By: J.M.G. — 9/14/22
Anyone, ANYONE, who cries out for help God will hear. The whole idea behind John 3:16 – “For God so loved the (lost) world that He gave His only Son, so that EVERYONE who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life,” – is that of SALVATION.
Peter says in Acts 4:12 that, “There is no SALVATION through ANYONE else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be SAVED!”
In Luke’s day (disciple who wrote Acts) in the Roman world, SALVATION was often attributed to the emperor who was hailed as “savior” and “god.” Luke, in the words of Peter, denies that deliverance comes thru ANYONE other than Jesus the Christ.
Salvation: Greek, soteria/soterion = “to rescue (physically or morally), deliver, save,” from soter = “a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ,” from sozo = “to save, i.e., deliver or protect (lit. or fig.), heal, preserve, make whole” [note: see the following texts: Luke 1:69, 77; John 4:22; Acts 28:28; Romans 1:16, 13:11; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Ephesians 6:17; Philemon 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 9; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 2:3, 10; 1 Peter 1: 5; 2 Peter 3:15; Jude 8; Revelations 7:10, 12:10, 19:1].
My main text is taken from Titus 2:11: “For the grace of God has appeared, SAVING ALL,” (New American Bible). The NKJV reads: “For the grace of God that brings SALVATION has appeared to ALL men.” [note: “men” refers to the human race]. Jesus died and was resurrected/glorified for ALL the human race, NONE excluded! [see Romans 5:15]. Jesus is called “Savior” because He died/arose/glorified to SAVE SOULS!!!
Titus 2:13, 14 calls Jesus “Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem (purchase) us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” [note: “The blessed hope, the appearance” (v.13), the use of a single article in Greek strongly suggests an experiential, i.e. explanatory sense, “Of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ:” another possible translation is “Of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Regardless how this is worded (in various translations), the truth is Christ died for ALL!!! No matter what color or race or class or sex, SALVATION is offered.
But, we all know not all will take His offer to be SAVED.
The ancient Jews did not have this revelation. In their day there were 2 classes of people: Jews and Gentiles. Jesus changed all that.
Paul wrote, “On Him we have redemption by His blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of His grace,” (Ephesians 1:8).
Paul goes on to write, “He has made know to us the mystery of His will… a plan for the fullness of times… (Ephesians1:9,10). “Mystery?” As in Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26,27 et al, a “secret” of God now revealed a plan to SAVE and sum up all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:3-6).
That “mystery” was “that the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus thru the Gospel” – Ephesians 3:6.
That “mystery,” “God’s resolve to deliver Gentiles along with Israel thru Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 3:3;4). Paul writes about “a plan for the fullness of times,” (Ephesians1:10).
Paul again writes, “The mystery hidden from ages and from generations past, but now it has been manifested (lit. revealed) to His holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory,” (Colossians 1:26, 27).
The mystery of “Christ in you,” speaking of those converts, i.e. the Ekklesia at Colossae.
Paul, in Colossians 4:3 wrote “… pray for us, that God may open a door to us for the Word to speak of the “mystery of Christ…”
It was this great apostle of Christ, Paul, who desired to spread the “Good News,” i.e. “The Call to ALL.” Gospel: Greek euaggelizo/euaggelion = “to announce ‘good news,’ declare glad tidings,” from (2) = “a good message, i.e. the gospel.” “Good,” Greek, eu = “Well done.”
There is another Greek word, aggelos, which means, “to bring tidings, a messenger (could be angelic or human).” Ago (a prim root verb) means “to lead, to bring, to induce, bring forth, carry, go.” “Go” reminds us of, “GO therefore and make disciples of ALL nations,” (Matthew 28:19). It was Jesus’ last message to His disciples, to carry the Gospel of the “Good News” to ALL the world.