he question that often is asked concerning 2nd Peter 2:1, is, "How can Particular Redemption be justified, when these men who were 'purchased' by the blood of Christ, are false prophets who denied the Lord?" In other words, doesn't this verse that is saying that these were bought, preclude limited atonement? It is a very good question. But when we consider all of scripture within it's proper context, the answer is an emphatic, No! False prophets simply "cannot" have ever had their sins all paid for by the shed blood of Christ. For if that were indeed the case, they would have no sin to be condemned for. And despite claims to the contrary, there is no question but that the Greek word [agorazo] that is translated bought, means bought. We fully understand that God is addressing the Church and His word unambiguously declares that (in some sense) Christ bought them, some of whom ultimately proved false. The only question is, in what way is this statement true, not if it is true. So what we have here is misunderstanding of the context in which the term it is used. Clearly, the environment in which it is used is of, "some of them," meaning the Church. In the external Covenant sense, the Church as a whole was bought. But that doesn't mean that everyone in the Church is actually purchased or bought by the blood of the lamb. Just as Israel of old, the nation that represented God's people, was spoken of as being bought, and yet all the children within her were not truly saved. As a whole, they were partaking of God's blessings toward them, and so they collectively are spoken of as being them that were bought.

Exodus 15:16

• "Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased."

Romans 8:1

• "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

1st John 3:9

• "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

2nd 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."

Jude 1:4

• "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

The real question I see here is this. Does this verse of scripture teach that Jesus Christ went to the cross to die for all men without exception, and thus has in some way redeemed false prophets and teachers by purchasing them in His blood? Some Theologians say yes, but logic, reason and the scriptures studied circumspectly declare this unbiblical. Such a misinterpretation (no matter how scholarly it's presented) is a blatant denial of particular redemption (recovery, by payment), and is justifiable support for the heretical teaching of universalism. For any doctrine that declares that everyone on earth were redeemed or bought by Christ's blood, is in error. Likewise, any doctrine that declares that false prophets and teachers were redeemed or bought by Christ's blood, is in error. Then how are we to harmonize the scriptures?

2nd 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."

Deuteronomy 9:26

• "I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand."

There are some Theologians that declare that 2nd Peter 2:1 means that Christ, by virtue of his death and resurrection to reign, has become the Sovereign Lord and absolute despot of all things. In other words, He has bought the right to rule 'all men' by His death and ascension to the throne. While I certainly understand the opinions of these learned men, there are several inherent problems with this understanding. Not the least of which is that scripture doesn't declare that. There is no scripture that says Christ, by His death, bought or purchased the right to be ruler of every man the whole world without exception. Christ bought or purchased the right to be ruler of every man in the whole world without distinction. In other words, every man for whom He died. The fact is, Christ is God, and God was Sovereign ruler of all things and all men both before and after the cross. Nothing has changed there. He didn't come to earth in the flesh to be Sovereign ruler of every single person, He came to earth 'in the flesh' to go the cross and secure sovereign rule of His people unto salvation. He came to buy or purchase "them" to be subjects in the Kingdom that He established by His death and resurrection. He came particularly to redeem or buy His chosen people.

Matthew 1:21

• "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save His People from their sins."

Jeremiah 31:11

• "For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he."

• "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
• Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house."

John 12:31

• "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out."

Colossians 1:13

• "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

1st Corinthians 6:20

• "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

One might say then, 'but the wording of 2nd Peter clearly says these false prophets are denying the Lord that bought them, and thus bring upon themselves swift destruction.' Am I contradicting these scriptures? Not at all. For God is speaking of 'them' coming in to be part of the Church which was purchased. Thus the 'them' is the Church they come into and are externally a part of. For example, the Church purchased, used in this sense.

Acts 20:28

• "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Looking at the context of 2nd Peter bears this out. You'll note that Peter urges the Church in the preceding chapter (verse 10) to make their calling and election sure, and then throughout chapter 2 speaks of those in the external Church who are professing Christians, but are not truly saved.

2 Peter 2:20-22

• "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
• For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
• But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

1st John 2:18-19

• "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
• They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

Indeed the whole context throughout the chapter of 2nd Peter 2 is of this external Church relationship. Anyone can call themselves the Church, bought of Christ, but it's what is internal that counts. Have they been given a new heart, and have they had their stony heart removed. A tree is known by it's fruits. Scripture interprets scripture.

Titus 1:16

• "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

Romans 3:24

• "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

Hebrews 6:4-6

• "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
• And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
• If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

Matthew 7:22-23

• "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
• And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

1st John 2:22

• "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

• "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

The Greek word bought is [agorazo], meaning something has been purchased by a price paid. There is no way (in my humble opinion) that we can look at this as Christ by the cross having shed His blood to 'pay the price' to redeem or buy the wicked of the world (except it be us, true Christians). Buy them for what? Why was payment required for them? There is no rational, logical or biblical answer, and it makes no sense whatsoever. I believe it is really a stretch to conclude that without one shred of sound Biblical evidence. Show me where it says His blood was shed, that every man (without exception) was bought by it in some way, and I'll humbly accept it. Otherwise it is mere speculation and assumptions based on a misunderstanding of these verses. Christ did not redeem or purchase false prophets, of whom 2nd Peter is warning the Church about. He redeemed the Elect, of whom these false prophets claim to be. Thus it speaks of them as denying Him that bought them. It's a matter of comparing scripture with scripture (all of it) to understand just what God says was bought by the cross, and what God 'does not say' was bought by the cross of Christ. i.e., one doctrine is somewhat speculative, while the other is written clearly throughout scripture. We belong to Christ, bought as hired servants, we are not our own. Just as we previously saw in 1st Corinthians 6:20. Likewise we read in chapter 7:

1st Corinthians 7:22-23

• "For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
• Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men."

John 13:10-11

• "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
• For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean."

And this indeed addresses the Church of our day more than ever, as there are many who have entered in, trampling God's Word under foot with their heresies, and private interpretations, deceiving the Church, denying the Lord that bought them. When Christians say universalism is in the word, they are denying the Lord that bought them. When Christians say that marriage is not till death do us part, and that we can divorce and separate what God hath joined together, they are denying the Lord that bought them. When Christians say we are saved by our own good works, they are denying the Lord that bought them. When Christians say women can be the rulers of the men in the Churches, they are denying the Lord that bought them. When Christians deny the authority of the word, and place it in their leaders hands, they are denying the Lord that bought them. ..all because they profess to be the Church bought of the Lord, when in works they deny the Lord who bought that the Church. These indeed are the last days, when those of the Church profess Christ, but in works deny Him.

2nd Timothy 3:1-5

• "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
• For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
• Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
• Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
• Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."