Salvation For...
RESPONSES TO SOME COMMON BELIEFS
Salvation is for all of humanity including every tribe and every tongue.
It is certain that people of every tribe and tongue are among those saved (Revelation 7:9), but this is no proof that eternal salvation of all men was God's purpose or intent.
The Lord’s desire is that none should eternally perish.
If this is true, and eternal damnation is real and has human occupancy (Matthew 25:41), then Psalm 115:3 is wrong. It should say "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done SOMEWHATSOEVER he hath pleased." The fact that some men end up in hell, coupled with the fact that God hath done "whatsoever he hath pleased" is proof positive that the eternal salvation of all men was NOT what God pleased to do.
As a Christian, it is my job to serve others in the same way that Jesus did
True enough. But it is also to represent the same gospel truth that Jesus did, and that truth is not "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you life" but rather "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28) and all men are not laboring and heavy laden in this way.
That includes the unlovely, the unwanted, the poor, the hungry, etc. “Go into all the world” is what Jesus said.
Yes. Go and teach them what Christ taught. You will not find Christ teaching that his purpose was the salvation of all of humanity. Indeed if that was his purpose, then anything other than universalism casts Jesus as a failed messiah. It follows that this was NOT His purpose. That is why John teaches:
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And 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 6:37)
This leaves us with three possibilities:
All of humanity was given to Christ and therefore all of humanity will be saved. Based on numerous passages that teach that eternal damnation is real and that it involves human occupancy (Matthew 25:41) - THIS IS FALSE.
None of humanity was given to Christ and therefore all of humanity will be eternally damned. Based upon the testimony of the saints of God in the bible who are not eternally damned but saved unto glory (II Corinthians 5:8) - THIS IS FALSE.
Some of humanity was given to Christ and therefore some of humanity will be saved. Based on the affirmations above along with the biblical testimony of sovereign election (Ephesians 1:4-6) and the successful work of the savior in saving His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21) - THIS IS TRUE.
May God bless our studies and understanding of his word.
- Elder Daniel Samons