What Does It Mean That God Desires All People To Be Saved?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
772
302
63
If by the "poster" you mean me, I am saying that the teaching of Christian doctrine is to go out to all Christians wherever they may be,
not just Ephesus.
No, it was to forest.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
772
302
63
Because there are a multitude of doctrines that need to be taught to those saved for them to obtain knowledge of them, and as Christians, as much as possible, to conform to them. The Bible is full of them. Many of the unsaved who read them mistakenly interpret them as being requirements for salvation or to remain saved.
At some point, those saved, have to be taught what is expected of them. They will take it to heart and do their best to conform to them, yet none will do so perfectly, but will know they came from God, and their salvation was/is not dependent upon it. The unsaved on the other hand, will think them folly, or not understand them, or not take them to heart. But to the degree they might try to follow them, it will be because they believe it will somehow assist in becoming or remaining saved.
Hope that makes sense.

[1Co 2:13-14 KJV]
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
This is the topic at hand. Not spiritual maturity. If you're up for it , break this down and show me my error please.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

What's the context? Paul was explaining that human wisdom and intellect could never figure out the MYSTERY of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No amount of pondering, reasoning or debating from the human mind/natural man would ever figure out Gods mystery plan of His Gospel. It had to be REVEALED. God had to wait until "it was finished" to reveal it to mankind. Why?

1 Cor 2:8~…which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The natural man could not muster up enough intellectual prowess to see this mystery. So when "it was finished" the Spirit REVEALED the MYSTERY.
1 Cor 2:10~~ these are the things God has revealed to us(Paul and the apostles Eph 3:1-9) by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Now the mystery is revealed. So ALL can see.

Luke 3:6
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

John 3:16
Acts 16:31
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,218
6,610
113
62
Hey, to be fair... you didn't qualify that you were talking about spiritual hearing...
I'm all for fairness. I just thought you were being funny. But also to be fair, I was responding to a quote from scripture so I was assuming spirituality.
 

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
447
83
I'm all for fairness. I just thought you were being funny. But also to be fair, I was responding to a quote from scripture so I was assuming spirituality.
I was trying to be funny... but let's let it go and let the thread resume. :)
 

BillyBob

Active member
Dec 20, 2023
404
173
43
Texas
Fallen man does not have the ability to turn to Christ. His whole heart is evil and he has no desire to change. His heart is deceitful and he is totally happy as he is.

It is only by receiving a new heart that his desire begins to change, and that is an act of God, a gift given only to some, not a work of man. However, “hearing God's word proclaimed” is the event that is used to both to begin and end the process of salvation.
 
Apr 27, 2023
538
39
28
Fallen man does not have the ability to turn to Christ. His whole heart is evil and he has no desire to change. His heart is deceitful and he is totally happy as he is.

It is only by receiving a new heart that his desire begins to change, and that is an act of God, a gift given only to some, not a work of man. However, “hearing God's word proclaimed” is the event that is used to both to begin and end the process of salvation.
Salvation through faith. Being someone saved through is called a gift, rather faith. Faith is not the referent. But rather, For by grace are ye saved through faith is.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
772
302
63
Fallen man does not have the ability to turn to Christ. His whole heart is evil and he has no desire to change. His heart is deceitful and he is totally happy as he is.

It is only by receiving a new heart that his desire begins to change, and that is an act of God, a gift given only to some, not a work of man. However, “hearing God's word proclaimed” is the event that is used to both to begin and end the process of salvation.
I think we should be exact in His Gospel message. It's believe/trust in Christ alone. "turning" would be a work.

I have a hard time believing that the ONLY thing in this world that we can't believe in is .........His Gospel. And that is according to some believers.

Why would God allow us to believe in anything we want....... except His Good News to us?!?! Don't you dare!

