Does God Offer Forgiveness of Sin to All People or Just Believers
by Rich Deem

Introduction

Christian thought on the role of free will and predestination often permeates discussions of Christian theology. One camp (Arminianism) says that people have complete free will, whereas the other (Calvinism) says that God predestines everything. The Bible actually supports both positions, so complete exclusion of either free will or predestination is a non-scriptural position. God's role in salvation is also debated. Some say that God chooses whether or not people are even offered salvation. This page examines the true scope of God's offer of salvation, citing verses not usually found in Cavinists' Bibles.1

Choose!

In the Old Testament, God told His people to choose whether or not they would follow Him. The reward for such choice was life and blessings.2 In the New Testament, the choice is whether or not to seek Jesus, God's Messiah.3 The choice was based upon faith - both in the Old Testament4 and New Testament,5 since it is impossible to please God without faith.6

Whoever believes

The offer of salvation through faith is given to all who believe. This belief results in eternal salvation:

God's desire is for all to be saved:

The scriptures specifically state that God is the Savior of all:

The scriptures also indicate that Jesus' act of redemption is sufficient to justify all:

Conclusion Top of page

God does predestine redemptive history so that His will is accomplished. He uses both the righteous and unrighteous to sanctify His children. Although God's desire is for all to be saved, most choose to reject God's love and to live solely for themselves. However, God brings His offer of salvation to all people and calls us, His followers, to proclaim this offer to all, so that they may experience God's love and peace for themselves. May we be faithful to our calling to love others as we have been loved.

¿Ofrece Dios el Perdón de los pecados a Todas las Personas o Solamente a los Creyentes?



References Top of page

  1. Obviously, these verses are found in the Bibles Calvinists read, although they are to be avoided at all costs!
  2. "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, (Deuteronomy 30:19)
    "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
  3. But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)
  4. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)
  5. And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:2)
    And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5)
    Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." (Luke 5:20)
    and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:9)
    'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' (Acts 26:16-18)
    even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; (Romans 3:22)
    nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
    But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22)
  6. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Reflections
We are what we think.

Science News Flash
Science News Flash

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/forgiveness.html
Last Modified February 27, 2006

 

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