Pentecostalism

Common
Trinity
Soul
Heaven
Hell
Satan/Demons
"Saved"
Baptism
Resurrection
Antichrist

Science
Miracles
Evolution
Creation
Carbon Dating

Inspiration
Partial
Contradictions
& Inaccuracies

Romans 5:6

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Problem:

These verses are understood by Pentecostals (and others, such as Evangelicals) to mean that Christ paid Adam's debt by dying instead of the sinner. Therefore, salvation is offered by grace alone.

Solution:

1. In the statement, "Christ died for us", "for" does not mean "instead of". See its usage in 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1: 4; Heb. 10:12; Heb. 7:25.
   
2. If Jesus died as a substitute for me, paying my penalty, then why should I die? Why is it that mankind die the same today as before this substitution took place? If I am sentenced to jail and a substitute takes my place instead of me, I do not then go to jail with him!
   
3. If the sacrifice of Christ were a substitute, how can there be real forgiveness with God. A creditor who releases the debtor because someone not his debtor pays the latter's debt, surely cannot claim to have forgiven the debt! If the debt is paid, then there is no longer need for forgiveness.
   
4. If Christ's death were a substitution, instead of the sinner, then the redeeming power lay in his death and not in his resurrection, yet Paul declares: Jesus Christ " . . . was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Rom. 4:25). Cf. also 1 Cor. 15:17 - "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."
   
5. The Scriptural language is that Christ died that he "should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9). This is the language of representation exhibited throughout the types of the Law of Moses, not substitution.