Does God give everyone a chance to be saved?

Does God give everyone a chance to be saved?

The question has been on the hearts of most believers for about as long as we have known that God offered salvation. And, for almost as long, there has been a divergence of opinions on the matter. Good men, for good reasons, hold strongly to opposing opinions. However, I do believe God offers enough insight into the matter that we can reach a reasonable understanding. I will restrict my answer, for the sake of time and space, to 3 simple passages which give sufficient support to God’s all-inclusive love.

First, look closely at the most famous passage in the Bible, John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (v.17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” Verse sixteen makes it clear that God loves the World. Can anyone reasonable suggest that Jesus only meant to suggest God’s love was designated to fewer than ‘everyone’ in the world? And it was for the ‘everyone’ of verse sixteen that Jesus was given, so that “whosoever believes” could receive “everlasting life.” God (v.17) sent His Son “into the world” for the express purpose, “…that the world might be saved through Him.” If God did not give everyone a chance, by whatever means He may have chosen, then how could Jesus have made such a broad and all-encompassing remark? The clear intent of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was, according to verse 17, the salvation of the world.

If we went no further at all, this single passage, John 3:16-17, would have offered an affirmation to the question. However, turning now to Peter’s writings we find reference to God’s express desire to see “all” people saved. 2Peter 3:7-9 “But the present heavens and the earth being kept in store by the same Word, are being kept for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (v.8) But, beloved, let not this one thing be hidden from you, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (v.9) The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” In a discussion on the righteous judgment of God against sin, Peter makes a very enlightening statement. In verse seven he expresses the fact that God’s judgment against sin is being suppressed. This present world is being held in tact and preserved, “by the same Word…until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” Time (v.8) is not the issue since time is not relevant to God. Then, what is the issue? Peter says, the Lord is not postponing his judgment against this sin-filled world out of procrastination (“slow…as some men count slowness...”). Instead, it is out of His great patience, or long-suffering (v.9) for mankind (“us”) that He holds back His judgment. The word for long-suffering here shows forbearance, patience, or a patient endurance. This leaves us wondering, what was so important that the judgment we so deserved was held back by the hand of God? And more importantly, why was it held back? The answer is in the same verse. God never purposed that “any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” If God did not “purpose” for us to suffer the judgment of sin, and if He held back His own judgment in an effort to allow every man to be saved, it is only reasonable to assume He also gave them that opportunity…at least once.

Finally, the Apostle Paul offers insight into God’s desire for mankind. 1Timothy 2:4-6 “…who (that is ‘God’) will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (v.5) For God is one, and there is one Mediator of God and of men, the Man Christ Jesus, (v.6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Verses five and six express the nature and His work. In verse five we learn God is “one,” He is singular in His nature and purpose. And, we see there is only one way a person can come to Him. Jesus is the only means by which a person can approach God. That means we must learn of Christ since there is no other way to approach God. And, (v.6) Christ is the one who paid (“gave Himself a ransom for all”) the sin debt each of us owed. This is the message (v.6) which will be testified. What message? The message which is to be testified is not only in verses 5-6. The first part of the message is found in verse four. Paul says, “(God) will have all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” It is God’s “will” (v.4) that all men be saved. I learned a valuable lesson about the English word “all” many years ago, “all means all, and that is all, all means.” If God’s desire is to see “all” men saved, if it is his “will” that all “come to a knowledge of the truth” then, how could we possibly imagine that he would condemn a soul to hell when that person never even had a chance to be saved.

Let me clarify, I do not know the mind of God, except as it is expressed within His written Word. Here, in these few passages, we see that God desires all men to be saved, to come to a saving knowledge of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on our behalf. And, it is clear from these passages that He withholds final judgment as He patiently waits for each person to make their final decision.

How will God judge other people? I can only respond with a reminder that we are responsible for the knowledge we have. It is not a part of my calling to analyze how God will judge a person in a third-world country. My calling is clear. I know the gospel message and I know the Great Commandment, in Matthew 28:18-20 we are commissioned to go, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. (v.19) Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (v.20) teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.” Critiquing “how” God will judge another person is not a part of the calling God placed upon any of us. Understand that people throughout the world are lost. They are in danger of hell and in need of the Savior.  Respond to the call of the Great Commission and take the Gospel message even to their part of the world. God wants to reach them with the Gospel message and it is God’s will to save them. However, God has given to each of us the responsibility to go.

We have this inheritance

We have this inheritance

     Just thinking ahead to that day when we will realize the substance of the promises we have held for so long.

     I Peter 1:4-5 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

     Not only are we given a living hope of an eternal existence but we also as joint heirs with Christ receive an inheritance unlike any other. Peter uses alliteration in the Greek which we lose in the English to make his point; aphthartos (incorruptible) amiantos (undefiled) amarantos (never fadeth away). Each of the three epithets he uses here begin with the Greek ‘a’ possibly as a means of helping the reader to remember each; though we cannot be sure of that now. Notice also that each is written in the negative. It has been said that in describing things of eternal beauty we often look at the world around us and say what will not be found there in an effort to help others grasp its splendor. Sin has so corrupted the world we live in that to describe heaven we must include the absence of those things affected by sin or those things which are the direct result of sin here. As testimony to that concept read how John uses negatives to describe the new heaven and earth and the heavenly city in his vision: Rev. 21:1, Rev. 21:4, Rev. 21:22 (and I saw no temple therein...), Rev. 21:23, Rev. 21:27; Rev. 22:3, Rev. 22:5.

      “Incorruptible” describes that which is imperishable. The promise of wealth in this world will perish. It might be ours for a short time but it cannot last. The inheritance we have in Christ cannot perish. What a grand contrast, we surrender what cannot last for that which cannot perish.

       “Undefiled” expresses that which is without defect or flaw and cannot be stained or corrupted. The inheritance we have cannot ever be lessened in its quality in any way.

      “That fadeth not away” carries the idea of withering like a flower, no blight or drought can affect it. The beauty of heaven today is the same as it ever was or ever will be. We will stand amazed on our millionth year the same as we did on our first day in heaven.

      To this beauty and inheritance we have a reservation. It is not what we wish might be ours someday. Rather, it is what we presently possess that gives us hope to endure in this sin filled world. Unlike earthly reservations heavenly reservations can never be lost or canceled. And to ensure our confidence Peter reminds us that these reservations have been made for those who are “kept by the power of God.” Could there be any promise more secure? In the prayer Jesus offered in John 17 he mentions that we are kept by God and by Jesus himself, John 17:11-12 “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

      “Through faith” indicates the cause or agency of that reservation i.e., which are kept as a result of having faith or expressing faith. Our inheritance was obtained by faith and is seen as already accomplished; the end result of which we are about to realize. Peter viewed heaven as just a breath away, an event that was just through the next door. By faith we received salvation and now God preserves us as we wait with reservation in hand for the materialization of that promise. Compare this to Romans 8:30 "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

      The work of God in salvation was His work not ours and it is a finished work. We who receive Christ as savior are kept by the power of God already justified, glorified, and in possession of reservations which will never fade away, become defiled or corrupted in any way. God deserves all of our praise each and every day.

It is with absolute certainty that we have this inheritance.