#1 of #3 “Not Some But All”
“SALVATION”, which comes through the death, burial and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, is not just for some, but for “ALL”.
God’s will and His Heart’s desire is clear, “Who will have “ALL” men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” [1 Timothy 2:4].
Peter, one of the apostle to the Jews says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering (that’s another word for Grace and Mercy) to us-ward”.
Why? because the Lord is “not willing that any should perish but that “ALL” should come to repentance)” [2 Peter 3:9]
The word “ALL” is a wholesome all-inclusive word that God uses.
It is void of any kind of favouritism, partiality, partisanship, preference, prejudice or bias whatsoever.
For the Bible clearly states that, “God is no respecter of persons” [Acts 10:34].
Paul the apostle tells us that, “there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: for the same Lord over all is rich unto “ALL” that call upon Him [Romans 10:12].
Then he goes on to say that, “WHOSOEVER shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” [Romans 10:13].
Scripture says that, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23].
The apostle Paul also tells us, “For the love of Christ constraineth us (it drives us on).
Why Does It Drive Us On?
“Because”, he says, “we thus judge, that if One (Christ) died for ‘all’, then were ‘all’ dead (spiritually).
And that He died for ‘all’, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again [2 Corinthians 5:14-15].
Apart from being clear, simple and logical, this double emphasis on “ALL” in the same ‘breath of God’ is ‘absolute’.
So perfectly complete is the finished works of the cross of Christ Jesus.
Words like “all”, “everyone” and “whosoever” personally includes you and that is encouraging.
Why Is This So Important?
There are some false and disturbing orthodox doctrines out there that preach and teach that salvation is just for a select few that have been chosen by predestination.
Theologically, they call it “Calvinism” which teaches something called “limited atonement”.
NOTHING could be further from the truth as the Scriptures above in the first paragraph graphically show us.
Any one of those Scriptural truths blows Calvinism out into the cold.
It is true that no one can be saved unless drawn by God first. For Jesus Himself said that, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” [John 6:44].
This Jesus spoke during His earthly ministry.
How then is God seeking to draw us to Him today now that Jesus has ascended to the highest position of Glory?
He is doing it through the preaching of the Gospel of Grace as revealed exclusively to Paul, His “Hand-picked” apostle.
Jesus Christ Himself says, “For he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles” [Acts 9:15].
The word ‘chosen’ in this part of Scripture derives its meaning from the original Greek word, “eklogē”, which means “Divinely chosen”. It is exclusive.
All Instructions From The Ascended LORD In Glory
Jesus Christ today is seated on the Right Hand of God the Father in Heaven. It is from this Authoritative position of Ascension that He speaks to us today. And He does this through the pen of Paul the apostle.
Everything that the apostle writes to us now comes directly to us from the Ascended Lord Jesus Christ in Glory.
We need to keep that in the frontlets of our minds.
Staying Close To Paul
In this “Age of Grace” Paul is the one we need to stay very close to. It is only through him we get to know exactly and expressly what the Holy Spirit is telling us today.
The doctrinal truth regarding our salvation lies with Paul and nobody else, least of all with Calvinism.
Jesus referred to The Holy Spirit as the “Spirit Of Truth” Who will lead and guide us into all Truth [John 16:13].
Jesus Christ, from his Authoritative position of Ascension, seated on the Right Hand of God the Father categorically tells us to follow Paul.
“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” [1 Corinthians 4:16].
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” [1 Corinthians 11:1].
When we heed these instructions we are indeed “following Christ Jesus”.
Paul The apostle is the “pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him (Jesus Christ) to life everlasting [1 Timothy 1:16].
He was the first into the Body Of Christ. We follow his pattern.
What Is This Gospel Of Grace?
The graphic definition of the Gospel of Grace, the Gospel of our salvation, is found in [1 Corinthians 15:1-4].
Paul the apostle writes:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”.
How did the apostle receive this Gospel for us?
Here is what he categorically tells us in [Galatians 1:11-12].
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ”.
No Man Involved
There was no man involved here. He received our Gospel directly from the Ascended Jesus Christ in Person.
Now watch what he says about this wonderful Gospel in [Romans 1:16].
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to “every one” that believeth” [Romans 1:16].
Now who is “every one”? I think the answer is clear.
So it really all boils down to the next word, “believeth”.
