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here are many passages in the New Testament that imply any person is
free to believe in Jesus Christ and gain eternal life. The scriptures
suggest that each man, woman, and child can decide. We can make the choice.
There are many offers to believe. They are general and wide open. One
of the most well known is John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NASB) John 3:16 The Greek word that is translated as “whoever” in
this verse is PAS and it means “all.” Some want to limit
the meaning of the word to mean less than “all,” but the
text does not do that. The Greek word translated as “believe” is
a present participle which means that all the ones who are actively,
continuously believing are the ones who will have eternal life. That
is, all true Christians will continue to believe. They will not leave
the faith or forsake Jesus Christ. John 3:16 is often displayed at football
and baseball games and signs are posted along streets. It is an offer
to have our sins forgiven and be at peace with a holy and righteous God.
Jesus said that He did not come to save the righteous - those who think
they are good - but those who consider themselves to be wretched, needy
sinners (Luke 5:32). This is a great promise for those who understand
the truth about their spiritual condition. Jesus did not come for those
who do not think they need Him.
But As Many As Received. John 1:12 also
implies that anyone who “receives” or “chooses” Jesus
will belong to Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name . . . (NASB) John 1:12 The Greek word translated as “right” actually means “to
have authority or power.” That is, the one who responds to Jesus
by believing in Him has the authority or power, the ability, or the right
to become His spiritual child. The verse implies that men and women have
the freedom to choose Jesus Christ. Otherwise, why include it?
Who Hears and Believes. In John 5:24 we
find an unconditional offer to anyone who believes in Jesus.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (NASB) John 5:24 Jesus does not put any conditions on His words. It is a simple promise.
Anyone listening to Him would have assumed that one could respond in
belief and have eternal life. There are no conditions or restrictions
to His statement. The word “believe” means more than just
believing facts. It includes the idea of obedience, persuasion,
confidence, trust, and conviction. True faith not only believes that
Jesus is God, but it also submits to Him.
The next two passages are also unconditional,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies . . .” (NASB) John 11:25 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. (NASB) John 6:40 In the last verse Jesus adds that “everyone who beholds” and
believes will gain eternal life. Jesus says that anyone can believe and
have eternal life - anyone!
Desires All Men To Be Saved. The strongest
invitation of all is found in 1 Tim. 2:1-4,
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NASB) 1 Tim. 2:1-4 Here God encourages us to pray for “all men,” “kings” and “all
in authority.” Some who have battled over this passage have on
occasion claimed that “all” does not mean “all.” Some
have claimed that God is referring to “some men,” “a
few kings” and a “select number in authority” - those
whom God elected. But the Greek words for “all” in this passage
are PANTON and PANTAS. They mean “all, whole, or every.” That
is, God “desires all men to be saved.” The passage teaches
that God wants all men, whether kings, those in authority, and those
working in the office or in the field - all men - to be saved.
Not Wishing Any To Perish. The final passage
we will consider is 2 Peter 3:9.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (NASB) 2 Pet. 3:9 The Greek word translated as “wishing” is BOULOMENOS. The
root Greek word is BOULOMAI. It means “to think, with the purpose
of planning or deciding on a course of action.”[1] The
sense of the word is that God not only does not wish any to perish but
God is planning and working to make that a reality. Once again we see
that God does not want anyone to perish, He wants all to repent and to
accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Commanded To Believe. Lastly, we are commanded
to believe in Jesus Christ.
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. (NASB) 1 John 3:23 This command is to all men, women and children. It is a universal and
unconditional command. God desires all men to be saved. The following
passages leave one with the strong impression that if anyone of us believes
in Jesus, we will be saved.
He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. (NASB) John 1:7 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (NASB) John 3:36 . . . that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved . . . (NASB) Rom. 10:9 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (NASB) 1 Tim. 4:10 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men . . . (NASB) Titus 2:11
References:
 1. Louw & Nida. Greek-Lexicon of the New Testament. United Bible Societies. 1988., vol. 1, p. 357. |
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