Salvation for all people

Many years ago, I first heard a message that has encouraged and comforted me time and again to this day. Even now, I consider it one of the most central statements in the Bible. It is the promise that God is working to save all of humanity. God has prepared a path by which all people can find salvation. This plan of salvation is not just a concept; God is putting it into practice step by step. Therefore, let us look together in God's Word to see how this path to salvation is described. In his letter to the Romans, Paul summarizes the situation in which people find themselves as follows:

"They are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God." (Römer 3,23).

God intended glory for humankind. This refers to what we humans long for as happiness, as the fulfillment of all our desires. However, we humans have lost or missed this glory through sin. Sin is the great obstacle that has separated us from glory, an obstacle that we cannot overcome. But God has removed this obstacle through his Son Jesus:

“They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Römer 3,24).

Salvation, therefore, is the path God has provided for humanity to regain access to God's glory. God has intended only one access, one path, yet people try to offer and choose detours and other routes to attain salvation. This is one reason why we know so many religions. Jesus himself spoke of this in Johannes 14,6 He said: I am the way. He didn't say he was one of many ways, but the way. Peter confirmed this before the Sanhedrin.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Apg 4,12).

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus:

“You too were dead in your trespasses and sins. Therefore remember that you were once Gentiles by birth and were called uncircumcised by those who were outwardly circumcised; that at that time you were without Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and aliens outside the covenant of promise; therefore you had no hope and were without God in the world” (Eph 2,1 and 11-12).

In difficult situations, we look for ways out and alternatives. That's right. But when it comes to sin, we have only one option: salvation through Jesus. There is no other way, no alternative, no other hope, no other chance than the one God has provided from the very beginning: salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ.

If we keep this fact in mind, it raises questions. Questions that have already been asked by many Christians:
What about my dear deceased relatives who did not convert?
What about the many millions who have never heard the name of Jesus in their lives?
What about the many innocent infants who died without knowing Jesus?
Do these people have to suffer hell because they have never heard Jesus' name?

Many answers have been given to these questions. Some say that God only wants to save a few whom he has chosen and planned to do before the foundation of the world. Others say God will finally save everyone, whether they like it or not, that God is not cruel. There are many shades between these two opinions, which I do not discuss now. We are dedicated to the statements of God's Word. God wants salvation for all people. This is his outspoken will, which he made clear and clear.

“This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” (1. Tim 2,3–6).

God clearly shows he wants to create salvation for all. He also revealed in his Word His will that no one would be lost.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness; but he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (1. Petr 3,9).

How will God implement his will in practice? God does not emphasize in his Word the temporal aspect, but how the sacrifice of his Son serves the salvation of all humanity. We are dedicated to this aspect. At the baptism of Jesus, John the Baptist pointed to an important fact:

“The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Joh 1,29).

Jesus took upon Himself the whole sin of the world, not just a part of that sin. He has taken upon himself all injustice, all wickedness, all wickedness, every deceit, and all falsehood. He bore this huge burden of the sins of the whole world and suffered death for all people, the penalty for sin.

“And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1. Joh 2,2).

Through his great deed, Jesus has opened a door to their salvation for the whole world, for all people. Despite the weight of the burden of sins that Jesus sustained, and despite the hardships and sufferings that he had to endure, Jesus took all out of deep love for us, out of love for all people. The well-known scripture in tells us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Joh 3,16).

He did it for us out of "pleasure". Not to indulge in sadistic feelings, but out of deep affection for all people.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Kol 1,19–20).

Do we realize who this Jesus is? He is not "only" the redeemer of all mankind, he is also its creator and sustainer. He is the personality who brought us and the world into existence through His Word. It is also the one who keeps us alive, provides us with food and clothing, and keeps all systems in space and on earth running so that we can exist at all. Paul points out this fact:

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Kol 1,16–17).

Jesus the Redeemer, Creator and Sustainer made a special statement shortly before his death.

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he would die. (Joh 12,32).

