SavedByGrace
Well-Known Member
27 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28. Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” 29. And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26)
It is very clear from Paul’s own words, that, when Agrippa exclaimed that Paul was trying to persuade him to become a believer; that Paul responds by saying, that he did not only desire that the King was saved, but ALL who heard him preach the Gospel Message, were saved like him, except for his imprisonment! Any person who reads this with an honest, open mind, will clearly see from Paul’s words, that the Lord is very much concerned for the salvation of every human being, otherwise Paul here speaks that which is no true.
Not only here, but, in Romans 10:1, Paul’s prayer is for the salvation of the whole Jewish nation:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”
If, as some teach, that Jesus died only for the sins of an “elect” few, then it would be another error in Paul’s theology, to pray in such a way! This is not just wishful thinking, but declares the very heart of the God of the Bible!
In the next chapter of Romans, where Paul is speaking of the Jews and Gentiles, which is basically saying, all human beings, that he says:
“30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
The Greek is very clear here, in both places, where we have “ALL”, it is written, “tous pantas”, literally “the all”, which is here for the entire human race. ALL the world are “concluded” (sugkleiō), to be, by the Lord, “disobedient” sinners. Yet, God is able to show mercy to those who will “repent and believe”. “might have mercy”, is “eleese”, is in the “subjunctive” mood, which is “conditional”. This does not teach that God WILL have mercy on the entire human race, but that He MIGHT. These passages show that the Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His shedding His blood on the cross, was for the whole human race, and NOT for any “elect” few, which is a grave error taught by some. This is NOT “universal salvation”, which is another grave error, but, the “universal provision” in the death of Jesus Christ, for the human race, which is only applied to those who “repent and believe”, as the Lord Himself taught in Mark 1:15.
It is very clear from Paul’s own words, that, when Agrippa exclaimed that Paul was trying to persuade him to become a believer; that Paul responds by saying, that he did not only desire that the King was saved, but ALL who heard him preach the Gospel Message, were saved like him, except for his imprisonment! Any person who reads this with an honest, open mind, will clearly see from Paul’s words, that the Lord is very much concerned for the salvation of every human being, otherwise Paul here speaks that which is no true.
Not only here, but, in Romans 10:1, Paul’s prayer is for the salvation of the whole Jewish nation:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”
If, as some teach, that Jesus died only for the sins of an “elect” few, then it would be another error in Paul’s theology, to pray in such a way! This is not just wishful thinking, but declares the very heart of the God of the Bible!
In the next chapter of Romans, where Paul is speaking of the Jews and Gentiles, which is basically saying, all human beings, that he says:
“30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
The Greek is very clear here, in both places, where we have “ALL”, it is written, “tous pantas”, literally “the all”, which is here for the entire human race. ALL the world are “concluded” (sugkleiō), to be, by the Lord, “disobedient” sinners. Yet, God is able to show mercy to those who will “repent and believe”. “might have mercy”, is “eleese”, is in the “subjunctive” mood, which is “conditional”. This does not teach that God WILL have mercy on the entire human race, but that He MIGHT. These passages show that the Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His shedding His blood on the cross, was for the whole human race, and NOT for any “elect” few, which is a grave error taught by some. This is NOT “universal salvation”, which is another grave error, but, the “universal provision” in the death of Jesus Christ, for the human race, which is only applied to those who “repent and believe”, as the Lord Himself taught in Mark 1:15.