Thomas Adams

2 Peter 2:1:

“That bought them.” This last aggravation is derived from the consideration of the unspeakable good which this Lord hath done them; in that were delivered by the most excellent benefit that ever came to mankind, which is redemption by the blood of Christ. For howsoever it was a singular work and favour of God, to give us by creation a blessed being; yet was it no otherwise given us, than with a possibility to keep it or lose it: but redemption hath instated us to a blessedness never to be lost. Here then is a doubt to be resolved: how they may perish from Christ if they were redeemed? how were they redeemed if they can perish?

First, we must lay this ground of truth, that no soul which Christ hath truly bought can perish eternally. This is the Father’s will, that of a11 which he hath given me I should lose nothing,” John vi. 39. But all they are given to Christ whom he hath purchased:” I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand,” John x. 29. If I give them eternal life, nothing shall bring them to eternal death; and to pluck them out of his land that is Almighty, requires an adversary stronger than himself. And our Saviour there adds, My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand,” ver. 29. Hereupon Paul makes a free challenge to all the actors, and pleaders, and powers that ever damnation had: “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,” (and if all this be not enough,) “nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus,” Rom, viii. 39: none can do it. And whether they be Romish or Arminian, that seek to weaken the grace of God, and permit the redeemed ones of the Lord to perish; let us know them for the brokers of Satan, the seminaries of despair, and deniers of Christ. But against this doctrine is opposed, “Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died?” Rom. xiv. 15. “Through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died,” I Cor. viii. 11. But those places may be understood not “kat’ aletheian”: not that they can perish through thy default, but that thou dost what thou canst to make them perish. But here it seems most lain, that they may be lost in denying Christ, whom He bought. To clear this, we say that reprobates may be said to be redeemed in divers respects.

1. In regard of the all-sufficient price paid for them. So Christ is said to be that Lamb which taketh away the sins of the world. Though he meant not to save all, yet he died for all, performing his part. (Chrysost.) For he doth not really take away all sin from the world; and this himself declares by not praying for the world, “I pray not for the world,” John xvii. 9. Otherwise the two main parts or offices of his priesthood were disjoined, and he should sacrifice for them for whom he doth not supplicate. Now for his mediation, it concludes his own in it, excludes the world out of it; “I pray not for the world.”

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John Trapp:

Or, that bought them] viz. in laying down a sufficient price for all sinners, in taking upon him the common nature of all men, and in preaching to them in the Gospel that he died for sinners indefinitely, offering salvation and beseeching them to receive it.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition Upon all the Books of the New Testament, (London: Printed by R.W. and are to be sold by Nath. Ekins, at the Gun in Pauls Church-yard, 1656), 936.

Mayer:

Touching that saying, “Denying the Lord that bought them;” none are properly said to be bought by the Lord, but the elect; yet in a large sense, all to whom the Gospel comes are said to be bought by him, yea all men, because they price he paid is sufficient to ransom all; neither is it by any defect therein that any perish, but through their own wickedness and unbelief.

John Mayer, A Commentary upon the New Testament: Representing the Divers Expositions thereof, out of the works of the most learned, both ancient Fathers and modern Writers, and hereby sifting out of the true sense of every passage, for the benefit of all that desire to read with understanding, The third Volume, (London: Printed by Iohn Haviland, for Iohn Gismond, and are to be sold at his shop in Ivie Lane, at the sign of the Gun, 1631), 146.

Symson:

Concerning the 2, The study where about those teachers were to employ themselves: who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, or, (according unto the Original) deadly heresies, even denying the Lord that hath bought them. In which words, we may both perceive the properties of false teachers, and the Nature of their Doctrine. Their properties; diligence, and 2, subtlety in broaching their errors; diligence in that they bring them in, even into the Church of God, to which formerly where were unknown; subtlety in that they do privily bring them in. The nature of their Doctrine; being both dangerous: as being a damnable or deadly doctrine, and heretical doctrine, a doctrine contrary to the will of God, revealed in his Word, impious, the Authors thereof denying the Lord that bought them, Christ Jesus, by whom they were redeemed; which words are not to be understood absolutely, as if they had been indeed redeemed by Christ, or Christ had effectually died for them, for then one of these we absolutely would follow, that either the elect may totally and finally fall away, or, that Christ died for reprobates, both of which are false, but they are to be understood, either according to the judgment of those false teachers, who, no doubt thought and affirmed that they were redeemed by thinking that they were the children of God, or according to the rule of Charity, which should be in everyone of us, even to esteeming every particular person to be redeemed by Christ, which embraces and profess the Christian faith, in whom we do not see absolute signs, and evident marks, that he has sinned that sin which is to death; because although for present they may walk otherwise than becomes the Gospel: yet we know now how soon God, which has the hearts of all men in his hand, will turn their hearts: the condition of God’s children before their conversion being the same with the wicked, all of us, being by nature, the children of wrath, or finally in regard that in a large sense, all to whom the Gospel comes may be said to be bought by him; yea all men because the price by him paid, is sufficient to ransom all; neither is it by any default therein, any perish, but through their own wickedness and unbelief…

Touching false teachers do sin in divers particulars manifest their denial of Christ. 1. By broaching abroad doctrines contrary to the Doctrine of the Christ. 2. By withstanding the means of that power of Christ, whereby he would sanctify their hearts unto obedience. The merit of his redemption is welcome to them, but they will not do with its efficacy, which sanctifies and renews the inward man, subduing sin, and quickening the life of God in them…

He is Lord, let us not with false Teachers, deny him obedience. He is a perfect Mediator between God and Man, let us not with false Teachers, ascribe unto any other means, as to Angels, Saints, merits and the like. This glorious honour which is his due; he is his God and Man in one person, Let us not with false Teachers, gain-say the same; he is the object of our faith, let us not deny him by continuing in infidelity what though others deny him, as too too many do; we must not follow their example. Oh let us not deny him any manner of as we have already done too too many times. Hast thou made a show of piety and goodness, but in hypocrisy? Has thou lived scandalously, notwithstanding of all thy profession to the contrary? Does thou now yield obedience unto the will of God? Does thou not daily grow in grace? Thou art a denier of Christ, repent therefore, be the servant of Christ, not of custom, but of conscience, deny not him, lest he deny you; deny not him who has been kind unto you, who has redeemed you by his own precious blood: oh bewail and lament the general apostasy and back-sliding in these our days…

A. Symson, An Exposition upon the Second Epistle General of Saint Peter: Plainly and Pithily Handled, (London: T. Cotes, 1632), pp., 233-234, 242, and 243.