08/20/20 DLG FB NOTE... SAVIOR OF ALL MEN 4/15/09

08/20/20 DLG FB NOTE...
SAVIOR OF ALL MEN
4/15/09

SAVIOR OF ALL MEN…
1 Timothy 4:10
10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.

INTRODUCTION
If you believe that all pre-born, new born and infant children are covered by the atoning work of Christ, then you already believe it is possible for a person to be saved by the grace of God and then turn from grace. In this document I will support this position with other Scripture and show that Once in Grace does not not mean Always in Grace.

I. MY PREMISE
The Bible teaches that God saves everyone, but not all people go to heaven, because not all of them are saved when they die. The Bible teaches the universal provision of salvation, but it does not teach universalism. Every child has been saved by grace, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, and since everyone has chosen to sin against God, everyone has been in grace, but turned from grace. A saved relationship with God is lost when a person turns from God’s grace to sin. Everyone has been saved by grace and everyone has lost his salvation at least one time.

II. THE PASSAGE
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.

The passage uses the word “man,” as it relates to the human race, and not to the male gender.

III. FOUR PERSPECTIVES
A. UNBIBLICAL AND UNILATERAL SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
B. POTENTIAL SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
C. TEMPORAL SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
D. MERCIFUL AND JUST SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.

There is no truth in the first point, there is truth in the second and third points, but I believe the fullest explanation of the passage is found in the fourth point. If this is true, then all men have fallen from the grace of God at least one time.

A. UNBIBLICAL AND UNILATERAL SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
Some people believe this confirms the false doctrine of universalism, which says everyone will receive eternal life (salvation) at the end of this present age. According to this belief, no one will be lost to hell forever. In universalism, G(g)od supposedly saves all people, without them needing to confess, repent or have faith in Christ. Although there were a few people in the early church who believed that all people would ultimately be saved, it was never a serious doctrine in the Church. The Universalist doctrine of salvation is not based on the Bible, Christ, Judaism or Christianity. Universalism has nothing to do with eternal salvation or Biblical atonement.

Universalism arrives at its belief system concerning salvation through flawed logic and vain philosophy rather than through Biblical revelation.

B. POTENTIAL SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
One point of view says that God makes salvation available to everyone; God is potentially the Savior of all people but not actually the Savior of all people.

It is true that Jesus did die for the sins of the world and that He offers salvation to everyone, but Jesus does more than offer salvation to all men. This passage says clearly that God is the Savior of all men.

C. TEMPORAL SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
Another viewpoint is that God is the Savior of all men, in things temporal, such as preserving all men from famine or war or peril, but not in things eternal or spiritual.

Again, God does provide preserving grace, but this passage says God is the Savior of all men.

D. MERCIFUL AND JUST SAVIOR OF ALL MEN.
Basic Points
There are two basic points made in this portion of 1 Tm. 4:10. I will briefly mention them and then focus on the main area of concern.

“God is the Savior…”
Since the Scriptures constantly and consistently say that Jesus is the Savior, then there is no question that this passage says that Jesus is God. The idea that God is Savior is a recurrent theme throughout the Bible. (2 Sa. 22:3; Ps. 106:21; Is. 43:3, 45:21; Ho. 13:4; Lk. 1:47; 1 Tm. 1:11, 2:3; Tt. 1:3, 2:10, 3:4; Jd. 1:25).

“…of all men…”
All have sinned and all stand in need of a Savior. (Ec. 7:20; Ga. 3:22; 1 Jn. 1:10).

It is not the will of God that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (1 Tm. 2:4; 2 Pe. 3:9). There is only one way to God for all men (Jn. 14:6). There is only one name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Ac. 4:12).

God has provided for all men (people), whether Jew or Gentile, whether rich or poor, whether slave or free, whether male of female. No one is left out of God’s plan. He has provided for all to be saved. As the Scripture says, “Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Ac. 2:21, Ro. 10:13).

Now we come to the point of this document. While I do not believe that all people go to heaven, I do believe this passage means that “God is the Savior of all men,” not just provisionally or temporally, but spiritually and eternally.

