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The Wrath of God Part 3
The salvation of Israel
Introduction
This article is a transcribed sermon given to a local fellowship group in May 2005 as part three of a five part series on a subject I’ve entitled; "The Wrath of God". I have decided to reformat these sermons into booklet form, but they can also be obtained on CD’s or audio cassettes. This article will address the salvation of all Israel (Romans11:26), and as the Bible explains; it is through the promise and call of God that the seed of Isaac/Israel is to bless all the families of the world; which takes in all people of all ages. The Father sent Jesus Christ to be the "savior of the world" (1John 4:14). The question is; did Christ FAIL in doing what the Father sent Him to do? No, Jesus Christ most certainly did not fail. The world will be saved in due time during the plan of the ages by the judgments and wrath of God. It's just that God is not saving the world during this evil age; nor is the world experiencing His wrath at this time. The Bible makes reference to the anger, jealousy, indignation, vengeance, and wrath of God in many scriptures. If we proclaim to love the words of God (as we should); it then behooves us and it becomes our duty to trace the meanings of these terms that are biblically used to express what is called the "wrath of God". I want to clarify that our salvation is secure even if we do not study and understand this subject as we should. We are saved ONLY by the works and faith of Jesus Christ, therefore our salvation does not depend on our own personal works of study. Good works of study and good works of charity only come naturally on their own by loving God as the Spirit of God inspires us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We only respond in loving God and His inspired words of scripture because He first loved us (Romans 5:8). Please read the following transcribed sermon very carefully…….
Today I want to continue with the series on the Wrath of God. This will be part three and I want to talk about the salvation of Israel. As I mentioned before, the wrath of God is found all over the Bible, and the last sermon we looked into what is called the fire of God’s jealousy, and it is not hard to understand why God would be jealous, and Exodus 34:14 says God’s name is jealous.
Exodus34:14 KJV For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:
What is in a name, and why is God called by the name Jealous? Strong’s Concordance says a name is used to mean a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character. For God to be known by the name of jealous is to know the honor, authority, character of the creator of the universe.
As you all know by now I am the type that many times I will give the definition of words, and if we are interested in understanding the Bible I do believe that is what we must do. It is words that define the mind of a jealous God, and is not the Bible God’s revelation of His will and His plan of redemption for His family? Can we all agree that if we understand the definition and meaning of the words of God then we will better understand the will and desire of a jealous God?
Maybe some of you are not interested in the meaning of words. Does our heavenly Father want us to come together to be edified and to grow in God’s word? That is why I am here, and I for one am interested in growing in the grace and knowledge of God and I would hope that you all are too. In the last six months or so I have taken a very serious interest in the correct meaning of the original words that our Bibles are translated from. I cannot explain it but it seems like I am on some building blocks, and one thing leads to another; and when preparing sermons I am forced to do some serious studying so that I can show from the Bible what I am trying to explain. In other words, it is only natural that I want to be as accurate as possible. But of course none of us can ever be perfectly accurate but I believe to be fairly accurate we at least must look at the meaning and definition of words.
As we all know, the Bible says we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew4:4). To live by every word is to BELIEVE every word, and how are we to believe every word if we do not know the proper meaning? It means we are to study the meanings of the words of God. If we do not study we are not approved of God (2Timothy2:15). I’m sorry, that is what it says. I am not ashamed to tell you what I believe based on the meaning of words. If I would be ashamed of my beliefs then I know that Jesus Christ would be ashamed of me. But I know this; I better be ashamed if I am misinterpreting the meaning of words. So it is best to simply show the definition and let it speak for itself, and then it is up to us to either believe the meaning or reject the meaning.
The rule of thumb is that it is always best to believe the meaning of words, in spite of how we personally all happen to believe. We do not have to understand the meaning, but we had better believe the meaning; or else we are only playing Church here, and we are just playing games with God. We had better consider the study of the words of God as a very important part in our spiritual walk with God. The fact is, we will all face Jesus Christ and we all have to give an account on how we regarded the words of God in this life. And we also had better believe we live in a deceived Christian world, and we better believe it would be in our best interests to separate and depart from what is generally believed as doctrine and taught as truth by the Christian world.
