Scriptures to the Witness of God being the Father of ALL, and Jesus being the Savior of ALL. Part 12

Part 12

According to Gen. 12:16-18, Heb. 6:13, God has confirmed His promise by an oath. But a more striking passage, perhaps, is this..."I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear, surely shall say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:23,24) The words of Adam Clarke on the oath of God, are worthy of thoughtful contemplation. On the phrase "he sware by himself," Clarke says, "He pledged his eternal power and Godhead for the fulfillment of the promise; there was no being superior to himself, to whom he could make appeal, or by whom he could be bound; therefore he appeals to and pledges his immutable truth and godhead."

On Heb. 6:13, the same commentator remarks, "The promise pledged his faithfulness and justice; the oath all the infinite perfections of his godhead; for he sware by himself. There is a good saying in Beracoth, on Exodus 32:13. 'Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swearedst by thine own self.' What is the meaning of "thine own self?" Rab Eleazar answered, thus said Moses to the holy blessed God, Lord of all the world, If thou hadst sworn to them by the heavens and the earth, then I should have said, as the heavens and the earth shall pass away, so may thy oath pass away. But now thou hast sworn unto them by thy great Name, which liveth and which endureth forever, and forever, and ever; therefore thy oath shall endure forever and forever and ever." (Commentary. on Heb. 6:18.)

God is all powerful; nothing can resist His will; nothing can defeat His purpose; nothing can prevent the fulfillment of His promise. "What he had promised he was able to perform." (Rom. 4:21) If God were not all powerful, then people might not be saved; but he is all powerful; "none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?" and therefore, in God's own time and by his own means, ALL mankind shall be saved.

God wills the salvation of ALL people...God purposed to save ALL people...God promised to save ALL people...God confirmed , by an OATH promised to save ALL people...God provided the means to reconcile ALL people...through the death of Christ, for the salvation of ALL people....Jesus died for ALL. "He gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Tim. 2:6) "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9) "And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) The above provides a three-fold witness: one, "ALL;" two, "EVERYMAN;" three, "THE WHOLE WORLD." Is this not evidence enough to guard against deception and misunderstanding regarding this important truth. Paul instructs Timothy to pray for ALL men; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, who will have ALL men to be saved. So John says, "if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father." (1 Epistle John 1:1) Is not the language here designed to apply to ALL men?

The cross-work of Christ will be  effectual, for ALL for whom He died. "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." (Is. 53:2) "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto Me." (John 12:32) If Jesus the Redeemer died for ALL men, can He be satisfied with the salvation of a few only? Can He look back upon His work and say, it is well done if the vast majority of His believed creation is lost to Him forever? Will He not rather draw ALL men unto Himself, by the power of His truth, so they will choose to repent (turn to Him)? Is that not the result of the Gospel of His love and grace He gave Himself a ransom for ALL! And if they are ALL drawn unto Him, will they not ALL be redeemed?

When Jesus was born, the angel said to the fearful shepherds, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." (Luke 2:10) The tidings of the Jesus' birth, were certainly good tidings to ALL people. The Gospel is bringing these good tidings to ALL people...the Gospel is Good News to ALL people. But how is this possible, if the vast majority of the human race are never to benefit by the cross-work of Christ?

The people who heard Jesus teach said, "we have heard Him ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John 4:42) Note: it did not say "this is the Christ the who offers salvation to the world", Jesus cannot be the Savior of the world, if the vast majority of the world will never be saved. What did Jesus teach the Samaritans, that led them them to believe He was the Savior of the world, from His conversation with the woman at the well of Jacob, (John 4) and from the exclamation of the Samaritans, in verse 42? If He had taught them to them the doctrine of endless torment in hell; who in their right mind would have concluded from the fact of His teaching that doctrine, that He was THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD?"

John, the beloved disciple of Christ, said, "We have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:14) This is the same attribute that the Samaritans judged Jesus to possess, from His teaching. (John 4:42) John says, "We have seen;" i.e. he knew it from his acquaintance with his Master. And do testify. We cannot hide this truth; we will proclaim to men, that Jesus is the Savior of the world.