Who Can Be Saved?

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Tuesday April 15, 2008

Colossians 2:13,14
13. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us ALL our sins, 14. having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

I've heard people argue that these verses mean that the regulations of the law were only taken away and nailed to the cross for BELIEVERS, not for the whole world. There's a HUGE problem with that. The rest of the Bible doesn't line up with that way of thinking:

John clearly tells us in 1 John that Jesus was not the atoning sacrifice for our sins ONLY, but for the sins of the ENTIRE WORLD:

1 John 2:2
He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD.

John the Baptist acknowledged that Jesus would take away the sin of the ENTIRE WORLD:

John 1:29
The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin OF THE WORLD!

The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus came to save THE WORLD:

John 3:16,17
16. For God so loved THE WORLD (not just believers) that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save THE WORLD through him.

JESUS HIMSELF said He was the bread of God to give life to THE WORLD:

John 6:33 (Jesus speaking)
"For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life TO THE WORLD."

John 6:51 (Jesus speaking)
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD."

Jesus prayed to the Father that THE WORLD would believe in Him:

John 17:20,21 (Jesus praying to the Father)
20. "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21. that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that THE WORLD may believe that you have sent me."

Why would Jesus pray that the world would believe in Him if their sins had not been handled at the cross???

Paul clearly tells us that God reconciled THE WORLD to Himself through Christ, not just a portion of the world:

2 Corinthians 5:19
that God was reconciling THE WORLD to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy that Christ came into the world to save SINNERS (that's everybody) and that only those who believe in Him would RECEIVE that salvation:

1 Timothy 1:15,16
15. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst. 16. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

It is abundantly clear that Jesus reconciled the entire world to Himself, taking away the sin of the entire world. Now, whoever BELIEVES in Him receives the free gift of God: eternal life; salvation from eternal damnation!

PRAYER
Father, thank you for setting me free from sin so I can follow You and serve You out of love for You instead of obligation. Thank you for forgiving all my sins and cancelling the law that stood against me. Help me to hear Your voice clearly so I can follow Your path for my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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