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 does not 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 does not 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.
| A DIVINE INTENTION The Gospel Without Limits By Michael Clegg ALL MEN? |
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