An Analysis Of Key Scripture Passages

2 Peter 2:1

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that BOUGHT them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

This remarkable verse declares that the Saviour even paid redemption’s price for Christ-deniers who will be destroyed in hell. The word "bought" is the same word that is found in 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23. Thus there will be unbelievers in hell who, when they were on earth, denied the Christ "who bought them"! The familiar Christmas carol says it this way: "Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of nought [out of nothing], and with His blood mankind hath bought" (The First Noel, Old English Carol). He paid the price for their sins even though they did not personally benefit from this payment. Because of their rejection of Christ, His cross-work was never put to their account.

Nothing, O sinner, can be clearer than this, – Jesus Christ has bought you with his precious blood; he paid the price of his blood for your deliverance. But it does not necessarily follow that you shall be delivered. You may, notwithstanding, plunge the dagger of unbelief into your own soul, and "bring upon yourself swift destruction." If you perish, however, you will be a suicide, – the assassin of your own spirit. The price is paid for you, the blood is shed for you, the work is finished for you, the righteousness is wrought out for you, the glory is waiting for you; but it lies with yourself whether or not you will believe all this, and God’s love infolded in it, or count it all "the baseless fabric of a vision," and forcibly effect your own murder and damnation. O see that you "deny not the Lord that bought you"!  [Morison, The Extent of the Atonement, p. 52.]

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