The idea of "in Christ" appears many times in Paul's letters. Sometimes he applies the phrase unmistakably to the personal conversion experience of those who believe. Other times he unmistakably applies it to the entire human race which has been redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ. Both the righteous and the wicked will come up in resurrection because they are all "in Christ" (1 Cor. 15:22).
That does not mean that the wicked have had a conversion experience, far from it; but when Adam sinned and lost the headship of the human race, Christ stepped in to become the second Adam. Paul says he reversed the evil to the race that Adam had done; Christ came to save the world, and He redeemed it. He did more than offer life to "all men," for He GAVE the gift to all men. It's like Esau and his birthright; it was not offered to him, it was given to him. The only reason he failed to reap the blessings of the inheritance was because he despised and sold it (Gen. 25:33, 34).
There was once a lady who believed in Christ whose husband did not. He had firmly, irrevocably fixed his heart against giving himself to the Lord who had died for him. A wise counselor told the wife to be as good to him as she could because her kindnesses to him were the only "heaven" he would ever have. He chose to "perish."
Jesus still loves the world, even the perishing. The Father gave Him and He gave Himself so that whoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life. But if someone chooses not to believe in Him, He still loves that poor perishing soul and wants him/her to enjoy this life as much as he/she can. It's pathetic, but that's how great His love for the lost still is.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 4, 2005.
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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