The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Titus 2:11,
"The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."
To whom has God offered salvation? How many are invited to join God's family? Which sinners did Jesus Christ die for on the cross as he paid for sins?
Some have a notion that Jesus only died for certain ones. His death only paid for a relatively few people's sins. Only these few have a legitimate offer or invitation to his family. In fact, they don't really see an invitation at all - what they see is the command of God, his fiat, that a few be transferred into his kingdom by no choice of their own. What is taught is not salvation by faith, but salvation by appointment. In their minds, faith is reduced from the causative agent bringing salvation to merely the manifestation that God has transferred them into his kingdom. In their view, the grace of God that has appeared does not offer salvation to all people, but only a few - and it isn't an offer, it is an induction, like when I was drafted to serve in the army.
I couldn't disagree more. I'm not one of the special "chosen ones", not in the way described above. I am a simple sinner saved by Jesus dying on the cross for my sins. When he made his offer to me through the gospel, I made a choice. I placed my trust in him, I accepted his offer. My Bible tells me of a love God has for all mankind, every person. "For God so loved the world...", John 3:16. That is pretty much everybody. God's heart is big and his love encompasses all people, not just a few. When he sent his one and only Son to pay the penalty for sins, he did it to bring an offer of salvation to all people. Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32.
God's offer is truly an invitation in that it can be refused or rejected. Jesus tells us why God's wonderful offer of salvation is rejected by so many, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20. People choose to stay in their sin rather than accept the invitation God offers them. We are told, "Many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14. This is the "punch-line" of a parable Jesus gave that told of folks who were invited to a wedding and chose to refuse the invitation. Those who are "chosen", God's elect, are all who choose to embrace Jesus Christ in faith as a response to the gospel, his invitation.
If the desire of God's love was realized, how many would be saved? "God our Savior... Wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3b-4. Also, "He [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9b. God loves us all, including the ugly ones like me, and he wants us all. In his sovereign will, he leaves the choice of response to his invitation up to us.
How unfortunate so many are unable to see the full panoply of God's great love for all mankind. While mankind has turned his back on God in sin and rebellion, gone his own way, God reaches out through his Son to make a way for all at great cost born on that wretched and precious cross. I am reminded of Isaiah 65:1-3, "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me..."
To whom has God offered salvation? How many are invited to join God's family? Which sinners did Jesus Christ die for on the cross as he paid for sins?
Some have a notion that Jesus only died for certain ones. His death only paid for a relatively few people's sins. Only these few have a legitimate offer or invitation to his family. In fact, they don't really see an invitation at all - what they see is the command of God, his fiat, that a few be transferred into his kingdom by no choice of their own. What is taught is not salvation by faith, but salvation by appointment. In their minds, faith is reduced from the causative agent bringing salvation to merely the manifestation that God has transferred them into his kingdom. In their view, the grace of God that has appeared does not offer salvation to all people, but only a few - and it isn't an offer, it is an induction, like when I was drafted to serve in the army.
I couldn't disagree more. I'm not one of the special "chosen ones", not in the way described above. I am a simple sinner saved by Jesus dying on the cross for my sins. When he made his offer to me through the gospel, I made a choice. I placed my trust in him, I accepted his offer. My Bible tells me of a love God has for all mankind, every person. "For God so loved the world...", John 3:16. That is pretty much everybody. God's heart is big and his love encompasses all people, not just a few. When he sent his one and only Son to pay the penalty for sins, he did it to bring an offer of salvation to all people. Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32.
God's offer is truly an invitation in that it can be refused or rejected. Jesus tells us why God's wonderful offer of salvation is rejected by so many, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20. People choose to stay in their sin rather than accept the invitation God offers them. We are told, "Many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14. This is the "punch-line" of a parable Jesus gave that told of folks who were invited to a wedding and chose to refuse the invitation. Those who are "chosen", God's elect, are all who choose to embrace Jesus Christ in faith as a response to the gospel, his invitation.
If the desire of God's love was realized, how many would be saved? "God our Savior... Wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3b-4. Also, "He [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9b. God loves us all, including the ugly ones like me, and he wants us all. In his sovereign will, he leaves the choice of response to his invitation up to us.
How unfortunate so many are unable to see the full panoply of God's great love for all mankind. While mankind has turned his back on God in sin and rebellion, gone his own way, God reaches out through his Son to make a way for all at great cost born on that wretched and precious cross. I am reminded of Isaiah 65:1-3, "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me..."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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