A guest post by Wally Fry
Allow me to preface this with the statement that I understand not all agree with this position on this topic. The truth is, several thoughts on this seem to be quite well supported Biblically, and we simply have to conclude that no one can lay claim to their position being proven absolutely by God’s Word. It does, however, represent what I believe to be true based on my reading and hopefully correct illumination by the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus paid it all, He paid it for all of us. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to cover the sin of every human past, present and future. Before readers get alarmed, please understand I am not saying that everyone from the past was saved, nor am I saying that all will be saved now or in the future. In fact, the majority of people from the past, people now and those who live in the future will not be saved and enter Heaven. The sad truth is the majority of humankind will spend eternity separated from God in a place of torment called Hell. So, please do not misunderstand; I am not espousing some form of Universalism, where everybody ends up in Heaven.
What am I saying then? I am simply saying that the quality of Jesus’ sacrifice and payment on the Cross was enough for all humanity to escape the penalty of their sins. Jesus’ payment was not just for an elect group of people whom God the Father has preselected in eternity past to be eternally with Him in Heaven. Not everyone will agree with that statement, of course, but this is what the Bible teaches.
God’s gift of salvation through the death of His Son Jesus Christ is available to all, but not all will accept it. Even though it is a free gift, there are terms under which we must accept. What are the terms? Repentance toward God for our sin and belief in His Son Jesus Christ. We must agree with God that our sin is wrong; we have to understand what we deserved as punishment for those sins. That covers repentance toward God. Then we must believe that God, in the form of the man Jesus Christ, came to Earth to pay on our behalf. Not only that He died, but He rose after three days dead thereby conquering sin and death. If we do that and call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved as we clearly learn in Romans 10:13.
How can we know that this salvation is available to all, and that our failure to have it is not because God denied it to us but because we refused it?
To understand this, we have to start at the very beginning. Because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve, we are all sinners by nature and choice. It is never a question of if we sin, but only a question of when. The Calvinists have it right on this point, really; we are so totally depraved that we are not even capable on our own of wanting to be saved from our sin. The sinful state we are born into is made clear in Romans 5:12 and 5:13, which teach us that sin and death entered into the world by one man, Adam.
We do not want to be saved, as we love our sin more. Left to our own devices, we would never seek God. Romans 3:10 and 13 tell us that not only is no one righteous, but none of us seek God. Romans 8:7 is yet more dire, teaching us that not only are we the enemies of God, but we are not even capable of accepting the things of God. In John 6:44, Jesus taught that no one would come to Him unless the Father drew them.
So even though we are not desiring or capable of seeking God, God has made provisions for us in order that we may overcome our inability. In Matthew Chapter 19 after the rich young ruler left disappointed, Jesus pointed out to His disciples how difficult it was for a man to be saved. When asked who could be saved, Jesus replied that with men it is not possible, but with “God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:25,26) So, we see that we would only respond to God if He draws us. The good news is that we hear Jesus say in John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” God also draws all men unto Himself through the light of Jesus Christ; John 1:9 teaches us this light lights all men.
Atonement is not limited. It is available to all men. Scholars get around this clear teaching of Scripture by spinning what the Bible says when it says “all.” Of course any word can have more than one meaning including that one. But nothing in the context of any of the verses below suggest that “all” is limited in any way.
Hebrews 2:9, Jesus did “taste death for every man”
Hebrews 10:10 teaches Jesus body was offered “for all.”
John 12:47, Jesus came to save the World
Romans 5:8, Jesus died for sinners
Romans 5:18, Jesus free gift is offered to “all men”
Romans 8:32, Jesus was delivered up for “us all”
Isaiah 53:6, he bore the iniquities of “all”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Jesus died for “all”
2 Peter 2:1, Jesus even died for false teachers and liars doomed for Hell.
So, there you have it. It’s available to everyone. No one is denied it. Repentance toward God and belief in The Lord Jesus Christ and it’s yours.
The Recovering Legalist 
Reblogged this on Truth in Palmyra and commented:
My Wednesday guest post at The Recovering Legalist
Blessings and enjoy!
“…the quality of Jesus’ sacrifice and payment on the Cross was enough for all humanity to escape the penalty of their sins” I appreciate how you turned this on the QUALITY of His sacrifice. Very significant point in regards to “all”. Thanks.
Thanks Dawn. It was certainly of high quality. Divine quality we might say.
this, too, is my understanding. those who learn to follow Jesus, repent of their sins, are baptized and participate in the death, burial, and resurrection receive forgiveness and the in-dwelling of the holy spirit. While Jesus never lets go of us, Man, as fickle and obstinate beings can let go of God. That’s why people who downplay or decry ‘organized religion” are just as mistaken as those who follow ‘once saved, always saved”. it is through the body of Christ that we are refreshed, but is through self-discipline that we maintain a relationship with Jesus.
Hi friend thanks for the comment. I am away currently and not much time to discuss much. You comment confused me honestly as you stated Jesus never lets us go then went on to say that Once Saved Always Saved is in error. Perhaps you should stick with this series for later discussion . The Eternal Security of the Believer is clearly taught in scripture and we will get there later in this series. Thanks for coming by
Sorry hit enter too soon. I also was not sure of your meaning on some other things. You seemed to indicate that one “has to learn to follow jesus “and be baptized to be saved. Perhaps i am mistaken, as neither of those ate true. So before we dive into a discussion i wanted to make sure i understood what you said and meant
I, too, am grateful for our friend’s comment, Wally. To be honest, I thought your guest post would be swamped by comments from other perspectives, such as from five-point Calvinists. However, after taking a look at our friend’s blog – which proves proves he loves dogs…which is a big positive – it seems that he is coming at this from a Church of Christ perspective. I could be wrong, but that is what I have deduced. If that is the case, then that would explain his comments regarding salvation, eternal security, and baptism.
Dunno lol. Currently a cat guy here, LOL!!
Thanks for your questions and concerns! I may understand where we differ in doctrine. I had to do a lot of self-study in Scripture – after I decided to follow Jesus, to make the decision to truly become Jesus’s disciple; I was born a Jew, and later seeking to know God, at various times I got “wet”, and went to altar calls, but my life never really changed. In my fellowship of churches, we are challenged to be like the Bereans and 1st C disciples in study and applying the Word, Once I understood what I was participating in, through Jesus, “baptism” not only forgives my sin – but the gift of the Spirit in-dwells at baptism. It is not incidental and not casual, but learning really who Jesus is — and being saved -through baptism is key, ( not opinion – but I have substantiated it through scripture.
Hi again friend
I can’t really do justice to this as i am away. I will say this and will come back to this discussion later. The blog host may want to chime in more fully. You were not saved by your Baptism not does Scripture substantiate that. Scripture tells us outright that we are saved by Grace through Faith. Baptism is NOT salvific. As i said, bro Anthony may want to chime in here as this is about all i can say on this at the moment.
God bless you Wally
Thanks bro Jim for your kindness here