1 Timothy 4:10

1 Timothy 4:10

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

"because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."

"Because we trust in the living God".

Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead that to "save all mankind". That includes the countless billions that proceeded us and the countless billions that shall succeed us from the beginning till the end of creation. Before Christ salvation came from faith in God's Word and after Christ faith in Him, His blood sacrifice, Resurrection, and Lordship. Notice that before Christ and afterward salvation never changes: both demand faith in the Word of God, one written, one the flesh version of the Word Jesus Christ. Faith has been the gateway to salvation throughout this creation period.

"Who is the Savior of all men".

All men has been the blind controversy throughout the ages that Christianity has existed. All men means all men! The sacrifice of God's only Son for sin was a complete Unconditional Love Forgiveness for ALL mankind. He didn't pick and choose who He died for, He died for ALL. I am stressing this point because it has to be stressed. If Christ left so much as one person out of reach of His salvation then it would be valueless to all of us. Unconditional Love means for all of us. Some actually preach that some are born to "go to hell". That we don't have a choice. That is a lie, a doctrine of man and a proverb for the ignorant! As men the desire to hold something over someone else as authority is our nature. But the Word of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit came to "set us free from the bondage of sin and death". A completely opposite "end" then what mankind embraces. As I said " if God's Son's salvation could fail anyone then it has failed us all". "For all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". It is true that some "call not", but that is out of our hands to make judgement as we are told "not to judge until the end". Some argue this point about Judas Iscariot he was "born to perdition", true but that was by design because before creation when God knew the hearts of all men, Judas before he existed, proved to have a wicked heart which would not change, so God gave him the job of betrayer. Some might say that God then condemned him to hell before he was born, not so, he condemned himself to hell by his nature. Then to prove the Unconditional Love of God to all who know the account of his actions, God in His foreknowledge, directed his life to walk with Jesus for 3 yrs thereby (like Adam) allowing him to walk with God before he made the fateful decision that crowned him the "son of perdition". There is no one who has "graced" this creation who doesn't deserve eternal death because of their "sinful nature". That's why "none should perish" and that "He is the Savior of all men". I need at this point relate this true story about someone who truly believed that "some" are born to go to hell" so that there is no hope for them through Jesus Christ: In her latter years my Mom lay a dying of cancer. Since the day I was saved I had her and my Dad in prayer for salvation. I believed in praying through until an answer came. It did and one day in fervent, passionate prayer for their cause Jesus spoke to me and said: "STOP"! "The prayers for your Mom and Dad have been answered and they shall be saved, now go on with prayer about what I put on your heart!" I listened, believed, and obeyed. Banking on that promise about 19 yrs later my Mom lay a wasting. I asked for prayer for her in the church service and after the service I was approached by one of the members, a believer. His words to me were these: "I don't know if we should pray for her because maybe she was one that was born to "go to hell". I said WHAT? So he explained the doctrine that started this diatribe that some are created "outside" the reach of salvation and so are bound for hell. To prove his hypocrisy I then stated if that were true then how do you know that you and your family (all believers in Christ), are not all in the same position? He cried out that he and his family were truly saved and that such a thing wouldn't apply to him and his. I said "how do you know?" If you can offer that up for my Mom of whom a promise was given, then what makes you and yours so special? I say that if the Sacrifice of Christ could fail even one who calls upon His name then He has failed them all. "So none should perish" is a promise for all who call upon His name. I later had the privilege of leading her to Christ 2 weeks before she passed with much joy, tears and rejoicing. More later on this.

"Specially of those that believe".

Here is the dividing line of who can be saved and who "will be saved". All can be saved, only those who are obedient to the Living Word "confessing with their mouths Jesus is Lord and believing in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead shall be saved". This is the great "can and shall" scenario of life". You decide which one you will embrace. You have the choice of being one or the other, can is there by divine decree but will is there by promise. All have the same decision but only "those that believe" make good the reception of the promise. The "cans" of this Be one of the "specially that believe".

Happy Sunday to you all.

God bless and keep.

Love

J&E in Tn