Another example of this runaround is 1 Tim. 4:10 “…the living God, who IS the savior of ALL men, especially of those that believe.”
So they ask How can God be the “Savior of all men” if all men are not eventually saved?
Well when you take it out of its context and leave out the word trust you come up with a neutral statement that applies to all.
Let’s read it fully, 1 Tim. 4:10-11 “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.
Notice it says we trust in God, who is the savior; the believers do. There is only one savior of all men, but he becomes that ONLY when one believes.
Is Satan’s power to destroy greater than God’s power to save? It’s not a matter of greater power but a matter of men choosing whom they will follow and serve; they have a lifetime to do this. Christ does not lose anyone that was given him. They (the Universalist/ Inclusivists) wants you to take a position of not believing to be saved; does that make any sense?
Luke 18:27: “….The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Is it impossible for God to save ALL? Of course not, he does not force people against their will. We are told man has a part, in responding. In fact Jesus calls those whom He was living among a “little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) Who receives the kingdom, not all, but a little flock.
You can’t rip scriptures from their overall context, when you do all this shows is that you lack Holy Spirit taught understanding.
Jesus said Mt. 7:13-15: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Jesus is not saying all will make it, not even many. He said at another time making it even clearer “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24).
Strive has the concept to agonize to get in, in other words it will take effort to turn from the way one is going to turn and trust Him to enter into life (repentance).
Notice Jesus said – few who find it. Therefore, not many get saved like the liberal Universalists insist, but a few. So Jesus did not teach that all will be saved; Universalists teach contrary to what Jesus said.
Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto me and be you saved ALL the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that unto me EVERY knee shall bow, EVERY tongue shall swear. Surely shall one say, In the Lord shall I have righteousness and strength. Even to Him shall men come and all who are incensed against him shall be ashamed.”
Is “Ashamed” a description of repentance? No, it is referring to Israel acting like the nations with their idols (read the verses before) it declares for all to look to the true God, after the fact they will be ashamed that they did not believe Him. This does not mean salvation for all.
Here is how they play connecting dots of their Inclusivists doctrine.
Romans 10:10 teaches “For with the heart men believe unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Therefore Philippians 2:10 -11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY of God the Father.”
So now we have all the demons and the devil being saved, along with every scoundrel every murderer will be right next to the believer because they are confessing! Confessing what – that Jesus is truly who he said he was. He is speaking after the fact because true believers already confess and bow their knee to Him.
Till next week,
God Bless.
Elder Dr. Robert L. Harrison
