Sunday Sermons
Desiring All to be Saved
Desiring all to be Saved
"Who desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4)
Every now and then those who are following Jesus wonder if they can actually be successful in living the Christian life for the long haul. This lesson is specifically written to address that question or doubt.
I can make it because Jesus died for me too:
* "Yet He Himself bore the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:12).
* "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
* "Who gave Himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6).
* "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
I can make it because God earnestly desires that all make it to heaven:
I am impressed that God yearns to show mercy, God would much rather, dispense mercy than wrath:
* "'For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God', 'Therefore, repent and live'" (Ezekiel 16:32).
* "That I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:24).
In similar fashion God is pictured as rejoicing over those who repent (Luke 15:7), and desiring that people be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So God wants to show mercy, He wants to forgive, He desires to be merciful to those who are humble.
I can make it because I can understand His will:
From the Old Testament to the New Testament the Bible is repeatedly making the point that it is within the understanding of all who will take the time to read it. Moses made the empathic point that God's law was not too difficult for the Israelites (Deuteronomy 30:11), and access to that Law was never a problem (30:12-14). I am impressed that young King Josiah heard one reading to the Law of Moses and immediately understood the implications for his generation (2 Kings 22:8-13). He heard it read just one time and knew that the nation of Israel was not right with God. The Eunuch heard just one presentation of the gospel and clearly understood that he needed to be baptized to be saved (Acts 8:36). Even the book of Revelation that might be one of the most complicated books in the Bible still says this at the very beginning to anyone who will take the time to read it, "Blessed it he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it" (Revelation 1:3). The Holy Spirit even considers the book of Revelation to be so understandable that any reader can obey what it says.
I can make it because many people in the past, just like me found favor with God:
The book of Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with a list of those who heard the word of God and obeyed it. Other passages make the point that they were not super human, but people just like us (James 5:17). And that the quality of faith mentioned in that chapter is not some sort of rare or exceptional faith that only existed in Bible times. Rather, it is the same faith by which any individual in any time or place finds favor with God (Hebrews 10:39). The point is made, that as those in the past ran the race set before them, and we are exhorted to do the same (Hebrews 12:1-3). So if the immoral Corinthians can change (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), so can I. If Rahab the harlot can obey God, so can I (James 2:25). If the repentant thief on the cross can humble himself, so can I. If the wicked king Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings in the Old Testament can humble himself and change, then so can I (2 Chronicles 33:9, 12ff). And this was the guy who practiced human sacrifice, was into witchcraft, divination, sorcery, and was really heavy into the occult (2 Chronicles 33:6). We tend to forget that many Christians in the First Century had come from very difficult and sinful backgrounds. One letter after another often alludes to their wicked past, but they had radically changed for the better. See Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 3:7 and 1 Peter 4:1-3.
I can make it because I can live the Christian life:
If all of the above people could successfully make the transition from living for self to being selfless. If those who were involved in addictive sinful lifestyles can completely break from that past (Romans 6:21), then I can successfully live the Christian life. John says specifically that God's commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). Jesus said that the yoke that He offers is light (Matthew 11:28). In other words, God did create us with the capacity for everything that He expects of us. Every human being has great potential for every quality mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
I can make it because all things are possible with God:
When Jesus mentioned how hard it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24), and the disciples responded, "Then who can be saved?" (19:25). Jesus then said, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (19:26). May I suggest that in James chapter 3 we have a similar idea. James says that man is able to tame all sorts of animals, but the tongue no man can tame (James 3:8). Yet, God's people are clearly told to tame their tongues (Ephesians 5:4). So the idea is that apart from God, His wisdom (the Scriptures), His forgiveness, His hope of eternal life, and His people many things are impossible. If I continue to embrace the wisdom of the world, which basically says, "Put yourself first" (James 3:16), then I will never be able to tame my tongue, become patient, kind and loving as I need to be. Yet, if I embrace God's wisdom and trust Him, what looked so impossible is now every doable (James 3:17). So just remember that when you see a quality that God wants you to put on or there is a sin that God wants you to remove and you think to yourself, "There is no way I can get rid of that, or there is no way I can become that". It is simply amazing how merciful, kind, loving, patient, and pure you can become when you admit your need of God, admit that you are not God and simply bow before Him and give Him the glory. All of a sudden what seemed so impossible is so possible.
I can make it because as I look back on my past, God has mercifully given me many second chances:
Yes, I can see God's amazing patience in my life (2 Peter 3:9).
I can make it because God also gives me a way of escape out of every temptation that I encounter: 1 Corinthians 10:13
I can make it because I have access to God's mercy 24/7:
Even when I sin, I can immediately take care of that, make things right with God, and get back on track (1 John 1:8-2:2).
I can make it because in the end I make the final choice about what I am going to do:
No one is forcing me in one direction or the other. Repeatedly the Bible proclaims that we have a choice, that the choice is ours to make. God gives us so many incentives. The offer of eternal life is so attractive (Revelation 21-22). Even the rewards or benefits in this short earthly life are amazing (1 Timothy 4:8). Yet, we choose and this has always been the case for every generation:
* "If you do well" (Genesis 4:7).
* "So choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
* "Enter through the narrow door" (Matthew 7:13).
* "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door" (Revelation 3:20).
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
