For Whom Did Christ Die?

by John Owen (theologian, born 1616 – died 1683)

The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either:

1. All the sins of all men.
2. All the sins of some men, or
3. Some of the sins of all men.

In which case it may be said:

1. That if the last be true (some sins of all men), all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved.
2. That if the second be true (all sins of some men), then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.
3. But if the first be the case (all sins of all men), why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?

You answer, “Because of unbelief.”

I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be a sin, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that sin hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not die for the sin of unbelief then He did not die for all their sins!”

(Note: this tract has be slightly edited from the original for clarity.)

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