“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.” 2 Peter 3:9
There are those who believe that Christ did NOT die on Calvary for all men, that they should be saved. There are several reasons for this, one being the limited vision that man has of the power of God to save. The second is faithlessness, that inability to believe God to do and accomplish that which He has promised. And then there is man’s refusal to look simply, and honestly into the word of God, and to see what it truly says. To begin to have a true perspective of the salvation of Christ, and to understand in a small way, the enormity of it, one must begin and end with Christ Himself, not with fallen man. There is but one foundation which has been laid by God in Christ for the salvation of men, and it is Christ Himself and no other.
There is another remarkable reason that man does not believe that Christ died for all men, that they should be saved, and it has to do with the motive, and means by which God reaches to man. This Creator and Redeemer, is the One who, in one sense rises every morning, and continues calling “all day long,” even into the night, to awaken the sinner to his plight. This is the One whose will and purpose is to sow in the morning and the evening, that the seed of the Word of God will fall on receptive, good ground, faith be given to be saved. This is the One who so loved that which was unlovely, and in rebellion against Himself, that He gave that which was most precious to Him, His Son, that sin might be atoned for, forgiven, and the Spirit of the new birth be given, so that man could live eternally. This is the One who in Christ has made the believer complete in Him, not withholding anything good and precious gift that pertains to life and godliness. This is the One who, in not sparing His only begotten Son, in Him gives all good things. The problem with understanding the universality of the salvation of all men, although only the individual who repents and truly believes in Christ alone as their Savior will be saved, is that sinful man, in his ideas, limitations, and sinfulness, rejects constantly the love of God.
This world was not made to be a Hell, nor was mankind made to be lost. And certainly man was not made to live a dishonorable, unprofitable, and useless life on this earth. His supreme purpose was to show forth the glory of God, the excellency of the nature and character of God in Christ by the Spirit. God would make him a temple in which His presence would dwell, and show forth both the knowledge of the life of Christ, but also, in doing so, would reveal to mankind, and to every creature, both visible or invisible, principality and power, or authorities on the earth, that He alone is God, sovereign, supreme, and able and willing to save.
One of the greatest proofs in Scripture that God wills to save all, that “…none should perish,” is seen in His constant appeal for man to respond to Him. Christ’s eternal words to the weary soul were, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” To the sinner, or nation, having turned from God and the blessedness of fellowship and communion with Him, His constant appeal was: “Return unto Me.” In other passages we discover Him saying, “Whosoever will, may come,” and “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me.” Even among the last verses of the Bible, John the Apostle writes: “And let him that is athirst come. And Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The perpetual appeal by God is for man to repent, for Christ has tasted death for every man.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.