Christ the risen Saviour, not potential Saviour !

[brightfame52]

In mans religion, though they speak of Christ as the Saviour, they really mean that Hes merely a potential Saviour and that Salvation ultimately rests in the decision or will of the sinner. In other words, its up to the sinner to make Christ a Saviour unto them.

This fallacious reasoning is error and dishonors Christ as the Saviour of His People. for its written that He shall save His People from their sins Matt 1:21, not potentially save them !

When Christ died and afterwards rose from the dead, and ascended to the Right Hand of God, He ascended as a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5:31

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

The word Saviour means: a savior, deliverer, preserver. None of these denote possibilities, maybes, or potentially, but actuality, He actually ascended as a Saviour, deliverer, a preserver.

Some may appeal to 1 Tim 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.


Now does this verse state that Christ is a potential Saviour to all men ? No it doesn't, but it says God is Saviour of all men, especially of those [men] who believe!

Many pervert this scripture so it would be saying that God is a potential Saviour to all men, but an actual Saviour to them that believe. See God cant be technically a Saviour to the unsaved, for thats a contradiction, He is their God in Judgment, but not as a Saviour.

So what does the word specially mean in this verse and how can it be understood without contradicting the fact that God is a actual Saviour and not merely a Saviour, or a Saviour unto unsaved men?

Its the greek word malista

:especially, chiefly, most of all, above all primary adverb μάλα mála (very); (adverbially) most (in the greatest degree) or particularly:—chiefly, most of all, (e-)specially.

So its a word Paul uses here to denote and clarify who particularly God in Christ is a Saviour to, not all men without exception, but particularly of they which are believers. I fact this verse should dispel the faulty idea of God being the Saviour of unbelievers. Sure even the saved are unbelievers naturally, however they shall be brought to Faith, because the promise is, the Just/justified shall live by Faith Rom 1:17

Folks Christ rose and ascended as a Prince and a Saviour, not a potential Saviour!

 

[timf]

By having paid for all sin Jesus is a Savior to those that believe and a judge to those that do not (vengeance is mine, I will repay). However, there is a potential for the unsaved as long as they live.

 

[Adstar]

One must believe Jesus and Trust in the Atonement He secured on the cross for their sins..

 

[brightfame52]

Christ is A Saviour/Redeemer for each and every sinner He died for and was raised again for. When He having finished His work for them, He for them obtained eternal redemption/salvation Heb 9:11-12

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.


The word redemption lytrōsis:

1. a ransoming, redemption
2. deliverance, esp. from the penalty of sin
   
   He obtained for them deliverance from the penalty of sin, which is death See Rom 6:23, hence its impossible for them to go into the second death
   
   Rev 20:14
   
   And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
   
   
   The second death is for the penalty of sin charged against them.

 

[brightfame52]

By having paid for all sin Jesus is a Savior to those that believe and a judge to those that do not (vengeance is mine, I will repay). However, there is a potential for the unsaved as long as they live.

Yeah but they believe only because He died for them and saved them. Those who do not believe, He never died for them, and therefore it was decreed they suffer the Divine wrath in themselves.

 

[ResidentAlien]

In mans religion, though they speak of Christ as the Saviour, they really mean that Hes merely a potential Saviour and that Salvation ultimately rests in the decision or will of the sinner.

Are you saying everyone gets saved in the end. If our will has nothing to do with it, and Christ died for all, wouldn't that mean all will be saved?

 

[brightfame52]

Are you saying everyone gets saved in the end.

No where close to what I said. Take your time and read it again with post 4 as well

 

[Aaron56]

 

[ResidentAlien]

No where close to what I said. Take your time and read it again with post 4 as well

I understood what you said, but it follows logically that if Christ died to save all sinners, and our will plays no part, then all sinners will be saved by God's grace. Whether that's what you meant I don't know, but it can be taken that way.

 

[brightfame52]

I understood what you said, but it follows logically that if Christ died to save all sinners, and our will plays no part, then all sinners will be saved by God's grace. Whether that's what you meant I don't know, but it can be taken that way.

I mean Christ is a Saviour and not a potential one. Can I be more plainer than that ? Are you suggesting He is Saviour of them who eventually are lost in their sins ?

 

[brightfame52]

I understood what you said, but it follows logically that if Christ died to save all sinners, and our will plays no part, then all sinners will be saved by God's grace. Whether that's what you meant I don't know, but it can be taken that way.

A saviour, a rescuer, saves and rescues by what he does, that is why he is called a saviour, or a rescuer.

 

[brightfame52]

Notice that Christ as risen Saviour gives two blessings in our text Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Christ gives repentance, its a Saviorhood blessing. Its the word metanoia:

a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done

As Saviour those Christ saves, He gives, furnishes endues them with repentance, a change of mind He gives them repentance towards God Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Genuine repentance towards God is solely in the hands of Christ to give, and so true Gospel Ministers Preach it in His Name Lk 24:47

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

An unrepentant sinner [final impenitent] can't possibly have Christ as their Saviour or something went wrong, and would contradict Christs Office as Prince and Saviour

 

[brightfame52]

Again they whom Christ is a Saviour to He gives them with repentance also the remission or forgiveness of sins Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Which is also Salvation. The knowledge of it is Lk 1:77

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

 

[JohnRH]

In mans religion, though they speak of Christ as the Saviour, they really mean that Hes merely a potential Saviour and that Salvation ultimately rests in the decision or will of the sinner. In other words, its up to the sinner to make Christ a Saviour unto them.

