God Seeks and Desires the Salvation of All:
- 2 Peter 3:9: "...not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
- 1 Timothy 2:3-4: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
These passages reveal God's universal love and desire for salvation to extend to everyone.
- Jesus' Initial Focus on Israel:
- It's true that Jesus' earthly ministry initially focused on Israel. Matthew 15:24: "He answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.'"
- This aligns with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah coming to fulfill God's promises to Israel.
- Jesus prioritized reaching the Jewish people first, demonstrating God's faithfulness to those promises.
- The Mission Expands to the Gentiles:
- The Great Commission: In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." This indicates a broadening of the mission after Jesus' death and resurrection.
- Book of Acts: Records the spread of Christianity to Gentiles (non-Jews), fulfilling the promise that God's blessings would reach all nations through Abraham's seed.
Conclusion:
- While Jesus' initial ministry focused on Israel, Scripture reveals God's love and desire for salvation extends to all people.
- The Gospel message ultimately transcended any limitations, and Jesus' sacrifice is intended for the whole world.
perish. Gr. apollumi, +Mat_2:13,
Here Calvinists attempt to circumvent the truth that God is not willing that any person should perish (cf. 1Ti_2:4 and note).
They claim that He is not willing that any of the
"elect" perish, but that, implicitly, He is willing that all of the "unelect" masses perish. But the construction not willing, mē boulomenos, is a conditional statement. When mē, not, is used with a participle, as here, it expresses a condition
and cannot apply to an "elect" group that is irresistibly and unconditionally saved. Further, all conceivable men translates the force of
pantas (masculine gender), without the article.
The facts of Scripture are that there is no place whatsoever for limited atonement (cf. Joh_3:16; 2Co_5:14; Heb_2:9; 1Jn_2:2 and notes);
Calvinistic predestination (cf. Rom_8:29; Eph_1:4 and notes); irresistible grace (cf. Tit_2:11-12; Tit_2:14 and notes); unconditional security (cf. 1Pe_2:21 and note); etc. (LNT, fn b). Job_33:18, +Joh_10:29.
but that all. or, but for all conceivable men (LNT). All conceivable men translates the force of
pantas (masculine gender) without the article (LNT, fn b). **FS171B, +Gen_24:10, +*Psa_86:5, Joh_1:7, **Joh_3:16, **Rom_2:4; +*Rom_5:18; *Rom_11:32, +*1Ti_2:4, *Heb_2:9, %**Rev_2:21; %**Rev_17:8.
should come. or, go and be received to repentance: the Greek implies there is room for their being received to repentance (compare Greek, Mar_2:2; Joh_8:37) [JFB]. Gr. chōreō (S# G5562, 2Co_7:2), to be in (give) space, that is, (intransitively) to hold, (literally or figuratively) admit (Strong); move on or advance to (Vincent). 2Ki_17:13, Psa_94:15, Eze_18:23; Eze_33:11, *Mat_11:28-30; Mat_20:16, Joh_1:12; Joh_3:16-20; **Joh_6:37; **Joh_6:65, %+*Act_18:27, Eph_1:4, Php_1:29, *2Th_2:13, +*1Ti_2:4, +*Jas_2:5, Rev_17:14; Rev_22:17.
to repentance. Gr. metanoia (S# G3341, Mat_3:8). 2Ki_17:13, Jer_8:6, Eze_18:32, +*Mat_3:2; Mat_9:13; Mat_21:31, Luk_5:32, +*Act_3:19.
Christ's death was efficacious for PANTAS-NOT a select "elect"
J.
