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WILL GOD SAVE ALL, OR ONLY SOME?
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"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all acceptation. For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe. These things command and teach" (1 Tim.4:9-11, R.V.). |
Think of it-the living God is the Saviour of all men! Not the “preserver” of all, as some would have us believe. The Greek word used here is sőtęr. It occurs twenty-four times in the New Testament and is correctly translated "Saviour" every time. See Luke 1:47; 2:11; Jn.4:42; Acts 5:31; 13:23; Eph.5:23; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim.1:1; 2:3; 4:10; 2 Tim.1:10; Titus 1:3,4; 2:10, 13; 3:4,6; 2 Peter 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 John 4:14; Jude 25.
Nor does the text say, God is the "provider" of salvation for all. This would not make Him the Saviour of all. He is only the Saviour of those He actually saves. In order to be the Saviour of all, He will save all. THE LIVING GOD IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN. Such a fact should fill the hardest heart with joy and cause continual thanksgiving to God for His power, wisdom, love, grace and righteousness.
Knowing how difficult it would be for man to believe this plain statement, God offers man encouragement by assuring him that it is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. It is faithful to God, faithful to His Son, faithful to His Word, and faithful to the desire of all who have had the love of God poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is hard to understand why so many should condemn it as unfaithful and worthy of all rejection, when God has so plainly declared it to be a faithful saying worthy of all acceptation.
Man's need for salvation is desperate. He is sinful, dying and helpless to save himself (Rom.1:18-3:25). To save man and make out of him a creature unto his own praise will indeed glorify God and His Son, Jesus christ.
Both the means and the manner whereby this Salvation is accomplished are clearly revealed in the Scriptures. "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim.2:3-6, AV.). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved" (Acts 4:12).
There is no salvation for anyone at any time except through Jesus Christ and His saving work. It is only through His death, burial, and resurrection life that all will be saved. There will be no failure here. He was manifested to put away sin and to destroy the works of the Devil (Heb.9:26; 1 Jn.3:8). He will not stop until He has accomplished these ends.
In the light of the facts set forth in the scriptures, how foolish the statement that if all are to be saved Jesus Christ need never have died. If He had not died for the sins of the world, no one could be saved. But since He has died and now lives again ALL will BE SAVED.
The Scriptures make it very plain that all are not saved at the same time. "Who gave Himself a ransom for all: the testimony in its own times" (1 Tim.2:6, R.V.) "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But each man in his own order" (1Cor.15:22-24).
At the present time God is saving only those He has chosen and called unto the special salvation of the ages (1 Cor.1:26-30; 1 Tim.6:12). He will use these various ways in bringing about the salvation of the rest (Eph.3:8-12; 2:6-10). Note, please, the text says, "God is the Saviour of all men SPECIALLY (not, EXCLUSIVELY) of them that believe." Because of this the Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore I endure all things for the ELECT'S sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (literally, 'eonian' or 'age lasting' glory, 2 Tim.2:10). And again he wrote, "But we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling-block, and unto Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that ARE CALLED, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
Election and predestination become most precious portions of God's truth once it is seen that the reason some are elected to a special salvation is that through them the rest may be reached. There is a special salvation for some and a general salvation for the rest later on. Those who believe now will be made like Christ when He returns and will live and reign with Him during the coming eons or ages. They will be delivered from the Second Death.
The non-elect will be saved at the end of the ages solely as the result of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in their behalf. Does this mean a second chance? By no means! Salvation is not a matter of chance, first or second. Had it been left to chance no one would have been saved, now or later (Rom.3:10-12); 1:28-32). Salvation is of God! He assures us that He will save all.
Let no one think for a moment that there will not be judgment and condemnation. "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Rom.1:18). Those who are hard and impenitent of heart treasure up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Who will render to every man ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. To them that are factious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness shall be wrath, indignation, tribulation and anguish. See Rom.2:1-16; Rev.20:11-15; etc. All that the Scriptures ACTUALLY teach about the wrath of God will surely come to pass. The wrath of God is an awful thing and it is not our purpose to minimize it in the least. However too much condemnation and punishment is just as unrighteous as too little.
"So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One shall the many be made righteous" (Rom.5:18,19).