Romans1:15-18 KJV So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
What is the wrath of God, and what is the purpose and objective for God to reveal His wrath against ungodly and unrighteous men? Is it just to punish men because God is insulted? Or does God love to reveal His wrath? God has a definite plan for His creation, and we are seldom ever told that His wrath plays a very important role in that plan, and God will do what He plans to do.
Isaiah46:9-10 KJV Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Matthew6:10 KJV Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
What is God’s divine will that will be done in earth, and what is God’s counsel that will stand, and what is God’s pleasure that He will do? Will God fail in what He wants to do? As we will see, it is God’s will, His counsel, and His pleasure to save all Israel, and He will not fail.
Today’s Christian world generally believes that the vast majority of people will not be saved; then that means God will fail. As if to actually believe there is a contest or a struggle between God and Satan for the souls of God’s family. There is no contest and there never was a contest and there never will be a contest. But the premise of most of modern Christian thought is that Satan is more powerful than God, because by their own admission most will tell you that God will fail in saving by far most of His family. Not a few or some but the vast majority of His people God will lose to Satan. That is what people believe.
God only uses Satan in this age for a glorious purpose and I mean a glorious purpose. I for one certainly do not believe it is even possible for God to fail in doing His will and His pleasure. But for God’s will, counsel, and His pleasure to eventually come to pass requires that God has to reveal His wrath against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
Ephesians1:9-12 KJV Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Notice the words; His will, His good pleasure, the purpose of Him, the counsel of His own will. The fullness of times means the completion of the proper times. God’s will, His good pleasure, His counsel is to gather all things in Christ (does it say all things?) But this gathering of all things in Christ only will come to pass in the fullness or completeness of the proper times. God is not gathering together all things in Christ now in this dispensation of time during this age. God also at this time in this age is not revealing His wrath in the sense of ungodly and unrighteous men being aware of it. But this gathering of all things in Christ has started with those that first trusted in Christ in this age, as explained in verse 12. Only believers in this age that first trusted in Christ have obtained an inheritance and are the praise of God. First means that others will follow.
Philippians2:12-13 KJV Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
Notice that we are to work out our own salvation but it is really God that works in us both to will and do His good pleasure. So if it is God that works in us both to will and do his good pleasure how can it be our will, or what we would call our "free will" to work out our own salvation? Notice it says to "work out" your own salvation; it does NOT say to work "for" your own salvation. It is not our will that is free, but it is God’s will that causes us to make the choice to work out our salvation. It is a matter of cause and effect, and it is also a matter of defining what free will is. Sure it is also a matter of choice on our part but it has to be God that causes us to make that choice, and the effect is that it is God that does the work of salvation in us, and it is His good pleasure to save us.
So man’s natural carnal thought is in order to upset God’s will, His good pleasure, and His counsel is to not believe the gospel, to not repent, and not be baptized. Granted that is the status and exact mind set of the vast majority God’s family now in this time and age. But what utter nonsense to believe that the so-called free will of man can somehow overrule and upset the divine will and pleasure of the creator of the universe. I want to tell you, nothing will upset God’s plan, purpose, and His pleasure; especially carnal men with supposed so-called free will. God will get his way, His counsel and purpose will stand, and He will do His good pleasure by revealing His wrath on the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men during the completeness of proper times according to His will. The very obvious truth is that salvation is the work of God and it is His good pleasure.
The common Christian belief is that God is trying to gather all things in Christ now in this time and to do His good pleasure of salvation now in this time and age. Sure, the work of salvation has started in this age, but in no way will all things be gathered together in Christ until the completion of the proper times that God decides.
Romans11:30-36 KJV For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: {believed: or, obeyed} 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. {concluded...: or, shut them all up together} 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.
