If Jesus died for everyone, is everyone saved?

Quick Answer: If Jesus died for everyone, is everyone saved? Scripture is clear that those who reject the Gospel (unbelievers) are not saved and remain unforgiven and unrighteous in God’s eyes.

Diving Deeper: The idea that the whole world is saved (universal salvation) is popular today, but Scripture does not support it. Below are a few examples from the Bible where we see that a certain group (unbelievers) will perish, be punished, or never experience life with God.

• 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says some people are perishing
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 states that unbelievers are darkness, not light
• Romans 8:9-10 indicates that some people do not have the Spirit of Christ and do not belong to God
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 says some people do not have Jesus in them
• Ephesians 2:1-3 points out that some people are living in death as children of wrath
• Ephesians 2:12 indicates that, historically, millions of Gentiles were excluded and without hope
• Ephesians 4:17-20 says some people are excluded from the life of God and have hard hearts
• 1 Timothy 1:8-11 says that not everyone is a righteous child of God and free from the Law
• Titus 1:15-16 says those who deny God are defiled
• Romans 16:7 says not everyone is in Christ – at some point in time believers are put in Him
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 says only those who are in Christ become new
• 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 indicates that unbelievers still need to make the choice to be reconciled to God
• Romans 4:22-24 clearly argues that faith is needed; those who believe in Jesus have righteousness given to them

Every one of us is born in Adam, and only by believing in the finished work of Christ are we reborn in Christ. People who reject the Gospel choose to remain in spiritual death. But God is knocking at the door of every heart. He wants everyone to believe, but He will not force His way into everyone’s lives (2 Peter 3:9).

Let’s Make It a Conversation!
1. Have you ever heard the idea that everyone is saved? What were your thoughts when you heard it?
2. How do the passages listed above impact your view?
3. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:19-20. How does it reveal a balanced view of Jesus’ finished work and our response?