"For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens" (Col.1:19,20).
Reconciliation means the removal of all alienation and enmity, thus making peace.
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be MADE ALIVE. Yet each in his own ORDER; Christ the firstfruits: then they that are Christ's at his coming; then the end [ORDER]. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death" (1 Cor.15:20-26).
The making alive in this passage is more than resurrection alone. It is a making alive beyond the power and reach of death as will be seen from the experience of Christ the FIRSTFRUITS, and those who are Christ's at His coming. Resurrection may be only to mortality as in the case of Lazarus, etc. Making alive here is unto incorruption and immortality (1 Tim.6:13-16; 1 Cor.15:50-57).
"For, He puts all things in subjection under His feet. But when he saith, all things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted [none others] Who did subject all things unto him. And when all things have been subjected to Him that did subject all things unto Him, that GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL" (1Cor.15:27,28; Phil.2:9-11; Eph. 1:9-11, 19-23).
But someone protests, Will not believing that God is the Saviour of all mankind do away with evangelistic fervor and zeal? It did not affect the Apostle Paul in this manner. On the contrary it increased his fervor and zeal. "For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all men" (1Tim.4:10; see also 2Cor.5:13-21). We must ever distinguish between the fact of the salvation of all and the manner in which God brings it to pass. He condescends to work through human instrumentality (Rom.10;11-15; 1 Cor.1:21). Genuine believers will live and work unto this end continually. It is invigorating to know that complete success is assured ultimately.
Again someone may say, Yes, it does seem to be true but it is a dangerous doctrine and should not be taught. God says, "THESE THINGS COMMAND AND TEACH." Shall we obey God or man? Shall we seek God's pleasure or man's? Those who seek to please man are not slaves of Jesus Christ (Gal.1:10). Shall we who know Him and have had our eyes opened to the glorious triumph of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ sit idly by and let reproach be heaped upon His name without protesting? Think how the teaching of endless punishment slanders God and Jesus Christ, for we know Christ died for all. Does God lack the goodness, the power, the love, the grace to save all? Every attribute of God is slandered by the unscriptural teaching of eternal punishment. God says punishment is age-lasting, man says everlasting. Let us believe God and not man.
This article was originally published at
http://www.saviour-of-all.org/WlGdSvAlOrNlySm.html
1Tim 2:4-God will have all to be saved-Can His will be thwarted?
1Tim 2:4-God desires all to come to the knowledge of truth-Will His desire come to pass?
1Tim 2:6-Salvation of all is testified in due time-Are we judging God before due time?
Jn 12:47-Jesus came to save all-Will He succeed?
Eph 1:11-God works all after the counsel of His will-Can your will overcome His?
Jn 4:42-Jesus is Savior of the world-Can He be Savior of all without saving all?
1Jn 4:14-Jesus is Savior of the world-Why don't we believe it?
Jn 12:32-Jesus will draw all mankind unto Himself-To roast or to love?
Col 1:16-By Him all were created-Will He lose a part of His creation?
Rm 5:15-21-In Adam all condemned, in Christ all live-The same all?
1Cor15:22-In Adam all die, in Christ all live-Again, the same all?
Eph 1:10-All come into Him at the fulness of times-Are you getting tired of seeing the word, all?
Phl 2:9-11-Every tongue shall confess Jesus is Lord-Will the Holy Spirit be given to everyone?
1Cor 12:3-Cannot confess except by Holy Spirit-See what I mean?
Rm 11:26-All Israel will be saved-But most Jews don't believe yet!
Acts 3:20,21-Restitution of all-How plain can you get?
Luke 2:10-Jesus will be joy to all people-Is there joy is "hell"?
Heb 8:11,12- All will know God-How long, O Lord?
Eph 2:7-His grace shown in the ages to come-Have we judged Him before the time?
Titus 2:11-Grace has appeared to all-Experientially or prophetically?
Rm 8:19-21-Creation set at liberty-How much of creation?
Col 1:20-All reconciled unto God-There's that word "all" again.
1Cor 4:5-All will have praise of God-What for?
Jms 5:11-End of the Lord is full of mercy-Is "hell" mercy?