By “being exalted” Jesus meant his crucifixion, which brought about his death. He would draw everyone into this death, he predicted. When Jesus says everyone, he means everyone, everyone. Paul took up this thought:

“For the love of Christ compels us, especially since we are convinced that if one died for all, then they all died.” (2. Kor 5,14).

With Christ's death on the cross, he brought death to every human being in one respect, for he drew them all to the cross. All have died through the death of their Redeemer. All humans thus have the acceptance of this vicarious death available. However, Jesus did not remain dead but was raised by his father. In his resurrection, he also got everyone involved. All people will be resurrected. This is a basic statement of the Bible.

“Do not be amazed at this. For the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (Joh 5,28–9).

Jesus did not give a time statement about this statement. Whether these two resurrections take place at the same time or at different times does not mention Jesus here. We will read some Bible passages about the judgment. Here it is revealed to us who the judge will be.

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” (Joh 5,22-23 and 27).

The judge before whom everyone must answer will be Jesus Christ himself, the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of every human being. The judge is the same person who suffered death for all people, the same person who brings about reconciliation for the world, the same person who gives physical life to every person and sustains them. Could we wish for a better judge? God has entrusted judgment to his Son because he is the Son of Man. He knows what it means to be human. He knows us intimately; he is one of us. He knows firsthand the power of sin and the temptations of Satan and his world. He knows human emotions and desires. He knows their strength because he created humankind and became human himself, just like us, but without sin. Who would not want to entrust themselves to this judge? Who would not want to respond to the words of this judge, to bow down before him and confess their guilt?

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has passed from death to life” (verse 24).

The judgment that Jesus performs will be absolutely just. It is characterized by impartiality, love, forgiveness, compassion and mercy.

Even though God and his Son, Jesus Christ, have created the best conditions for each person to attain eternal life, some people will not accept His salvation. God will not force you to happiness. They will reap what they have sown. When the court is over, there are only two groups of people, as CS Lewis put it in one of his books:

The one group will say to God: Your will be done.
To the other group God will say: Thy will be done.

When Jesus was on earth, he spoke of hell, of eternal fire, howls and teeth chattering. He spoke of damnation and eternal punishment. This is a warning to us so that we do not recklessly handle God's promise of salvation. In God's word damnation and hell are not placed in the foreground, in the foreground stands God's love and concern for all people. God wants salvation for all people. But whoever does not want to accept this love of God and forgiveness, God leaves his will. The eternal punishment, however, will not be suffered by anyone who does not want it expressly. God does not condemn anyone who has never had the opportunity to learn about Jesus and his saving work.

The Bible contains two scenes of the Last Judgment. One of them is found in Matthäus 25 and the other in Offenbarung 20I recommend you read these passages. They show us the perspective of how Jesus will judge. In these passages, the judgment is presented as an event that will take place at a specific time. We want to turn to a passage of scripture that indicates that the judgment can also be understood as a longer period of time.

“For the time has come for judgment to begin with the house of God. And if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1. Petr 4,17).

The house of God is used here as a name for church or community. She stands in court today. Christians have heard and responded to God's call in their time. They have come to know Jesus as Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. For her, the court is now taking place. The house of God is never judged differently. Jesus Christ uses the same standard for all people. This is marked by love and mercy.

The house of God has been given a task by his Lord to participate in the salvation of all mankind. We are called to preach the good news of the kingdom of God to our fellowmen. Not all people pay attention to this message. Many despise her, because to her she is folly, uninteresting or meaningless. We must not forget that God's work is to save people. We are his employees who often make mistakes. Let us not be discouraged if the success of our work seems to be missing. God is always working and calling and accompanying people to themselves. Jesus sees that the called ones will reach their goal.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day.Joh 6,44 and 37-39).

Let us place our hope entirely in God. He is the Savior, Redeemer, and Redeemer of all people, especially of believers.

“For this is what we work and fight for, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.” (1. Tim 4,10).

Let us hold fast to this promise of God!

by Hannes Zaugg