Does this imply that all will be saved?

Question

I asked a question earlier that was poorly explained and ended up confusing most people, so here's my second shot at it:

Will the grace of God eventually lead to the salvation of all people? I ask this in light of reading 1st Timothy 4:9-11, which states, "The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. These are the things you must insist on and teach." (NRSV)

Note how Timothy says God is not Savior ONLY to those who believe, but instead says ESPECIALLY. The Greek word μαλιστα is used 12 times in the NT, and is translated as "especially" 11 out of 12 times (the exception: 2 Timothy 4:13). This is not a distortion of the word on part of the NRSV translators.

Doesn't this seem to clash with the idea that only believers can and will be saved? How can Christ be the savior of unbelievers if they aren't actually saved?

Beletje_vos AM:
From sin and hell. The word used here for savior is the same word used everywhere else to describe how Christ is our savior. Why is Christ our savior? Because His sacrifice heals our sins and reconciles us with the Father.

Now, this isn't to say that everyone will trust and follow Christ in this lifetime, but given an eternity to do so, I see no reason why those in Hell couldn't eventually come to repentance and be reconciled.

Blessed3...

Are the "gates of hell" shut for all eternity? Isn't punishment supposed to bring about reform? If punishment goes on forever and there is no chance to learn and change from said punishment, doesn't that reduce the pain inflicted to mere sadism?

Moreover, the Greek word often translated as "eternity" is also often translated as "age," as in a specified period of time that has an end (i.e. the bronze age), not how old someone is. Context determines which usage is more appropriate.

lillie
I was an annihilationist like you before I became a universalist. So I know what you're talking about.

As for the "new world translation bible," it seems to be straining the phrase σοτερ παντων ανθροπων to mean something it does not. The phrase literally means: savior of all men (σοτερ = savior, παντων = all or every, ανθροπων = men, while the case ending in the second two words [ων] indicates possessive case, therefore "of" comes between "savior" and all"). There is no word for "sorts" present.

Answer 1

Steve,

Lillie is pretty close with her answer.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding about what is happening now and what Yahweh has planned for us. One thing that is eminently clear is that we are spared from the death penalty of sin through the perfect sacrifice of His Son Y'shua.

I checked the scripture against the Aramaic Peshitta NT and it does indeed indicate that Y'shua is the Saviour of all men -

10 (because of) (this) (is) (for) (we toil) (& we are reproached) (because we hope) (in God) (The Living) (Who is) (The Lifegiver) (of children of men) (all of them) (especially) (of believers)

Because of this we toil and we are reproached, because we hope in the Living God Who is the life-giver of all the children of men especially of believers.

Y'shua said if you want to enter into life keep the commandments - which the vast majority of human kind (and most professing Christians do not do). So has Satan won? Of course not, Yahweh is El Shaddai - God Almighty who created Satan and who will eventually destroy him in the lake of fire.

So how do we reconcile the evidence, our understanding and the teaching of the Bible. The evidence is that the world is growing increasingly godless and very few people truly understand and apply the clear admonition of the Bible. Our traditional understanding is that we must be saved in this life or face eternal torment in the fires of hell. So if Yahweh is is competition to save souls now He has not done a very good job.

But if we read Revelation it clearly talks of two resurrections - the first is the resurrection as Kings and Priests to those who follow the Lamb and keep His Commandments now. This first resurrection is limited to the 144,000 firstfruits who are redeemed from the earth. Then one thousand years later there is the second general resurrection where every human who has ever lived is resurrected to be given the chance to know and obey Y'shua in an ideal situation free from the deceit and temptation of Satan. During this one hunred year physical life everyone will have the chance to accept Y'shua as their Saviour and be transformed into a Spirit being, eternal child of Yahweh.

You can find more information about this here - www.spiritandtruthrevival.org. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any more questions.