This fallacious reasoning is error and dishonors Christ as the Saviour of His People. for its written that He shall save His People from their sins Matt 1:21, not potentially save them !

When Christ died and afterwards rose from the dead, and ascended to the Right Hand of God, He ascended as a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5:31

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

The word Saviour means: a savior, deliverer, preserver. None of these denote possibilities, maybes, or potentially, but actuality, He actually ascended as a Saviour, deliverer, a preserver.

Some may appeal to 1 Tim 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.


Now does this verse state that Christ is a potential Saviour to all men ? No it doesn't, but it says God is Saviour of all men, especially of those [men] who believe!

Many pervert this scripture so it would be saying that God is a potential Saviour to all men, but an actual Saviour to them that believe. See God cant be technically a Saviour to the unsaved, for thats a contradiction, He is their God in Judgment, but not as a Saviour.

So what does the word specially mean in this verse and how can it be understood without contradicting the fact that God is a actual Saviour and not merely a Saviour, or a Saviour unto unsaved men?

Its the greek word malista

:especially, chiefly, most of all, above all primary adverb μάλα mála (very); (adverbially) most (in the greatest degree) or particularly:—chiefly, most of all, (e-)specially.

So its a word Paul uses here to denote and clarify who particularly God in Christ is a Saviour to, not all men without exception, but particularly of they which are believers. I fact this verse should dispel the faulty idea of God being the Saviour of unbelievers. Sure even the saved are unbelievers naturally, however they shall be brought to Faith, because the promise is, the Just/justified shall live by Faith Rom 1:17

Folks Christ rose and ascended as a Prince and a Saviour, not a potential Saviour!

If a life guard dives into a pool to save a drowning man, and the man resists him and drowns; he's still the man's lifeguard.

If some guy named Trump wins the election in 2016 and a bunch of U.S. brats say "he's not my President" - he's still their President.

Christ is the unbeliever's Savior. When an unbeliever dies and goes to hell, He's still their Savior; their Savior who they rejected. Just because He didn't save them and they will never be saved, doesn't mean He's not their Savior.

 

[brightfame52]

If a life guard dives into a pool to save a drowning man, and the man resists him and drowns; he's still the man's lifeguard.

Not talking about a lifeguard. But wonder if the man has drowned will a lifeguard save him from death ? Jesus is a Saviour of the dead Rom 5:15

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

That illustration of yours is lame

 

[brightfame52]

Rom 8:33-34

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

One of Christs ministries as Saviour at the right hand of God the Father is making intercession, which doeth consist of exhibiting the merits of His Blood on behalf of Gods elect, His Church, whom He Loved and gave Himself for Eph 5:25 His intercession is an integral part of His Saving to the uttermost all for whom He died Heb 7:25. For it [His intercession] secures every needed spiritual blessing needful for all whom He died and intercedes for to be spiritually converted to God. Christs intercession ensures that that the merits of His saving death/blood are applied, made effectual for all for whom He died ! Thats what He being a Saviour is all about !

 

[rewriter]

Are you saying everyone gets saved in the end. If our will has nothing to do with it, and Christ died for all, wouldn't that mean all will be saved?

You have touched on one of the very difficult issues in Christian theology. We are saved by Grace, all God's doings no human acts required, but we must accept it, oops, a human act, now how to reconcile.

 

[ResidentAlien]

You have touched on one of the very difficult issues in Christian theology. We are saved by Grace, all God's doings no human acts required, but we must accept it, oops, a human act, now how to reconcile.

It's not difficult; people make it difficult.

If it's all up to God, then it would be pointless to have a judgment. If God decides who's in and who's out with no decision making at all on our part, then 99% of the New Testament makes no sense. If we're too depraved to even make our own decision whether to follow Christ or not, then the only ones who can be saved are those God blesses with saving faith; that makes us all robots. God will help us have faith, but ultimately the decision is ours, we're not robots.

I'm no theologian, I just have common sense.

 

[rewriter]

It's not difficult; people make it difficult.

If it's all up to God, then it would be pointless to have a judgment. If God decides who's in and who's out with no decision making at all on our part, then 99% of the New Testament makes no sense. If we're too depraved to even make our own decision whether to follow Christ or not, then the only ones who can be saved are those God blesses with saving faith; that makes us all robots. God will help us have faith, but ultimately the decision is ours, we're not robots.

I'm no theologian, I just have common sense.

So you argue that human action is needed in addition to God's grace, fine with me.

 

[brightfame52]

In conjunction with Christ being a Saviour of sinners, its written and testified by the Apostle Paul that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners , not to potentially save them 1 Tim 1:15

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

See that's what a Saviour of sinners does, Saves them from sin !