Rev 15:4-All nations worship when God's judgments are seen-Could His judgment be mercy?
Rm 11:32-All subject to unbelief, mercy on all-All?
Rm 11:36-All out of, through, and into Him-ALL into Him?
Eph 4:10-Jesus will fill all things-Including "hell?"
Rev 5:13-All creation seen praising God-Including Satan?
1Cor 15:28-God will be all in all-What does that mean, preacher?
Rev 21:4,5-No more tears, all things made new-ALL made new?
Jn 5:25-All dead who hear will live-How many will hear?
Jn 5:28-All in the grave will hear & come forth-How will the "righteous" judge, judge?
1 Cor 3:15-All saved, so as by fire-How can fire save you?
Mk 9:49-Everyone shall be salted with fire-Including you?
Rm 11:15-Reconciliation of the world-Will fire save the world instead of destroy it?
2Cor 5:15-Jesus died for all-Did He died in vain?
Jn 8:29-Jesus always does what pleases His Father-What pleases the Father? (1Tim 2:4)
Heb 1:2-Jesus is Heir of all things-Does "things" include people?
Jn 17:2-Jesus gives eternal life to all that His Father gave Him-How many did the Father give Him?
Jn 3:35-The Father gave Him all things-(Repeated for emphasis) Study the word "things" in the Greek.
1 Tim 4:9-11-Jesus is Savior of all!-Can't seem to get away from that word "all."
Heb. 7:25-Jesus is able to save to the uttermost-How far is "uttermost?"
1Cor 15:26-Last enemy, death, will be destroyed-Including "lake of fire" which is "second death?"
Is 46:10-God will do all His pleasure-Does Old Testament agree with the New?
Gen 18:18-All families of the earth will be blessed-Here comes that word "all" again.
Dan 4:35-God's will done in heaven and earth-What can defeat His will?
Ps 66:3,4-Enemies will submit to God-Can any stay rebellious in "hell?"
Ps 90:3-God turns man to destruction, then says return-How can one return from "destruction?"
Is 25:7-Will destroy veil spread over all nations-All nations?
Deut 32:39-He kills and makes alive-Kills to bring life?
Ps 33:15-God fashions all hearts-"All" hearts, including men like "Hitler?"
Prv 16:9-Man devises, God directs his steps-What about "free will?"
Prv 19:21-Man devises, but God's counsel stands-So much for "free will."
La 3:31,32-God will not cast off forever-Why does He cast off in the first place? (1 Cor 11)
Is 2:2-All nations shall flow to the Lord's house-ALL nations?
Ps 86:9-All nations will worship Him-ALL nations!
Is 45:23-All descendants of Israel justified-Including the wicked ones?
Ps 138:4-All kings will praise God-Are you catching on?
Ps 65:2-4-All flesh will come to God-That sounds wondrous.
Ps 72:18-God only does wondrous things-I wish we would believe that.
Is 19:14,15-Egypt & Assyria will be restored-Really?
Ezk 16:55-Sodom will be restored to former estate-Sounds impossible.
Jer 32:17-Nothing is too difficult for Him-Nothing? No, nothing!
Ps 22:27-All ends of the earth will turn to Him-For what purpose?
Ps 22:27-All families will worship before Him-Praise His name!
Ps 145:9-He is good to all-Including your worst enemies.
Ps 145:9-His mercies are over all his works-Let's start believing that.
Ps 145:14-He raises all who fall-Who hasn't fallen in sin?
Ps 145:10-All His works will praise Him-For "eternal torment?"
Is 25:6-Lord makes a feast for all people-And you are invited.
Jer 32:35-Never entered His mind to torture his children with fire. This came from the carnal mind.
Jn 6:44-No one can come to Him unless He draws them. You can't "chose" to follow Him.
Jn 12:32-I will draw all mankind unto Myself-Amen!!!
Ps 135:6-God does what pleases Him-If it pleases Him to save all that He might be in all, are you upset?
"The reason I do not believe in eternal torment is because I know God".
"A believer in Biblical Universalism is one who believes that God is big enough, loving enough, powerful enough, wise enough, and resourceful enough to ultimately be sovereign enough to rule over all His creation and not just part of it".