A DIVINE INTENTION
The Gospel Without Limits
By Michael Clegg
ALL MEN?
When discussing Absolute Reconciliation with others, especially those who
are Christians—they are more often than not, offended at the suggestion that
God will redeem all men. Where and why is this offensive—to think that God
can or may have saved all men? The discussion usually goes toward the most
wicked man the person can think of and ask will he be saved? Then, the
question goes toward faith—what if all men do not believe? Why is it so
unpleasant to consider that God’s love actually includes all men?
It seems the forerunning concept of salvation is escaping hell and the
vindictive wrath of God. Traditional Churchology says Jesus died providing a
means of escaping God’s wrath by undergoing our punishment for us by
allowing God to vent His anger on His Son. This thought says Christ appeased
or pacified an angry God; in addition, it implies Jesus literally saved us from
God. Based on this concept, why would Christians think God would save
others than themselves who went through the fire and suffered for their
perceived salvation?
God in Christ entered our condition of humanity and succumb to death. God
entered our realm to take us to His. It was not God’s attitude that needed
changing—God did not hide from Adam. God was not untouchable by Adam’s
sin and God met him and all of us in Christ.
Whether one’s God is an eternal tormentor, annihilator, or Savior of All
determines how one treats his fellowman. Jesus told us how to treat our
enemies (Rom. 12.20-21)—will Father God not do likewise? Just as our
perception of God will determine our response to Him it also dictates our
response to other men.
Another question that must be settled is: Did Christ come only to OFFER
salvation to those who receive it or did He come to save? Satan did not offer
damnation, death, defeat to man but men are delivered from the womb into
a world as slaves without choice. According to orthodox creeds the victory of
Christ is much less than the numbers Satan takes to hell and as Satan has his
countless multitudes during this life—he also has them for eternity. Christ
claims as His own the entire human race, and to that end that He might save
and restore the whole—not just a fraction of it. He came with power over all
flesh (John. 17:2), over all hearts, all evil, and all wills. He lived, died, and
rose again victorious in the fullest sense, having finished His work according
to the purpose of Father God. There is no part for man to play in his own
salvation.
We have been taught that if our prayers are in accordance with the will of
God we will have what we ask (Mark 11:24). We have been taught to pray for
cars, homes, health but when we are told to pray for all men (1Tim. 2:1-4)
we stumble. God desires for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge
of the truth. Is 1Timothy 2:4 a wish by God or is it a plan that He will see
fulfilled? If that is God’s will and we pray to that end—will it come to pass?
We understand that Jesus is the Savior of men but the issue seems to be—is
He the Savior of ALL men? 1Timothy 4:10 says that our trust is in the living
God who “is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
Compare 1Timothy 4:10 with Galatians 6:10 which says “…let us do good to
all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Is Paul saying we
are to only do good to the “household of faith” or is he saying we are to do
good to “all men” but especially to those of the “household of faith”? The
word ‘especially’ is the Greek word ‘malista’ which means ‘most of all’. So,
we are to do good to all men but most of all to those of the household of
faith. Both classes “the household of faith” and “the all” are to experience
the goodness and this experience is not based on their behavior towards
those doing the good. Therefore, in 1Timothy 4:10, Jesus is the Savior of all
men but most of all to those who have an earnest of the promise within
them.
A Savior is more than a lifeguard. A lifeguard’s job is to save people from
drowning but he cannot be a savior until he actually saves someone. Jesus is
not declared ‘the potential Savior”—He is not called a lifeguard. He is in fact
declared to have accomplished the act of saving and not just saving those
who believe but even those who do not recognize they have been saved,
reconciled, redeemed, and forgiven.
John 12:32 says that Jesus will draw all men to Himself. Will Christ succeed?
Will He do what He said He would do? Our answer to this question reveals
how powerful we think the cross of Christ really is. Philippians 2:10 says that
every knee shall bow but sadly, many teach this is a forced submission. The
question that must be answered is by what power are they making this
“confession”? Is it by their rebellious tongue or by the power of Holy Spirit? If
they are truly forced to make obeisance against their will then their actions
and confession is fraudulent and doesn’t glorify God. The power of the cross
is found, not in its ability to force men to bow against their will but in its
ability to draw all men willingly by the power of the love of God.