What is Paul saying? God is in all things and all things are of Him and through Him. Who can know the mind of God or be His counselor or adviser? Paul was comparing Jews with so- called Gentiles, and it was God that concluded all in unbelief. The footnote for "concluded" means shut them all up together. It was God that shut up together both Jews and Gentiles in unbelief. Why? So He could have mercy upon all. Does it say all? Then Paul said with real emotion: "Oh the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God". That God would actually shut up all in unbelief for the very purpose to have mercy on all.
Salvation can only come by God’s mercy; it is the good pleasure of God; it is His will; His counsel and it will come to pass and it will stand. It is just those that first trusted in Christ now at this time in this age that have the mercy of God apart from wrath, and are allowing God to work in them, and do His will; and His good pleasure of salvation. The unbelievers in this time and age do not understand the mercy of God, but in the dispensation of the proper times they will experience the wrath of God for the very reason so that God can show mercy and gather them all as one in Christ. Remember it will be all things that will eventually be reconciled; all things would have to include all men.
There is the law of contrast and opposites. We cannot know mercy unless we experience the opposite; which is punishment and wrath. We cannot know light unless we know darkness, we cannot know love unless we know hate, there is heat contrasted with cold, there is life contrasted with death, sickness with health, happiness with sadness, there is the high and low, there is the far and near, we cannot know truth unless it is contrasted with lies, we cannot know wrong unless we know what is right; there is freedom contrasted with bondage, there is small and great; there is strength and weakness; there is wisdom and there is stupidity; there is beauty contrasted with ugliness etc, etc. I could go on but you do get my point.
God has to provide the contrasts. All is of God. Life as we know it is a training and testing school and God is the divine teacher. Satan is extremely clever and the more converted souls understand the depths of Satan the more they will love truth. That is how the law of contrast works. Adam and Eve had to know the knowledge of both good and evil, and Satan was used to trick and seduce Eve to sin. They were set up. God provided the cause for them to choose sin; and understand, they were compelled to sin. But it had to be their choice and the effect was they were then driven out of the Garden as punishment for their choice.
Israel has to experience the contrasts in this earthy life, and if Adam and Eve had not sinned they would never have appreciated the good because good would never have been contrasted with evil; hence God’s family would never need mercy, they would never need a sacrifice for sin, they would never need a savior, they would not know the need and purpose of repentance. They would not know peace and war, and would not know the purpose of suffering. God certainly would have no pleasure to show mercy and to save His family if His family did not need mercy and salvation. Can we imagine the dilemma that God’s family would be in if Adam and Eve had not sinned? Can we begin to see the sovereignty and handiwork of an Almighty, an All knowing, and All powerful God?
Colossians1:16-20 KJV For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
"Things" in verse 18 is in italics; meaning it was added by the translators. It just reads, "that in ALL" he might have the preeminence. The word "things" is used to mean all, any, every, the whole of things that are talked about in various scriptures. All things is mentioned six times in these verses, and the things talked about are things created in heaven and earth, as is says in verse 16; meaning all things created in heaven and earth by God will be reconciled unto God by Jesus Christ.
2Corinthians5:18-19 KJV And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
This is a very important scripture. All things are mentioned again and we have to really believe that all things are of God. Did you notice that God does not impute the world’s sins, and it simply means God forgave the world. "World" is cosmos meaning orderly arraignment, and decoration; including its inhabitants. The inhabitants are all Israel of all ages. God wants to reconcile all Israel; the inhabitants of His orderly arraignment and decoration. God did his part in reconciled himself to all Israel and if He does not impute Israel’s trespasses unto them then that means the world of all Israel can be saved. Now it is very obvious that all Israel has not yet reconciled itself to God. That is the purpose of the ministry of reconciliation that started with the apostles, and it will be completed in the fullness of the proper times.
