Bible Truth #382 - 2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:1

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.

There are some believers who claim that this passage proves Christ died for all men, even for those that will deny Him and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. This verse in particular tells us that false teachers will even “deny the sovereign Lord who bought them.”

Please note that Peter did not write that these men were “potentially” bought, but were in fact “bought,” period. Well if they are false teachers, deny the sovereign Lord and thus bring swift destruction on themselves, what does Peter mean that Jesus “bought” them? It certainly doesn’t mean Jesus bought salvation for them but they reject it. That is not what Peter wrote - again, Peter wrote that Jesus bought THEM, not salvation FOR them. So what does Peter mean that Jesus bought them?

Psalm 24:1 tells us that the earth is the LORD’S and everyone that dwells on it. Now if Jesus Christ owns each and every person who was ever conceived or will be conceived, can He not do with a man what He wants? This is the same thing that Paul tells us in Romans 9:20-21, the Potter can do with the clay as he sees fit, He owns it. If God wants to make a pot for dishonorable use, He can, and He does - every day.

The problem is that man has limited, finite wisdom, and some men are trying to understand an infinite God by applying human logic to a Divine work. “God is Love and He simply would not create a man for the sole purpose of damning him to Hell. It is not ‘Fair’ that God would not give every man the opportunity to choose to be saved.” Oh really? Then how does a man who believes that idea handle passages like:

- 1 Peter 2:8 - many are destined to stumble over Christ

- Romans 8:29-30 - some are predestined to be saved, most are not.

- Romans 9:22 - God prepared most vessels for destruction.

- Acts 13:48 - those appointed to eternal life, believed. Those who were not appointed, did not believe

- 1 Corinthians 2:7 - God’s secret wisdom has been hidden and destined for our glory before time began

- 1 Thessalonians 3:3 - we were destined for each and every event in our lives

- Ephesians 1:5 - we were predestined to be adopted, most were not

- Ephesians 1:11 - we were predestined to salvation according God’s plan, most were not

The bottom line is that passages in both the Old Testament and the New Testament tell us that God owns everyone and can do with us what He wants. I’m glad and will be eternally grateful that He chose some to redeem, for if He hadn’t, because of Adam we would ALL spend eternity in Hell.