What about the concept of hell and the salvation of all men? There are
translations that do not contain the traditional concept of hell and eternal
punishment. These translations are Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy
Scriptures, Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible, Weymouth’s New Testament,
Concordant Literal Translation, Twentieth Century New Testament, and
others. Traditional hell is punitive, hopeless, and eternal while Scripture
details hell, like every other judgment of God as corrective, remedial, and
restorative. Those who hold the traditional concept of hell also declare the
day of Grace will be over. No—the display of Grace in the coming ages is the
reason for the manifestation of the sons of God (Eph. 2:7-8, Acts 15:14-18).
The Scriptures declare that love never fails (1Cor. 13:8) but some believe
that it does fail for most of mankind. Paul declares the extent of Redemption
not only equals but exceeds that of sin. Sin is the great slave holder. It does
not pay wages—no slave earns a wage—but he is dealt out rations and sin’s
ration is death. Jesus, the Last Adam, came to nullify the damage the first
Adam passed through to all mankind. The Last Adam bears the same
relationship to humanity and creation as the first Adam—that of the
firstborn. Jesus Christ came in a far greater flood tide of power to all
mankind that Adam caused by his act. There is no comparison between the
EFFECT of God’s free gift and the EFFECT of that one man’s sin (Rom. 5:15-
16).
If as a result of man’s choice he suffers endless torment—then God failed.
The cross failed. According to the limits placed on God by man, either He
cannot make it right (Armenianism) because of man’s will or He will not
make it right (Calvinism) because of election. The first says God is weak and
limited by man and the second says God is cruel and unloving. Both malign
the character of God. Simply put—if God cannot save all men, what does that
say about His sovereignty and omnipotence? If God won't save all men then
what does that say about His love and mercy?
The principle of Biblical identification is generally taught in traditional
churches and this principle says we were in Adam in the fall and we were in
Christ when He died, was buried, and rose again. Recall how Adam and Eve
attempted to cover their shame with leaves—understanding what happened
to Adam happened to us. Genesis 3:21 details how God provided a sacrifice
to cover them. This demonstrates God’s promise that we would be clothed
with the Righteousness of God and just as Adam had nothing to do it nor does
any one man—it is all God and His provision for His creation.
Knowing our destiny is all God should bring a tremendous amount of faith and
comfort. It is all God and his plan extends to all men. The message of the
cross demonstrates the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). The message or
declaration of the cross is God is able to accomplish His purpose and His
purpose includes all men. He has declared it and has the power to bring it to
pass. The plan of God includes the salvation of all.
When discussing Absolute Reconciliation with others, especially those who
are Christians—they are more often than not, offended at the suggestion that
God will redeem all men. Where and why is this offensive—to think that God
can or may have saved all men? The discussion usually goes toward the most
wicked man the person can think of and ask will he be saved? Then, the
question goes toward faith—what if all men do not believe? Why is it so
unpleasant to consider that God’s love actually includes all men?
It seems the forerunning concept of salvation is escaping hell and the
vindictive wrath of God. Traditional Churchology says Jesus died providing a
means of escaping God’s wrath by undergoing our punishment for us by
allowing God to vent His anger on His Son. This thought says Christ appeased
or pacified an angry God; in addition, it implies Jesus literally saved us from
God. Based on this concept, why would Christians think God would save
others than themselves who went through the fire and suffered for their
perceived salvation?
God in Christ entered our condition of humanity and succumb to death. God
entered our realm to take us to His. It was not God’s attitude that needed
changing—God did not hide from Adam. God was not untouchable by Adam’s
sin and God met him and all of us in Christ.
Whether one’s God is an eternal tormentor, annihilator, or Savior of All
determines how one treats his fellowman. Jesus told us how to treat our
enemies (Rom. 12.20-21)—will Father God not do likewise? Just as our
perception of God will determine our response to Him it also dictates our
response to other men.
Another question that must be settled is: Did Christ come only to OFFER
salvation to those who receive it or did He come to save? Satan did not offer
damnation, death, defeat to man but men are delivered from the womb into
a world as slaves without choice. According to orthodox creeds the victory of
Christ is much less than the numbers Satan takes to hell and as Satan has his
countless multitudes during this life—he also has them for eternity. Christ
claims as His own the entire human race, and to that end that He might save
and restore the whole—not just a fraction of it. He came with power over all
flesh (John. 17:2), over all hearts, all evil, and all wills. He lived, died, and
rose again victorious in the fullest sense, having finished His work according
to the purpose of Father God. There is no part for man to play in his own
salvation.
