IS THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION MEANT FOR ALL MEN?

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Copyright 1994 - 2013 Endtime Prophecy Net

Authored By  : Bill Kochman (aka The WordWeaver)

Published On : October 7, 1997

Last Updated : October 14, 2012

Exposing A Lie Of The Self-Righteous Elitists!



Within Christianity, there seems to be a certain body of believers who have the erroneous idea that God's invitation to Salvation is not liberally extended to all men everywhere. Given the many Scriptures which show the exact opposite, I am quite surprised to see that such a belief even exists within the Christian body. The only conclusions I can arrive at is that either those who hold this view are not aware of certain passages in the Bible, or else they have put on spiritual blinders and are knowingly rejecting these verses because they happen to go against their pet doctrine of exclusiveness. One of the very first verses which comes to my mind is one which many folks are already familiar with:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16, KJV

Notice that God has chosen to manifest His Love to the world, meaning everyone, and not just to some select body of human beings. It is right after this that we see human free will coming into play when John says "that whosoever believeth". That is very clearly an invitation to everyone everywhere. Anyone who chooses to believe in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ can receive Eternal Life, and not just some specialized group of people. This leads right into another verse which also shows the free will nature of the Salvation Plan:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
John 1:12, KJV

Again we see that the invitation is open to anyone who will receive the Lord as their Savior. "But as many as received Him" John informs us. Only five verses before, John also tells us:

"The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe."
John 1:7, KJV

It is God's desire that all men everywhere repent of their sins and accept the Sacrifice of His Son. Consider what Peter tells us in his second Epistle:

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9, KJV

Notice again that it says "that all should come to repentance". This does not mean that this is what is going to happen, but it is the ideal condition that God seeks after. However, as I have said before, during this current period of Grace, He will not force Himself upon any man. If we accept Him and His Son, it must be by our own free will and loving choice. It must also be because we truly realize and accept our sinful condition, and our need for a Savior. God's love and longsuffering towards all men is also expressed in the following Scriptures:

"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
Romans 2:4, KJV

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8, KJV

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
1 Peter 1:3, KJV

Based on the scriptural evidence I have presented thus far, how can anyone possibly doubt God's Love towards us, and His desire to share His Heavenly Kingdom with us? While Jesus was on Earth, He made it quite clear that His Sacrifice was for the Redemption of all men, IF they would only believe:

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
John 12:32, KJV

When the Apostle Paul stood on Mars Hill in Athens and preached to the Greeks, he likewise told them that God was calling all men everywhere to repent:

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
Acts 17:30, KJV

As the Apostle Peter found out in the Book of Acts, God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn't go around saying "You can be saved, but you can't". This would be ridiculous and totally unfair:

"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"
Acts 10:34, KJV

In his Epistle to the Romans, Paul also spent a great deal of time explaining that, inasmuch as the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ is concerned, and the Salvation which that same Sacrifice offers, the Lord makes absolutely no difference between any man. All are sinners in need of Salvation:

"For there is no respect of persons with God."
Romans 2:11, KJV

This same thought is supported in some of the other Epistles as well, as is demonstrated by the following verses:

"And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him."
Ephesians 6:9, KJV

"But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."
James 2:9, KJV

"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:"
1 Peter 1:17, KJV

When Paul was testifying before the crowd on the steps of the castle after his arrest in Jerusalem, he told them of his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus. While explaining how Ananias had come by the Lord's command to heal his eyes, Paul quotes Ananias as saying:

"For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard."
Acts 22:15, KJV

This is exactly what Paul did. After the hard-hearted Jews had rejected the message of Salvation, Paul took it to the Gentile nations, and did one fine job of it! He is one fellow I look forward to meeting in person someday! Isn't this also exactly what Jesus told the Original Twelve to do?:

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
Mark 16:15, KJV

Notice, He didn't say to just take it to the Jews, or to this group of people, or to that particular race. He said to go into ALL the world! This very same idea is also reflected in the first chapter of the Book of Acts where we find:

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 1:8, KJV

In his letter to the Romans, Paul was explaining how sin had entered into the world by one man, that man of course being Adam. But then Paul goes on to tell them that just as condemnation entered into the world by the actions of one man, so too, God's free gift of Eternal Life is made available to all men by the Blood of Jesus Christ:

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
Romans 5:18, KJV

Later on in his first Epistle to Timothy, Paul also made mention that it is God's desire that all men come to the knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved through belief in that Truth:

"For 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."
1 Timothy 2:3-4, KJV

Later on in the very same letter to Timothy, Paul added:

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
1 Timothy 4:10, KJV

Notice Paul's inference to free will in the above verse. While Jesus is indeed the Savior of all men everywhere, it is only those who accept Him as such to whom Eternal Life is given. Jesus taught this same principle in His parable of the wedding feast. While the offer of Salvation is indeed offered to all men, the only way we can obtain it is by being clothed in a garment of righteousness; and that righteousness is the Blood of Jesus Christ:

"Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."
Matthew 22:8-14, KJV

Notice how the parable ends. Does this mean that God has only purposely chosen some while rejecting others? Of course not! This would totally negate personal choice in the matter. The reason the man in the above parable was not chosen is because he tried to sneak into the wedding feast without accepting Christ. It is just like people who try to sneak over or under a fence at a sporting event without buying a ticket; or who try to sneak into a movie theater without paying the admission price. In this case, Jesus has already paid the price with His Blood; so all we have to do is accept His Sacrifice. In this parable, this man was kicked out because he wanted to enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom of Heaven without honouring or accepting the Captain of his Salvation who made it possible for us:

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Hebrews 2:10, KJV

This is the true meaning of being chosen by God. God chooses us because we have already chosen Him through our belief in the Sacrifice of His Son:

"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
Matthew 10:40, KJV

This works in reverse as well, as in the case of the unbelieving Jews and Muslims. You can't say that you believe in God while at the same time denying the Sacrifice of His Son Whom He sent. This is why Jesus told us that there be few who find the path to life:

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Matthew 7:13-14, KJV

Most people want to make their own conditions for Salvation instead of accepting God's conditions, which are really quite simple: Just believe in Jesus! Considering the preponderance of Scriptural evidence I have provided in this article, it should now be clear that Christianity is NOT some kind of a closed religion meant only for white people or Westerners. Likewise, it is not the false religion you find in certain churches and religious organizations which falsely teach that you must belong to their organization, or you must attend their church in order to truly be saved. This is precisely what the Roman Catholic church teaches for example. They say that the "holy mother church" is the only one who can forgive sins and grant salvation to the faithful. What an abominable lie of Satan! This is the very thing these Scriptures speak against, a private club of elite religionists! This kind of talk is absolutely ludicrous! It is usurping the Power and Authority which belongs to Jesus Christ alone! He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and no one else:

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2, KJV

Eternal Life is the free gift of God offered to ALL men the world over IF they will only believe. If a person does not belong to this Club, it is because they have chosen not to by their own free will, because this Club is universal in scope. In the end, those who don't make it in will have no one to blame but themselves and their own rebellious pride. The Lord extends His offer of Salvation to you. Will you accept it? I pray this article has been an inspiration and a blessing to many.

With these thoughts I will bring this article to a close. I hope that you have found it informative, and I pray that it has been a blessing and an inspiration in your life. If you have enjoyed reading this article, please consider sharing its URL with your online friends. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter or Google+, I would also appreciate if you would take the time to click on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were also mentioned in this article, or which are related to the topics which were discussed in this article. All of them are also located on the Endtime Prophecy Net web server:

A Fantastic Party! Are You Coming?
All Are Given a Chance, But . . .
Not Everyone is a Child of God
Message to the World
Salvation is Free

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