Your brother,

David

Answer 2

The NWT renders 1Tim4:9-11 this way:
"Faithful and deserving of full acceptance is that statement.For to this end we are working hard and exerting ourselves,because we have rested our hope on a living God,who is a Savior of all sorts of men,especially of faithful ones."
Cross referenced to 1Tim2:4 which reads:"Whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth."
So what Paul is saying is that Jehovah is a Savior to not only the Jews but to people of all the nations(see Romans 9:24).
The Bible however does not teach automatic salvation,as Mat.24:13 points out:"But he that has endured to the end is the one who will be saved."
Christ died as a ranson sacrifice to save mankind from enslavement to sin and death.But as John 3:16 and 17:3 point out we need to exercise faith in that ransom and take in accurate bible knowledge to have any hope of salvation.
And while you are looking up Hebrew and Greek words translated,look up the word "hell".You will find that it does not mean a place of eternal torment but means the common grave of mankind.
The concept of a fiery place of torment is not a bible teaching.The Bible clearly tells us at Eccl.9:5:"For the living are conscious that they will die but as for the dead they are conscious of nothing at all....."

Answer 3

There are 2 areas to this. One is that, interior the unique Hebrew, the commandment is: Thou shalt no longer carry the Lord's call to vacancy. So, A) do no longer use it as curse or slang. consistent with danger you think of it incredibly is not appropriate because of the fact you at the instant are not asking the Lord to curse some thing, yet shop in mind that for many Jews then --- and *now*, God's call is so *HOLY* they won't even write it out. Does that furnish you with an perception into how wretched it is to apply the call of the author of the universe in jest or as a curse? B) do no longer *conceal* in the back of the Lord's call in an attempt to justify your man or woman wickedness. In different words, do no longer use the instructions of the Lord to justify your man or woman sin or bigotry. We see this all of the time. human beings will attempt and use scripture to justify their racism. Or sexism. Or homophobia. (occasion of this: all of us understand from scripture that the Lord hates gay SIN. He *loves* the sinner in simple terms like He loves me --- additionally a sinner, no much less a sinner, in fact --- yet some Christians use God's be conscious to justify hating homosexuals) Or although-ism. that's taking some thing alluring and suited --- the Lord's regulation, and His call, and making it seem to be worth under it is --- it is TRIVIALIZING His call in simple terms like utilising His call as a curse does. Does that make experience? understanding the Hebrew of this and archives this has incredibly helped me lots in terms of wisdom the wider meaning in this commandment.

Answer 4

Saved from what?

*Why is Christ our savior? Because His sacrifice heals our sins and reconciles us with the Father*

And since atheists DON'T believe in Christ, the only thing we're "saved" from is rationality.

Answer 5

He is Savior to all, because He died for everyone's sin, however some will refuse to accept that payment and will insist on going to hell. They had salvation given them as a free gift, and chose never to "open" that gift. It was theirs all along, but they didn't take it. He can also be called Savior to all because He is the only one capable of Saving any of us.

John 3:17-19
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[a] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

From Revelation 14
9A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." 12This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

David's words to his son Solomon:
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1Chronicles 28:9

From Jude
12These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Answer 6

He is the savior of all who believe, just as the passage states. All ppl who believe will be saved. Any person can be saved by belief. No belief, no saving.

Answer 7

It can be read that way. The idea that all souls will eventually be saved by God is known as "Universalism". I think it makes a lot more sense then the more commonly held "Opps sorry, you get to burn forever" belief that most people seem to have.

Answer 8

not all will be save how ever you view the chapter you read out .but as many as are destine to salvation will be saved. as many as are for hell will also make hell. non comes to Jesus except the father draws them and not every one will be drown .God made everyone for his purpose even the wicked for the day of destruction. God has preplanned this world nothing surprises him for he fore knows whom he has predestine to be saved. prov. 20:24

Answer 9

Perfect Happiness: Now and Forever

[41:30] Those who proclaim: "Our Lord is GOD," then lead a righteous life, the angels descend upon them: "You shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve. Rejoice in the good news that Paradise has been reserved for you.

[41:31] "We are your allies in this life, and in the Hereafter. You will have in it anything you wish for; you will have anything you want.

[41:32] "(Such is your) ultimate abode, from a Forgiver, Most Merciful."