We are supposed to be witnesses for His Grace. Not antagonistic to it.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,474
455
83
It [Trusting Christ for mercy] requires mental and spiritual effort (work) if we are the ones who have to provide/produce it.
No, it doesn't. Does seeing take effort? Does it take effort to let go of a heavy weight? Not everything we do (PoieO) is putting in effort (ergazO).
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,474
455
83
Forgive me if I misunderstand this line of questions... I do like what you're asking.
Perhaps there's a difference in what people believe "the Gospel" is? It seems that some here believe that it contains many nuances of particular doctrines that need to be fully understood...
There are many Christian gnostic sects, who require Jesus followers to have downloaded a smorgasbord of tenets they call "knowledge" before they are recognised as truly saved.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,673
571
113
Ergon (Work) means an act that requires effort. Faith is not a work because believing does not require effort. It is not an effort to grasp for to get something nor an effort expended to cling onto to keep something, but a surrendering to trust someone, which surrender saves us. Works that require effort follow this letting go, but do not save us. It is the letting go that saves us.
No. For faith to be alive and a saving faith, it must also have works within it to give it life, otherwise, it is a dead faith having only belief. The works that made faith alive were Christ's works. His works are a part of His faith; also, a part of His faith, is His righteousness. When His faith is imputed to someone, with His faith, His works and His righteousness are also imputed. That faith is given to someone as the free gift of faith through the fruit of the Holy Spirit, when made saved/born again. To receive and to have that faith is alone what saves us.

[Jas 2:17 KJV] 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

[Phl 3:9 KJV] 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

[Rom 3:22 KJV] 22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

[Mat 11:2 KJV] 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,474
455
83
No. For faith to be alive and a saving faith, it must also have works within it to give it life, otherwise, it is a dead faith having only belief. The works that made faith alive were Christ's works. His works are a part of His faith; also, a part of His faith, is His righteousness. When His faith is imputed to someone, with His faith, His works and His righteousness are also imputed. That faith is given to someone as the free gift of faith through the fruit of the Holy Spirit, when made saved/born again. To receive and to have that faith is alone what saves us.

[Jas 2:17 KJV] 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

[Phl 3:9 KJV] 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

[Rom 3:22 KJV] 22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

[Mat 11:2 KJV] 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
These efforts come after effortless believing. We work (put in efforts) after our salvation by grace through effortless faith. If we do not put any effort into following Jesus after believing, our faith is not really in Jesus, but is dead.

[Phl 3:9 KJV] 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by [our] faith:

[Rom 3:22 KJV] 22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faithfulness of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe [in Christ]: for there is no difference:

The works of Christ were the works Jesus was doing. Why are you citing Mt. 11:2
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
3,673
571
113
These efforts come after effortless believing. We work (put in efforts) after our salvation by grace through effortless faith. If we do not put any effort into following Jesus after believing, our faith is not really in Jesus, but is dead.
No. The works come with the faith and they are Christ's works. Our faith is effortless only because His faith is given to us as a gift.
Notice that the verse in James says " faith hath not works it is dead"; that is, when Christ's faith is received as a gift, it has His works as part of it.
It is from His faith that we believe. Receiving faith comes first, from/by that, we believe in Him.
I cite Mt 11:2 to show that during His ministry, Christ produced works that gave life to His faith. John realized that was what he was being told.

[Gal 2:16 KJV] 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
 

selahsays

Well-known member
May 31, 2023
2,796
1,484
113
No. For faith to be alive and a saving faith, it must also have works within it to give it life, otherwise, it is a dead faith having only belief. The works that made faith alive were Christ's works. His works are a part of His faith; also, a part of His faith, is His righteousness. When His faith is imputed to someone, with His faith, His works and His righteousness are also imputed. That faith is given to someone as the free gift of faith through the fruit of the Holy Spirit, when made saved/born again. To receive and to have that faith is alone what saves us.

