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God Wants Everyone To Be Saved

GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO BE SAVED

By George W. Sinquefield

1 Timothy 2:1 through 1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV)
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

        How do we know that God would have all men to be saved?

I.   We Know From The Bible, God's Word.

        The following scriptures prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wants all people to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
9The 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.

Romans 5:8 (KJV)
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:32 (KJV)
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

        Jesus died for all. He came to be the world's Savior.

John 4:39 through John 4:42 (KJV)
39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

1 John 4:14 (KJV) 14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

1 Timothy 2:5 through 1 Timothy 2:6 (KJV)
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

        Now notice how the Living Bible puts it;"This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He longs for all to be saved and understand this truth. That God is on one side and all the people on the other side and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together by giving his life for all mankind."

Romans 5:6 (KJV)
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

2 Corinthians 5:14 through 2 Corinthians 5:15 (KJV)
14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

1 Corinthians 5:9 through 1 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

1 John 2:2 (KJV)
2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

        Propitiation means that the penalty for our sins has been paid. It was paid by the death of Jesus on the cross. That is what the Bible means when it tells us that we are saved by the blood of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:18 through 1 Peter 1:19 (KJV)
18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

        What are we to do to help reach the lost for our Lord?

        1. We are to preach the gospel.

Mark 16:15 (KJV)
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

        Hardshelled Baptists say God predestined that some be saved and some be lost. If that is so, why did our Lord command us to preach the gospel to every creature? The gospel means "good news."

1 Corinthians 15:1 through 1 Corinthians 15:4 (KJV)
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

        I am reminded of a story from another generation about when the Duke of Wellington attended a lecture where and articulate theologian was denouncing missions. he contended that missions were an economic drain on the churches. Missionaries often caused chaos and strife as primitive native cultures submitted to the changes brought by the gospel. He concluded that it would be better to allow them to continue in their unconverted ways.

        After a few minutes the Duke asked, "What were the final orders our Master left?" "Well," stammered the speaker, "He said to go into all the world and make disciples." "That's the way I've always understood it," came the Duke's reply. "I'm no theologian. I'm a soldier, and as a soldier I know that my first duty is to carry out my commander's orders. When my commander gives me marching orders, I march. All I can say to you, sir, is look to your marching orders!"

Romans 1:14 through Romans 1:16 (KJV)
14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

        The gospel does work. You may be only four feet five inches tall, not weigh a hundred pounds sopping wet, have no credentials; you may be embarrassed about what you don't have or did have or any number of other things. It really doesn't matter what all your list of gripes and complaints is. If you will get under the spout where God's glory is being poured out and use the gospel and get it our, you will see that the gospel does work. It is through the preaching of the gospel that the Holy Spirit draws men and women, boys and girls to Jesus.

John 12:32 (KJV)
32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

II.   We Are To Pray For The Lost.

1 Timothy 2:1 (KJV)
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

        One pastor said, "Many a person, I believe, has been saved because someone prayed. Also I think, surely, that many a person is in hell tonight because no one cared enough to pray for their soul."

        Tom Carter was a prisoner. he was sent to prison for many years. While he was in prison, his mother, who had prayed for him all of his life, got a very special burden to pray that God would save him. So, she set aside some things, and began to pray for her lost boy who was in prison. She prayed that God would not let him die until he was genuinely saved. In the midst of these four or five days of praying, fasting, waiting on God, and travailing for the soul of her son, she got a telegram from the state prison. It read like this: "Dear Mrs. Carter: We regret to inform you that your son, Tom Carter, died."

        She took the telegram, went back to her knees again, laid it on the floor and bathed it with her tears. She said, "God, I don't believe it. I have prayed, in faith believing. I have held my boy up to You begging You to save him. I have had the confidence in my soul that my prayers were being answered. I don't believe this telegram." It is said that Mrs. Carter wadded up that telegram, and threw it in the waste basket. She said to God, "I still claim your promises. I believe that my boy will be saved."

        It was only a matter of hours until the second telegram came from the state prison. It said, "Dear Mrs. Carter: We are happy to inform you that we have made an error. There are two men in this prison by the name of Tom Carter. It was not your boy who died; it was another man who died." That telegram was followed in a few hours, by a letter from Tom Carter saying, "Mother, while here in this prison, in recent days I have felt the need of Christ in my life and I have been saved."

James 5:16 (KJV)
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Romans 9:1 through Romans 9:3 (KJV) 1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

III.   We Are To Share Our Testimony With The Lost.

        We are to tell others what Christ has done for us and what he'll do for all who accept him as Lord and Savior.

        Jesus had cast the devil out of a man who lived among the tombs. He was wild and the Bible says that "No man could tame him." He wanted to go with Jesus but notice what Jesus told him.

Mark 5:18 through Mark 5:20 (KJV)
18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

        Many Samaritans from the village had believed in Jesus because the woman had said, He told me everything I ever did. We are all missionaries. We can all preach the gospel.

John 4:39 through John 4:42 (KJV)
39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

IV.   We Are To Support The Lord's Work Here And Around The World.

        It takes money and a lot of money to carry on the Lord's work. As one has said, "Missions wait on money, the gospel waits on gold." Now God has given his people his plan to finance his work. His people are to tithe their income, give a tenth of their income to the support his work.

Leviticus 27:30 (KJV)
30And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.

        To fail to tithe our income is to sin against God.

Malachi 3:8 through Malachi 3:10 (KJV)
8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

        There is an old prayer used by fishermen on the coast of France, "God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small." Our gifts to missions seems so small but all churches together adds up.

        In our Southern Baptist churches we have a program known as the Cooperative Program through which each church can support missions around the world. By working together we can do what individual churches could never do. We now have 5,545 missionaries fully supported through the Cooperative Program serving among 1,497 people groups worldwide.