1 Timothy6:13 KJV I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and [before] Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
All things is mentioned again, but the word "things" was not in the original; it is just "all", and it means God quickeneth or makes all alive. It does not say God quickenth only some and it does not say God already quickened all at this time and in this age. It says, God quickeneth all; meaning in the fullness of proper times God will make all alive.
Luke23:33-34 KJV And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. {Calvary: or, The place of a skull} 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
This is the real Lord’s Prayer. All Israel is accountable for crucifying Christ, and when Christ prayed to His Father to forgive a few Roman solders; that forgiveness has to include all of Israel. The Roman solders did not know what they doing; they were only doing what God had already predetermined before the foundation of the world for Christ to be sacrificed for the sins of all Israel.
Did God honor the REAL Lord’s Prayer, and did He answer Christ’s prayer, and did the Father forgive the sins of all Israel? You bet He did, but the problem of course is that the vast majority of Israel has not yet responded and honored that sacrifice and the Father’s forgiveness. But in the fullness of the proper times God will work His good pleasure and His counsel will stand and He will do what He wants to do. The point is, God has to cause the vast majority of Israel to respond and honor His forgiveness just like He caused you and I to respond. Again it is a matter of cause and effect. The difference is those that first trusted in Christ are not appointed to the wrath of God, because they honored, believed, and responded to the sacrifice of Christ. The Father has already forgiven all forms of wickedness and evil of all wicked and evil men. There is no evil act that can ever be worse than the murder of His only begotten son and He totally forgave the world; the orderly arraignment of all Israel of that most wicked act that we all had a part of.
God was able to do that, and He does not hold that most evil act against the world of all Israel. All evil acts done by wicked men are not imputed against them and they are forgiven. Most the epistles start out with such words as, peace and grace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God has made peace and holds nothing against Israel in this evil world. Let us get that understanding firmly fixed in our minds. So if God has made His peace with all Israel why does the vast majority of Israel have to experience His wrath? That is a very good question. What comes to our minds when we think of the term "wrath"? We know what the wrath of man is because all of us have experienced it. I am sure some of you wives know all about the wrath of man.
James1:19-20 KJV Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
The wrath of man is not at all like the wrath of God, and if it does not work the righteousness of God then we have to assume that the wrath of God DOES work the righteousness of God. Man’s wrath is generally uncontrolled, it is selfish, explosive, and generally the only reason is to show our emotional feelings toward another; to let them know we are somebody to be reckoned with and we have been wronged, and in our minds we have to emotionally express ourselves in outrage and revenge. How dare anyone offend me, and I am outraged of the serious wrong that they did to me.
We think by showing our wrath it is working what we might believe is righteousness. But the Bible says it is not the righteousness of God. We do not realize there are much better ways to work righteousness for the good than showing wrath and uncontrolled anger. But anger is not wrong and it can be controlled in wisdom for the good. God’s wrath is holy with a divine purpose and in total control, it is holy anger and indignation; it is holy vengeance; and it does work the righteousness of God.
The word "wrath" is the Greek word no. 3709 and is taken from another Greek word 3713; and you all can look this up for yourselves. No. 3709 properly means desire; as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind, that is, by analogy; violent passion, justifiable abhorrence; by implication punishment. No. 3713 means to stretch oneself, that is, reach out after, long for, covet after, desire. Strong’s Lexicon says this; to stretch oneself out in order to touch or to grasp something, to reach after, or desire something.
1 Timothy3:1 KJV This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
The word "desire" comes from wrath. It is no. 3713.
Hebrews11:16 KJV But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
The word "desire" is no. 3713.
1 Timothy6:10 KJV For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The word "coveted after" is the word no. 3713. As these three scriptures show and with the meanings of the word "wrath" means that God has justifiable abhorrence of the ungodliness and unrighteousness of the vast majority of His family. God by showing His wrath, has violent passion and excitement of the mind because He desires something, He covets after, He reaches out, He stretches Himself to touch; to grasp something, He longs after something. This is the purpose and objective of God’s wrath because God is stretching himself and reaching out to touch and grasp the vast majority of Israel because He wants to save all His Israel people, and He will do it as we will see.
