Offering Salvation

I was endeavoring to prove the bible's position that the gospel is not a well-meant offer of salvation to all of humanity a few years back and in that conversation I made the following statement:

"I think that an intriguing question to ask is - if everyone in Christendom today is constantly speaking of “gospel offers,” why is it that the bible never once uses the term “offer” with respect to the gospel message?"

While that statement is true so far as the nature of the gospel message is concerned, it is important to recognize that the gospel message is not devoid of the concept of an offering. We must be clear regarding the nature of that offering, if we are to avoid confusion. While the gospel is not offering eternal life to all of humanity, it none-the-less teaches us about an offering that was made - one that saved God's people from eternal condemnation.

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11-14)

Contrary to many in Christendom, that offering is NOT the offering of eternal salvation to all of humanity in the form of the gospel. It is the offering of Christ's blood to the Father that "perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14) According to scripture that is the offering that saves God’s covenant people. We had nothing to do with that work. It was the work of Christ alone.

Knowing that truth defeats a thousand bad doctrines encroaching on every side in this Laodicean age. Because the bible also affirms that, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:" (Isaiah 53:11), we can rest in knowing that Christ's offering got the job done for his covenant people (Matthew 11:28, Matthew 1:21).

If God's satisfied with that offering, shouldn't every Christian be?

- Elder Daniel Samons