        The news that one had come to redeem a lost world was, indeed, the best news this world has ever heard or ever will hear. No doubt we have all heard of Brother Bryan of Birmingham, Alabama. he served for more than half a century to all classes of people. He was pastor at large. In his last illness, the people thronged to see him who they loved. His preacher son, who came home to be with his father, herd him say over and over again, with voice slightly above a whisper; "So many people, so many people." The son thought that the coming of so many people was a weariness to his aged father. He suggested; "Father, we will ask them not to come in. They will understand." To this the aged father replied; "Oh, my son, you don't understand. So many people without Christ."

        We are reaching and winning to Christ many of these lost souls. God help us to continue preaching his wonderful gospel (Good News) all over the world.

V.   We Know God Wants All Men, All People, To Be Saved Because He Has Made The Way To Be Saved Simple And In The Reach Of All.

        What does one have to do in order to be saved? What does the Bible teach?

Acts 16:30 through Acts 16:31 (KJV)
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

        One must believe on the Lord in order to be saved.

John 3:14 (KJV)
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 3:16 (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:18 (KJV)
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 (KJV)
36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 5:24 (KJV)
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:35 (KJV)
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:40 (KJV)
40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47 (KJV)
47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 20:31 (KJV)
31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

        In the gospel of John, we are told 99 times that we are saved by believing in Jesus. Now this believing is not mere mental assent. It is not just believing certain truths about Jesus. One can believe:

  1. Jesus is God's Son,

  2. That He was born of a virgin,

  3. That He lived a sinless life,

  4. That He performed many miracles,

  5. He died on the cross for man's redemption,

  6. That He was buried,

  7. That He overcame death and the grave,

  8. That He ascended back to the Father,

  9. That He is seated at the Father's right hand making intercession for his people,

  10. That He is coming again to receive his people.

        These are great Biblical truths but one can believe every one of them and still not believe with that kind of believing which saves the soul.

        Someone wrote, "Sunday after Sunday in both Catholic and Protestant places of worship thousands of people keep chanting the words, "I believe" who no more really know what it is to believe to the saving of their souls that a worm knows what it is to fly. They could not give any coherent account either of what they believe or why they believe it. Yet these people pass as Christians and actually think within themselves that they are Christians. Their so called believing is simply the unreasoning assumption of certain truths which they vaguely take for granted, and in which they have been brought up from their infancy. It is not really Christian faith at all, but a dreamy credulity which neither saves the soul nor vitally effects the character."

        J. Sidow Baxter says, "Many persons will tell us that they believe in Jesus and yet they obviously do not trust him, obey him, love him, serve him, or in any way relate their life to him. It is a kind of believing merely with the upper part of the mind which leaves the heart itself undisturbed. If it were a real believing it would stir the heart and move the will and change the life."

        Dr. Torrey puts it thus: "To believe on a man means to put confidence in him or what he claims to be. To believe on a physician means to put confidence in him as a physician resulting in your placing your care in his hands. To believe in a teacher is to put your confidence in him as a teacher, and accept what he teaches. To believe in a banker means to put your confidence in him as a banker and put your money in his bank. And to believe on the Lord Jesus means to put your confidence in him as what He claims to be. It is to put confidence in him as your Sin Bearer; and your Deliverer for the power of sin; as your divinely infallible Teacher; as your Master who has a right to the entire control of your life; as your Guide, whom you will follow wherever He leads; and as your Divine Lord. The moment you thus put your confidence in Jesus Christ, that moment you are saved."

        Here is the best illustration I've ever heard to help us understand what it means to believe in Jesus. A man is in deep water and he cannot swim. He is in great danger of drowning. We throw him a life preserver and what does he do? He puts himself on it. He trusts it to save his life, to keep him from drowning. Now Jesus is our life preserver. We cast our poor lost soul upon him. We trust him to save us from drowning in sin and death.

        Some would tell us that there is more we must do besides believe. Do good works, be baptized, join the church, etc. The are one hundred percent wrong and I use only two verses of scripture to prove it.

John 6:47 (KJV)
47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

        Did Jesus tell us the truth when He made that statement? Jesus is God, the Son and God cannot lie.

Titus 1:2 (KJV)
2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Hebrews 6:18 (KJV)
18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

        To fail to believe what Jesus said is to make him (or the same as calling him) a liar.

1 John 5:10 (KJV)
10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Galatians 3:26 (KJV)
26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8 through Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

VI.   God's Invitation To The Lost Proves That He Wants All Men To Be Saved.

John 6:35 (KJV)
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 3:16 (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13 (KJV)
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Revelation 22:17 (KJV)
17And 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.

VII.   Why Are So Many People Lost If God Wants Everyone To Be Saved?

Matthew 7:13 through Matthew 7:14 (KJV)
13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

John 3:18 (KJV)
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 5:40 (KJV)
40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 8:24 (KJV)
24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

        Man is given freedom of choice. He can choose to believe Jesus and be saved or reject him and be lost. If he chooses to reject the Lord, he has no one to blame but himself. He must turn of his own free will and repent, accept Jesus as Savior or be lost forever. It is his choice.

        Before I close please permit me to call your attention to the word "many" in Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus said many are on the broad way that leads to destruction. Again in that same chapter, he tells us that many who think they are saved are not saved and will hear him say, "Depart from me." Look at these verses please:

Matthew 7:21 through Matthew 7:23 (KJV)
21Not 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. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

        You may ask, "How can I be saved and how can I know I'm saved?" You can be saved by praying, asking God to forgive your sin and ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you. Now if you are sincere, Jesus will save you and you can stand on his promises. We can know we are saved because he will keep his promise. He'll do his part if you will do yours. I urge you to do it now.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)