individual does not rejoice in hope of God’s glory thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet. (Rom 1:23); Yet it is being done now by saints;
6. ) v.3 glory in tribulations; Pagans do not hate fellow pagans, like the Church. (John 15:18-16:4). Unbelieving Jews murmured, not gloried, in the wilderness, unbelieving gentiles do the same.
7. ) v.5 grow in patience, experience, hope, being unashamed of Jesus; nor given the Holy Spirit. (Else Acts 15:8 is non-sense. “them” is not all mankind, otherwise all mankind is Holy Spirit sealed = universalism). Every individual does not grow in patience, experience, hope, being unashamed of Jesus; nor given the Holy Spirit. thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet but only the saints of Romans 1:7-8.
8.) v.9 "now justified" by his blood. (Like v. 1); Readers cannot insert (v.1, v.9) ""if one ever does have faith in Jesus then they…". Paul wrote to specific people/saints about what they presently currently really possess (justification, faith, peace) who are already believing, justified, rejoicing (which is not true of pagans). Paul is not engaging in theories/potentials for unbelievers. Every individual is not “now justified” by his blood thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet but only the saints of Romans 1:7-8.
>>>.) v.10 Every "we" addresses Author-reader specifically/only;
(While writing a personal letter to a college classmate) We: went to Wingate College, were handed a diploma from Wingate, shall leave Wingate Dorms. I am not implying all mankind will: attend, graduate, leave the dorms. (even if they read this letter.) Others are enemies of God too, but Paul is not talking about them, even if Hitler reads the letter.
In case you didn’t attend college with me, here is one if you live in America: We: have been given a new president in 2009. When a resident of North Korea, or Iran, or Russia, reads this blog, they are not going to think their own nation has been given a new president. The "we" is referring not to "all mankind" but to "my readers" the "citizens of America" or "my readers" the saints.
"We were reconciled" (All mankind is not reconciled). Reconciliation is by the death of the Son (2 Cor. 5:18-20 Ephes. 2:16 Col. 1:20 Col. 1:22, Jesus' body, flesh, death, cross, blood is the effectual cause of reconciliation).
“we shall be saved by his life.” (Not true of all mankind). "Shall" is a guarantee for the saints, not all mankind. Every individual will not be saved by his life, but the entire flow of the chapter is to use “we” as one set of people the saints ( Romans 1:7-8) thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet.
One cannot splice this verse to say, “all are reconciled but only some will be saved if…..” Any one who asserts that every individual is reconciled, must also conclude that every individual will be saved, and every individual has the other attributes provided in this chapter. The term “much more” in v.10 increases the assurance of this salvation by the life of Jesus given to all those who were reconciled by His death.
9.) v.11 rejoice in God, nor reference Jesus as "our Lord."; Sarah called Abraham lord as a bride; Christians call Christ “Lord” as a bride. Every individual does not rejoice in God, nor reference Jesus as “our Lord
“ thus “we” cannot be a reference to every individual on the planet, but only the saints of Romans 1:7-8.
10.) v.11 have now received atonement/ reconciliation.
"Us all" in Rom 4:16 cannot refer to John 8:39 Pharisees, (despite a blood lineage from Abraham, they were not sons of Abraham, nor even true Jews. Rom 2:28-29) so it cannot mean every soul ever born; Keeping the context of chapter 1, 4, 5 there is no basis to think that 5:8 is now suddenly referring to all mankind;
If v.8 "we" means "every soul ever born" then the v.9 "we" has to be the same set of people, thus "every soul ever born" will be saved from the wrath through Jesus. (universalism). The promise of what "will/shall" be done, (saved from wrath v.9) is addressed to the same v.8 "we"
Conclusion: Romans 5:10 does not teach that every single individual is reconciled to God
The verse does not broaden (nor counter) the scope of the atonement as presented in Scripture: only to his “people” (Matt. 1:21); his “friends” (John 15:13); his “sheep” (John 10:11, 15); his “body,” the “church” (Eph. 5:23–26; Acts 20:28); the “elect” (Rom. 8:32–34) as the recipients of His atonement;
C. The meaning of the word “reconciled” precludes that each individual is reconciled to God, otherwise the term itself requires a belief in universalism.
The term “reconciled” is from καταλλάσσω, katallassō and is defined by Thayer’s Dictionary as 1) to change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value 1a) to reconcile (those who are at variance) 1b) return to favor with, be reconciled to one; 1c) to receive one into favor; and is defned by Strong’s Dictionary as: to change mutually, that is, (figuratively) to compound a difference: - reconcile.;
If God is reconciled to every individual, then by the very term, He is at peace with every individual, and no longer enemies, and this peace is not merely a peace of “we are even-stephen you keep to yourself and I’ll keep to myself”, but rather a unity, bond, communion among friends and family. It will be impossible for God to throw men in hell, He is no longer their enemy, He has nothing against them, He is reconciled to them. Another proof is seen in the gospels.
Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
One cannot come to Jesus and say, “Well, we are reconciled, but I have not forgiven him yet, so I assume my gift at the altar is acceptable anyway.”
We will not, in this article, examine every text on the matter but close with this one:
Ephes. 2:15-19 by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Again, when reconciliation is present, there is no hostility of God to the reconciled. He is at peace with them. All those who are reconciled are also “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
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