We have been taught that if our prayers are in accordance with the will of
God we will have what we ask (Mark 11:24). We have been taught to pray for
cars, homes, health but when we are told to pray for all men (1Tim. 2:1-4)
we stumble. God desires for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge
of the truth. Is 1Timothy 2:4 a wish by God or is it a plan that He will see
fulfilled? If that is God’s will and we pray to that end—will it come to pass?
We understand that Jesus is the Savior of men but the issue seems to be—is
He the Savior of ALL men? 1Timothy 4:10 says that our trust is in the living
God who “is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
Compare 1Timothy 4:10 with Galatians 6:10 which says “…let us do good to
all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Is Paul saying we
are to only do good to the “household of faith” or is he saying we are to do
good to “all men” but especially to those of the “household of faith”? The
word ‘especially’ is the Greek word ‘malista’ which means ‘most of all’. So,
we are to do good to all men but most of all to those of the household of
faith. Both classes “the household of faith” and “the all” are to experience
the goodness and this experience is not based on their behavior towards
those doing the good. Therefore, in 1Timothy 4:10, Jesus is the Savior of all
men but most of all to those who have an earnest of the promise within
them.
A Savior is more than a lifeguard. A lifeguard’s job is to save people from
drowning but he cannot be a savior until he actually saves someone. Jesus is
not declared ‘the potential Savior”—He is not called a lifeguard. He is in fact
declared to have accomplished the act of saving and not just saving those
who believe but even those who do not recognize they have been saved,
reconciled, redeemed, and forgiven.
John 12:32 says that Jesus will draw all men to Himself. Will Christ succeed?
Will He do what He said He would do? Our answer to this question reveals
how powerful we think the cross of Christ really is. Philippians 2:10 says that
every knee shall bow but sadly, many teach this is a forced submission. The
question that must be answered is by what power are they making this
“confession”? Is it by their rebellious tongue or by the power of Holy Spirit? If
they are truly forced to make obeisance against their will then their actions
and confession is fraudulent and doesn’t glorify God. The power of the cross
is found, not in its ability to force men to bow against their will but in its
ability to draw all men willingly by the power of the love of God.
What about the concept of hell and the salvation of all men? There are
translations that do not contain the traditional concept of hell and eternal
punishment. These translations are Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy
Scriptures, Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible, Weymouth’s New Testament,
Concordant Literal Translation, Twentieth Century New Testament, and
others. Traditional hell is punitive, hopeless, and eternal while Scripture
details hell, like every other judgment of God as corrective, remedial, and
restorative. Those who hold the traditional concept of hell also declare the
day of Grace will be over. No—the display of Grace in the coming ages is the
reason for the manifestation of the sons of God (Eph. 2:7-8, Acts 15:14-18).
The Scriptures declare that love never fails (1Cor. 13:8) but some believe
that it does fail for most of mankind. Paul declares the extent of Redemption
not only equals but exceeds that of sin. Sin is the great slave holder. It does
not pay wages—no slave earns a wage—but he is dealt out rations and sin’s
ration is death. Jesus, the Last Adam, came to nullify the damage the first
Adam passed through to all mankind. The Last Adam bears the same
relationship to humanity and creation as the first Adam—that of the
firstborn. Jesus Christ came in a far greater flood tide of power to all
mankind that Adam caused by his act. There is no comparison between the
EFFECT of God’s free gift and the EFFECT of that one man’s sin (Rom. 5:15-
16).
If as a result of man’s choice he suffers endless torment—then God failed.
The cross failed. According to the limits placed on God by man, either He
cannot make it right (Armenianism) because of man’s will or He will not
make it right (Calvinism) because of election. The first says God is weak and
limited by man and the second says God is cruel and unloving. Both malign
the character of God. Simply put—if God cannot save all men, what does that
say about His sovereignty and omnipotence? If God won't save all men then
what does that say about His love and mercy?
The principle of Biblical identification is generally taught in traditional
churches and this principle says we were in Adam in the fall and we were in
Christ when He died, was buried, and rose again. Recall how Adam and Eve
attempted to cover their shame with leaves—understanding what happened
to Adam happened to us. Genesis 3:21 details how God provided a sacrifice
to cover them. This demonstrates God’s promise that we would be clothed
with the Righteousness of God and just as Adam had nothing to do it nor does
any one man—it is all God and His provision for His creation.
Knowing our destiny is all God should bring a tremendous amount of faith and
comfort. It is all God and his plan extends to all men. The message of the
cross demonstrates the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). The message or
declaration of the cross is God is able to accomplish His purpose and His
purpose includes all men. He has declared it and has the power to bring it to
pass. The plan of God includes the salvation of all.