The Bible contains many references to the salvation of ALL!

Because I had always been taught that some would not be saved, but would spend eternity in hell, I always found it necessary to restrict these ALLALL,ALLALL,restrictions on some passages.

But now we have seen that

And so when the Bible uses the word ALLALL

Let's look at some of these passages.

all mankind, especially of believers.

This passage clearly tells us that God is the Saviour of ALL mankind, not just believers! Some say that the word ESPECIALLY restricts the ALL to the believers. But this is clearly not what the writer is expressing, or he would have simply said that God is the Saviour of all who believe.

The word ESPECIALLY is

all, yet specially for the family of faith.

Do we interpret this verse to mean that we are not to work for the good of all, but ONLY for those within the family of faith? Certainly not! We are instructed to work for the good of ALL, and in a special way, or perhaps even giving a priority to, those within the family of faith.

Likewise when we read that God is the Saviour of ALL, and ESPECIALLY those who believe, we see that while God is truly the Saviour of ALL, there is something special or unique about those who believe in this present age. Certainly there is, for the believers are those who have, by faith, been saved already in receiving the evangel (gospel) in this lifetime. Their reward will be ALL will be saved.

all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth.

Some will say that while it is God's will that all mankind be saved, since he has given us free will it may be possible that some will reject Him, and will not be saved. In other words, God's will cannot be realized because the will of mankind to reject Him, or the will of Satan to deceive, will overcome God's will to save all mankind.

Assuming we have free will (and that we do not simply think we have the ability to freely choose at every turn), consider this. When God created man, in that perfect Garden of Eden, evil was already present. Man did not even have the ability to exercise his free will on neutral ground, but was tempted and enticed by the serpent, who was also in the Garden.

But what if God could, through the course of time (the ALL of mankind?

Consider the life of Joseph. He was mistreated by his brothers, sold into slavery, framed by Potiphar's wife, jailed ... yet ultimately God used all of this to accomplish His purpose. Despite the free will of Joseph's brothers who sought to harm him, or Potiphar's wife who sought to frame him, or anyone else who may have entered Joseph's life; still God was able to accomplish His purpose.

for good, that it may work out as at this day, to preserve alive many people.

God's purpose was to save His people when the famine struck (and in the process to save the Egyptians as well). He selected Joseph as His instrument. Despite the free will exercised by those who would thwart Joseph (or thwart God's will), God's will prevailed.

all in accord with the counsel of His will.

If it is God's will that ALL mankind is saved, and if God is truly operating ALL in accord with the counsel of His will, who can thwart His plan?

I think of the power of advertising, which has become a detailed science. Billions of dollars are spent on advertising, toward the objective of influencing our decisions. Advertising gives us the desire to buy things we didn't know we really needed or wanted. Our free will has not been removed, yet we often make decisions because of the influence of advertising.

If advertising executives can influence our free will in this way, why do we question God's ability to allow free will, but to ultimately bring all mankind to the point where He is recognized, and that every knee bows before Him?

There are a few instances in Scripture where Adam is directly contrasted with Christ.

comes the resurrection of the dead. For even as, in Adam, all are dying,

thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class...

G. Campbell Morgan, preacher, teacher, evangelist, and

Does this tell us that ALL die in Adam, but only those accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour in this lifetime will live in Christ? Unless we restrict the ALL that die in Adam, how can we restrict the ALL who will live in Christ?

all mankind for

condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's

justifying. For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many

were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the

Again this is a direct comparison between Adam and Christ. If we could make a case that ALL did not die in Adam, we could make a case that ALL will not be constituted just. But there is nowhere in Scripture any limitation on those who die in Adam. Likewise there is no restriction found in Scripture that would limit salvation. The only limitation has been placed there by the mistranslation and misinterpretion of Scripture.

Consider the following passages:

Every knee should be bowing ... every tongue should be acclaiming

at their stubbornness, thus these also are now stubborn to this mercy of yours,

that now they also may be shown mercy. For God locks up all together in

Where is the restriction on the ALL or EVERY in these verses? Again, we have placed the restriction there in our thinking, so as to reconcile these passages with those that talk about eternal condemnation. But once we recognize that there are no Biblical references that teach eternal condemnation (but only age-abiding correction), we can see these wonderful passages for what they really are.

all to Myself.

William Barclay, respected teacher and commentator, says of this passage:

else, but all. Part of the trouble in the interpretation of Scripture is the

refusal of people to take it at its face value which is nearly always right.

(From

compiled by Michael Phillips, page 26. This quotation came from a letter

directed to Mr. Phillips by William Barclay.)

I am in no way mitigating Christ's work upon the cross. Christ's death and subsequent resurrection were very necessary in order for us to be granted salvation. The only question is the scope of Christ's work upon the cross. Does it have effect only for those who believe upon Him in this lifetime, or will there come a day when ALL are saved by His work upon the cross?

all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the

invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created

through Him and for Him, and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him. And He is

the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead,

that in all He may be becoming first, for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell,

and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross),

through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.

ALL is created through Him, and ALL is reconciled. Consider the global nature of this passage. ALL CREATION is included ... visible and invisible. He is the firstborn from among the dead. In Him the entire complement delights to dwell (the Body of Christ ... those believing in this present age). And through Him ALL is reconciled.

resurrection of the dead. For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ,

shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those

who are Christ's in His presence; thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be

giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all

sovereignty and all authority and power. For He must be reigning until He should be

placing all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy is being abolished: death. For

He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it

is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him. Now, whenever all may

be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who

subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.

This is the grand conclusion of the ages. God has taken what mankind (and Satan) have intended for evil, and He has used it to achieve good. He has operated all in accord with the counsel of His will to achieve His will ... that ALL mankind be saved. Some have recognized the greatness of God, and the work of the Saviour, in this lifetime, by faith. Others have taken longer, but now find salvation also. Every knee is now bowing in subjection before Him. Every person has found salvation. Every lost sheep has been found. The purpose of the eons has been achieved, and God is now All in all.

Thomas Allin states in his

is in the long run too strong for God.

Through the work of Christ upon the Cross, Believers agree that God has provided for the salvation of sinners. The difference is that the

Like me, you have probably been taught to restrict the ALL