Everyone Needs Salvation
How can it be that He is the Savior of all men? Since Adam passed his sinful nature to all of his descendants, even newborn children are in need of salvation. Is it not true that the only ones who are saved are those who believe in Christ? If this is true, then what happens to children who die before birth, and newborns and infant children? Are children lost eternally if they die before they come to faith in Christ? This passage says clearly, “We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men.”Is God actually the Savior of all men, throughout all of history?

What About The Children?
Most Christians, aside from the very narrow and misguided Five Point Calvinists, acknowledge that the grace of God saves pre-born, newborn and infant children from eternal separation from God. A large number of people who believe that we are “saved by grace through faith” also believe that children are part of the kingdom of heaven because God has included them in the atonement. We believe that a person must become as a little child in order to get saved.

Mark 10:13-15 (13) And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. (14) But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (15) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

As this passage points out, children have a special place in the kingdom of God. Luke included “infants” in his narrative.

Luke 18:15-17 (15) And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. (16) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (17) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

To say that children are excluded from the kingdom of God is to boldly contradict the words of Jesus. In fact, Jesus was “much displeased” (Greek word means “very indignant”) with the disciples for excluding the children from his service. Jesus then said that the kingdom of God includes these children.

The Bible clearly teaches that all humans (aside from Jesus, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit) are born with a spiritual flaw. The Bible says that we are in the image of our father Adam, who corrupted himself and the entire human family, when he sinned in the Garden. King David said, “Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Ps. 51:5). Being the eighth child of his mother and father’s union, it was obviously not a sin for his mother to conceive or give birth to David. All of Christianity believes that the whole human family is tainted with sin, from conception. Humans are sinful by nature, as well as sinful by actions. Children are therefore acceptable to God on the basis of grace, not by nature. While inherited sin makes all humans unacceptable to God, the blood of Christ has made all men acceptable. GOD IS THE SAVIOR OF ALL MEN…

The belief that all children are covered by the atonement of Christ has far reaching implications. If pre-born, newborn, infants and young children are saved from eternal torment, in spite of the fact that they are spiritually defiled and they have not met any of the Biblical conditions of salvation (confessing, repenting and believing), then they must be saved by grace. Remember, our verse says, “God is the Savior of all men.” Whatever this is, it is God’s salvation from sin and hell. God is referred to as “Savior.”

Every child who dies in this state of grace is saved. Every child who lives into adolescents will turn from God, by his own volition. Every child who turns from God must be born again in order to be saved from hell.

This explains why 1 Timothy 4:10 can be understood and accepted literally;

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.

Other Verses With Same Truth.
Just as it is true that all have sinned and that the wages of sin is death, it is also true that “God is the Savior of all men.” There are other verses which lead us to this position.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense 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.

In other words, the free gift of grace from God stands in stark contrast to the offense imposed by Adam. The free gift of grace is greater than the offense. Here are eight of the ways the gift of God is greater than the offense of Adam.

First, the offense is the result of Adam’s selfishness, whereas the free gift of grace is the result of God’s selflessness.
Second, Adam’s offense corrupted everyone against their will, whereas God’s free gift of grace imparts salvation to every victim of Adam’s sin and enables every willful sinner to choose salvation.
Third, Adam’s offense robbed the entire human race of the limited riches of Eden, whereas God’s free gift of grace of God has provided the unspeakable riches of eternal life in heaven.

The gift is greater than the offense and the gift was given to everyone. Salvation is a “free gift,” offered and bestowed by the grace of God.

Notice in this verse that the offense of Adam brought death to “many” and the free gift of grace through Christ also abounds to “many.” The “many” in both cases refers to the same group, and that group is the entire human race. God bestows His grace upon every person who comes into this world. Before you disagree with this statement, see Romans 5:18 below, where Paul says, “the free gift came upon all men.” God is the Savior of the many, which means, all men. Remember, John also said there is, “a light that lighteth every man who comes into the world.”

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification.

Fourth, the free gift of grace is not only adequate for the one offense of Adam, but it is adequate for the many offenses (all offenses) of all people throughout all of human history.
Fifth, the free gift of grace not only provides forgiveness for our sins, it provides justification and sanctification and redemption and glorification (1 Co. 1:30; Ro. 8:30).
Sixth, the free gift of grace not only restores every human being to newness of life and righteousness by making atonement for every child, it seeks, invites, enables and receives repeat offenders, after willful disobedience, and then raises them to a higher level than they had ever owned.
Seventh, the free gift of grace does not whitewash the sinful soul, but changes the sinful soul into a new creation, whereby old things are passed away and all things become new (2 Co. 5:17).
Eighth, the free gift of grace changes the heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezk. 11:19-21).

