Who teach: That Christ neither could die, nor needed to die, and also did not die, for those whom God loved in the highest degree and elected to eternal life, since these do not need the death of Christ. For they contradict the apostle, who declares: Christ loved me, and gave himself up for me (Gal.2:20). Likewise: Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died (Rom.8:33, 34), namely, for them; and the Savior who says: I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:15). And: This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12, 13). |