Salvation is Not for Everyone?

Question

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Compare: Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15

Salvation is Not for Everyone?
It is no surprise that Jesus’ apostles didn’t understand what he was talking about when he delivered his parable about the seeds and the sower. It appears to be metaphorical, so the meaning isn’t immediately obvious or intuitive to everyone hearing it. Naturally, they ask him about it.

Stranger than even the parable is Jesus' response here, which is that the parable is supposed to be a mystery and that most people aren’t supposed to understand it.

This is one of the most controversial passages in the entire New Testament. The apostles will be given the keys to interpretation, apparently, but not everyone else. Why? Because if they did understand it then “at any time” they might be converted and “their sins” would be forgiven.

Please, do go back and read over that paragraph again, because it’s very important that you fully understand the significance of this. According to orthodox Christian theology, Jesus’ entire purpose was to save people from their sins, but here we find him saying that he didn’t want that to happen as a consequence of his preaching. Isn’t that contradictory? Doesn’t it contradict Jesus’ specially forgiving of people’s sins? Perhaps. Although just three verses long, this passage has important issues that need to be addressed.

Source:
http://atheism.about.com/od/biblegospelofmark/a/mark04b.htm

Answer 1

A view held in many eastern religions is the Truth protects itself from the unwise. The truth can not be taught to anyone it must be found by the person searching for it. Only by thinking and finding Truth for yourself can it truly be understood and lived up to.

Answer 2

As you may or may not know, the part of the passage you quoted that causes the controversy is actually a quote in itself from the book of Isaiah, 6:9, 10. This is where Isaiah is being instructed by God what to go and say to people. This was done so that God's plan could be fulfilled, that the people would be decimated until only a small remnant remained, and from that remnant, a "holy seed" and "stump" would flourish a new life.

The same is true of what Jesus was teaching. He was speaking especially of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Jewish leaders, who were truly seeing but not perceiving, hearing and not understanding. This had to be so in order for the prophecy of Jesus' death to be fulfilled. They had to be spiritually blind in order to kill the Messiah. Their hearts were hardened of their own accord, and Jesus spoke in parables so that they would hear the words but not be convinced by them. They would then act in accordance with their ignorance and crucify Jesus. If they understood the truth and turned, then they would not kill Jesus and there would be no forgiveness of sin.

Just as God hardened the heart of Pharoh so that He could show Himself to the Israelites, so did Jesus speak in parables so that those who did not want to believe in Him would not, and would go on to kill Him so that all else may have forgiveness.

The same is true today. Some will look at the parables of Jesus and not want to understand them, and therefore they will not. This is not because Jesus does not want them to be saved, but rather because they themselves do not wish to admit they have anything to be saved from, or that they cannot of their own accord save themselves.

Answer 3

My father uses that passage to justify his hegemony over everyone else in his family - which sickens me.

Look at the people in this forum who refuse to believe in Christ - they have eyes and don't believe and they have hears and don't listen and they surely don't understand. They continue to live in sin BUT should they decide to change their heart and convert - all of those sins will be forgiven.

The story of St. Moses the Egyptian is a fine story of such repentance. St. Moses was a criminal but one monk's kindness caused St. Moses to change his ways. He worried about his sins, but every day he remained a Christian - Jesus himself erased all the sins St. Moses committed.

Answer 4

There is no contradiction. You are lacking information. Keep studying. The answer is there. The fact is that salvation is a gift presented to everyone. The fact is that not everyone will accept the gift. Jesus understood this. Do you?

Answer 5

That is not all, in the last days, God will send strong delusion to those who do not know.

I believe this strong delusion is a kind of protection, for if the weak come to know, and receive, that they in there weakness blaspheme the holy spirit, and be condemned out of hand!

Answer 6

The apostles were given the revelation first. Salvation is for everyone. It was the purpose of the apostles to teach the message after pentecost when the church was formed. You are comparing pre-calvary teaching for the apostles to post-calvary teaching for the world.

Answer 7

Atheism would account for the not being able to see, perceive, or understand. (Nothing personal...)

Salvation is for those who will accept it. Those who won't will never understand the ramifications of parables because they've already chosen not to "see" what's right in front of them.

Hope this helps...

Answer 8

Paul Harvey says:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue
somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I
don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a
lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory
of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be
endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer
before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there
Reading the entire book of Acts. They're just ta lking to a
God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the
Players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country
Founded on Christian principles. According to our very
own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others
Better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody
Chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.


If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.


And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome .

But what about the atheists? is another argument.

What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to
pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If
that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear
plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand.
Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or
two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.
I don't think a short prayer at a football game is
going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians ar e just sick and tired of turning the other
cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our
parents and grandparents taught us to pray before
eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us
to cease praying.

God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you,
well .. just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long.. It's time we
let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard
that the vast majority don't care what they want. It
is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't
have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance;
you don't have to believe in God or attend services that
honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your
right.. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our
rights away. We are fighting back . ..
and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all ... especially those who denounce
Him. God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still
the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect
our right to pray and worship God.


May 2006 be the year the silent majority is heard
and we put God back as the foundation of our
families and institutions.

Keep looking up.