[Jas 2:17 KJV] 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

[Phl 3:9 KJV] 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

[Rom 3:22 KJV] 22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

[Mat 11:2 KJV] 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
I agree in the excerpt below where Spurgeon says regarding Abraham:

“ “He believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness.” Surely, brethren, if Abram, after years of holy living, is not justified by his works, but is accepted before God on account of his faith, much more must this be the case with the ungodly sinner who, having lived in unrighteousness, yet believeth on Jesus and is saved. If there be salvation for the dying thief, and others like him, it cannot be of debt, but of grace, seeing they have no good works. If Abram, when full of good works, is not justified by them, but by his faith, how much more we, being full of imperfections, must come unto the throne of the heavenly grace and ask that we may be justified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, and saved by the free mercy of God!
 
Apr 27, 2023
538
39
28
There are many Christian gnostic sects, who require Jesus followers to have downloaded a smorgasbord of tenets they call "knowledge" before they are recognised as truly saved.
How are these sects different from Christianity which only requires you to believe? :)
 

montana123

Well-known member
Oct 9, 2021
856
286
63
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1Ti 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.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

It is obvious God wants all people to be saved so He did not choose who will be saved, and not saved in the beginning without their choice in the matter.

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Luk 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation.

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,.

God calls things that have not happened yet as though they already happened for if it is a plan of God to happen in the future it is the same as if it happened in the beginning, for it will surely come to pass with no hindrance.

Predestination means that God already had the plan to give mankind salvation before He started creation, so it is the same as the saints having salvation in the beginning, but this salvation is to whoever wants this salvation for He wants all people to be saved.

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There is warnings to the saints to do what is right acting Christlike or they will miss out on salvation so God did not choose people in the beginning that have no choice and cannot fall.

Which they cannot fall if they are led of the Spirit, but they are not saved if they say they have faith, and cannot fall, but hold on to sin.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Joh 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

God's kingdom is true love so we have to have a choice in our salvation or else it is not true love.

Many are called but few are chosen which God will call a person according to their heart condition, and will work with them to get them to the truth.

But when the person gets to the door of truth they have to decide to go through it because God's kingdom is true love, but they would of not got to the door of truth unless God intervened in their life.

We have a choice in our salvation and God wants all people to be saved.

So why do people want to believe OSAS.

Some might be on the level but some want to believe that because it is a no pressure lifestyle for they cannot fall, and they can be lazy if they want not laboring for the kingdom that much and it does not affect their salvation, and they can enjoy sin and not fall.

God wants all people to be saved so they are interpreting scriptures the wrong way, and they want to hear it that way.
 
Mar 9, 2023
97
60
18
Perth, Western Australia
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. I gave other Scriptures to show
they are more than interrelated.
“And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart.” It is
more than a feeling. In Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Royal Publishers Edition, 1975)
the Hebrew word for purposed (“siym” 7760) can also mean commit (“for Daniel committed in his heart”).
The mind, will, and conscience are just as involved. i.e.,
“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the
first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were
heard, and I have come in response to them."
Daniel purposed (an act of the will) to understand (mind)
and to humble himself before God (his love for God)... all showing what was in his heart. As to speaking
every emotion, I am not sure why you say that. The mind is often perplexed by emotions, and they can
not always be spoken for any number of reasons, regardless of one's desire to do so.
 
Mar 9, 2023
97
60
18
Perth, Western Australia
I just want to say I have followed this subject right through and wish to congratulate you Magenta on the way you have consistently replied/answered. You have been polite, your assessments sound and all have contained well chosen Scriptures. I find it near impossible to add any more to what you have written. Well done, God bless you.
 

Sipsey

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2018
1,481
695
113
I find most of Christianity is full of Gnosticism and experiences.
If you equate Christianity as a synonym for “Religion,” your statement has merit; However, if you refer to the Gospel as being full of Gnosticism, we will disagree. Remember, it was the religious elite of the day, that insisted Jesus was the apostate and should die. A bunch of “do’s & don’ts” is a qualifier for many religions, I see and experience a vast difference between knowing Jesus as Saviour, and knowing about Jesus.