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Paul clearly says that the offense of one (Adam) brought judgment on ALL men and EVEN SO the free gift of One (Jesus) has come upon ALL men, unto JUSTIFICATION of life. The only way to be part of the kingdom of God is to experience the saving grace of God. Little children have received the free gift of grace to the justification of life.

Romans 5:20-21 (20) Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God’s saving grace is as wide and long and deep as sin’s stain. The extent of salvation is as great as the extent of sin. No one has come into this world without God extending His loving, saving grace to them, “For God so loved the world…” (Jn. 3:16). God has done everything that a loving, caring, saving God could do for a race that is lost in sin (Ro. 8:32). Salvation, as a free and unsought gift, has been given to everyone who was corrupted by sin.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

It is true that everyone will be raised from the dead, either to judgment or eternal life, based on their deeds and relationship with Jesus Christ. It is also true that God’s grace makes little children alive to God, as part of the kingdom of God.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

It is not only the “message of the grace of God,” but “the grace of God” that has appeared to all men. All children are born with a heart that is separated from God, but God graciously and lovingly justifies, imparts life, and draws all children to Himself. This is why Jesus said that we must become as little children.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus not only died for those who would accept Him, He died for everyone.

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

Jesus is the Atonement, Satisfaction, Sacrifice for all of the sins of all people of all times, not only provisionally, but actually.

Redemption, Not Exemption.
We must be careful at this point. If pre-born, newborn or young children escape the wrath of God it is because of God’s salvation, not because of their own worthiness. We err if we think that children are exempt from sin and judgment. Instead, they are delivered from judgment, by grace.

All men, racially speaking (other than Jesus), are conceived with a sinful nature and born with a natural propensity to sin. From the time of our conception we were carnal, because we were “shaped in iniquity” (Ps. 51:5). All children are prone to selfishness, deceit, carnal anger and a host of other sinful characteristics (Je. 17:9). They are not only born with these tendencies, they invariably yield to their carnal leanings and willfully do that which is unacceptable to God (Ro. 3:23). From early infancy we begin to do that which we know is disobedient to legitimate authority, both parental and Divine.

Remember, the Bible clearly teaches…
Each person will give an account and answer for his own sins (Ro. 2:2-15).
The son will not be judged for the sins of the father (Eze. 18:20).
Each one is judged for his own sins. No child dies and goes to hell because of the sin of Adam or the sins of anyone in a previous generation. God condemned men who practiced this kind of injustice in the Old Testament, therefore, God will not judge anyone unjustly.

The belief that the atonement covers children is found in the basic truths of salvation;
Christ came to take “away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).
He has made “propitiation for sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2).
He has included the children of the world (Lk. 18:16).
This is because God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pe. 3:9).

In contrast to Calvinism’s lack of mercy, and Universalism’s lack of justice, Biblical salvation is guided by God’s mercy and justice, and affords all pre-born, newborn and infant children salvation from eternal judgment and hell by the grace of God.

Let me briefly address the last part of 1 Timothy 4:10.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.

Everyone who reaches the age of accountability will commit sin, and sin separates everyone from God (Is. 59:2; Ep. 2:1, 5; Co. 2:13), and the wages of sin is death (Ro. 6:23). However, God does not leave the lost person without hope. If that person will trust Christ, and Christ alone for his salvation, God will save him from his sins. This is why Paul said, “God is Savior…especially of those that believe”.

REMEMBER…
EVERYONE HAS BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE,
EVERYONE HAS CHOSEN TO GO INTO SIN,
EVERYONE HAS FALLEN FROM THE GRACE OF GOD AT LEAST ONE TIME.

LIKEWISE, IF A PERSON BELIEVES ON CHRIST, AND THEN TURNS FROM GRACE, BACK TO SIN, THAT PERSON WILL LOSE THE SALVATION GOD HAS GIVEN HIM.
IF THAT PERSON REPENTS OF HIS BACKSLIDING AND RETURNS TO FAITH IN CHRIST, HE SHALL BE SAVED.

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.