By the way, 1Tim 6:10 in the original Greek reads like this: the love of money is A root of all evil. Therefore it is not THE root of all evil. In other words, it is not the ONLY root of all evil.
Here is another small mistake the translators made; but if it changes the meaning of the scripture it is not a small mistake. The love of money is not THE root of all evil; it is only A root of all evil. Here is another example of being aware, studying, believing, and then living by of every word of God. Young’s translation has this scripture correct and so does the Concordant translation. You say how are we supposed to know all these little mistakes? Why do you think God wants us to study? You do not have to be a Bible scholar to realize there is something wrong with the way 1 Tim 6:10 was translated. Common sense should tell us that the love of money is not the only root of all evil. The translators made a reverse switch with the words "the" and "a" in 2 Thes 2:11. The strong delusion that Gods sends is THE lie; not just a lie or any lie.
Isaiah45:25 KJV In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Does it say all the seed of Israel? Seed means offspring, descendants, posterity, and children, and glory means to shine. This is saying; in Jehovah shall all the children of Israel be made right and be justified, and shall shine. Is any of Israel left out? Another scripture says, shine as the stars (Daniel12:3).
1 Corinthians15:24-28 KJV Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
After Christ has put down all rule and authority and delivers the kingdom to the Father then Isaiah 45:25 will be fulfilled when all of God will be in all after death is destroyed.
Romans11:25-27 KJV For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
It is God that turns away ungodliness and takes away sins. When ungodliness and sins are taken away does that affect only a few of Israel or does it affect all Israel? I used to believe all Israel meant all the tribes are now included to be saved, but if ungodliness is turned away and sins taken away then that affects the people of all Israel. All Israel really does mean all the seed of Israel.
Timothy 2:4 KJV Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
"Will have" is no. 2309 and means to determine. It is God’s determination to save all men and for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth. It is the same word used in many other scriptures, and I want to show just two, and maybe we can know just what it means when it says; "God will have all men to be saved".
Matthew8:2-3 KJV And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
"If thou wilt" is the same as "will have"; no. 2309. Did Christ only desire or wish that the man’s leprosy be cleansed? No, He did what His will was. He said "I will; be thou clean"; that is the same word no. 2309.
Matthew12:7 KJV But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
"I will have mercy" is no. 2309. Does God only wish or desire to have mercy? No, when God shows mercy it is real, and much more that just a wish or a desire. These are only two examples of the will of God. There are many more examples showing that God will do what He wills and wants to do; simply because He is a sovereign all powerful God. It is not that God doesn’t also wish or desire, but the point is, God does and brings to pass what He wishes and desires.
You say; I know God wishes and it is His desire that all come to repentance; and you say all must want to repent and all must choose salvation. You say; God does not force people to repent and force them to be saved. Very true, but it is not a question of forced repentance. We do not realize that God is very able to cause repentance; He does not have to force it. It is a matter of defining what forced obedience is and what causes obedience. Were any of you forced to repent or forced to be baptized? It is the same principle as God causing, not forcing Adam and Eve to choose sin. In the same manner God is very able to cause all of His family in the completion of the proper times to choose to bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord.
Philippians2:10-11 KJV That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Again "things" is in italics and was added by the translators. It means every knee in heaven, under, and in the earth will bow and every tongue will make the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Notice this bowing of the knees and confession is done in the name of Jesus and to the glory of the Father; meaning it is not forced and it cannot be a fraud. Bowing of the knees just means an expression to honor the Father, and tongues cannot confess that Jesus Christ is Lord except by the Spirit of God; which can only mean that EVERY tongue will have the Spirit of God.
1Corinthians12:3 KJV Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
This same expression is also found in Ephesians3:13-14
KJV Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul bowed his knees because God gave the Ephesians glory for not fainting at Paul’s tribulations, and Paul was very thankful to the Father for their glory. Can you imagine wicked men actually wanting to bow the knee in the name of Jesus and actually confessing that Jesus is Lord? But they will do that in the completion of the proper times.
We heard in the news recently of a man raping and abusing a little girl for twelve days and then buried her alive. That horrible evil act is nothing compared to what happened at Calvary two thousand years ago, and the Father forgave the world of all Israel of that horrible act. That man is also forgiven, but when he faces God he will to be judged for that evil act, and we do not know the mental torment and shame he will endure when God rubs his nose in that evil act he committed, and we do not know the measures God will take to heal that man completely of his mental sickness.
Salvation is a spiritual and a mental healing, and judgment is simply making things right. But we do know in the end he himself will be saved yet so as by fire (1 Cor 3:15). He will have to face that little girl he abused and he will have to ask her forgiveness; but she as a mature adult in order for herself to saved; has to forgive that man that abused her just like God forgave him and that means case closed. When that wicked man’s mind is cleansed, purified, and healed by God; he will bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord in sincere thankfulness to the glory of the Father.
I know when some hear that God will eventually save everyone it is only natural for people to say; why try and live a righteous life if we all get saved anyhow in the end? We might as well attend any Church; we might as well go to a sports event every Sun; or do our own thing, or we might as well go fishing or whatever. We might as well live the life we secretly want to live anyhow. Why try and overcome and control our carnal nature; why pray or fast, why love our neighbor and the brotherhood? Why not just blend in with the world? Well; the only comment I have is this: it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews10:31). Welcome to God’s "woodshed" if that is what you want.
God just might destroy your soul and you might lose everything you spiritually worked for all your life. Is that what you want? Yes, you yourself will be saved but maybe with the loss of the works of your soul and all your rewards you could have had for eternity. As we know, Brian has expressed to us how he tried to talk to his dad about God and the Bible, and his dad will not hear and does not give Brian the time of day. Well, Brian your dad will be saved but maybe not at the same time as you. He will come to you and say; Brian I wish I would have listened to you. I could have avoided God’s wrath, and the shame and torment. I should have taken an interest and studied God’s word, and served Christ and His Church. My wife Liz when she heard that God will save everyone her comment to me was; that just makes me want to be a better Christian and I love God all that much more. I want to say in front of you all; Liz I am proud of you and I love you for saying that comment; it means a lot to me.
Why would we NOT want to see God save all of Israel? Since we are to love God’s family, even our enemies, what possible joy and gladness is there to know that our loves ones will be separated from us and from God, and will be in torment for eternity? But that is what most of the Christian world believes. I understand the possible joy and gladness to see others not saved if we don’t love them, but if we don’t love them we wouldn’t be saved either. What a dilemma!
If we do not have the proper love to sincerely want God to save all Israel then we need to question our faith. But if we do have the proper love and at the same time we believe that our loved ones will be in torment for eternity then that torment would become our torment also for eternity. Again, what a dilemma, and what a dilemma God would be in. Just to accept and believe that God will not or cannot save the vast majority of His family flies in the face of what love is all about. But God will see to it that all Israel will be saved in due time, and all the world will be saved in due time, and it will be done His own way and in His own time schedule.
In closing; what is the gospel or the good news? To believe that the vast majority of God’s people are doomed for eternity certainly is not good news. But to believe that the power of Christ’s blood will save all Israel and all the world is good news indeed. It is God’s divine counsel, His will, His good pleasure; it is His delight, His desire, His satisfaction to save everyone of His whole family. It is not a question if God desires or if it is His will to save all Israel and all the world. We all know that to be the truth as any believer will tell you. The question is; is God is ABLE and will He actually DO what He wills and desires, and the answer on both counts is yes and yes? There are many more scriptures that show the sovereignty of an all powerful God and He will lose nothing and lose no one.
Questions or comments?... Email: mrwickey7@gmail.com