Everyone everywhere. Could it possibly be? That’s pretty wide open. It doesn’t get any more inclusive than that. Could there have been a misunderstanding somewhere along the way? After all, there must be some exceptions to that invitation.
Have you ever wondered about the work of Christ on the Cross and its scope? Did He die for all or just some? Was His precious blood shed for only those who would believe, or did He give Himself a substitutionary ransom for all? Does God only deal with certain individuals and leave others to perish?
Be careful what you listen to, who you listen to, and what you read. There are expository podcasts available and books written by authors that have some good content but woven throughout their message is the black thread of a restrictive invitation and a limited atonement.
Perhaps someone has tried to convince you that the only ones who can be saved are the ones for whom Christ died. It slips into some prayers — “Lord, please save those for whom Christ died.” That’s a rather strange prayer, wouldn’t you say? It implies that Christ only died for a mysterious few, and we must keep guessing who those few might be.
The Apostle Paul spoke emphatically and unequivocally to the people of Athens when he said:
God “now commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30
Repentance and salvation go hand in hand. God does not command only a select few to repent. He commands everyone everywhere to repent because He knows that unless they repent, they will all perish. (Luke 13:5)
The Spirit of God deals with everyone everywhere to bring them to repentance. But tragically, not everyone will surrender or repent.
Jesus commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the good news, the glad tidings, to every person on the planet, without exception. Every person? Wouldn’t it be a cruel and taunting message if we were to preach it to everyone, but only some of them were chosen by God to enter into the benefits of the glad tidings? Would God really stoop to such trickery and play mind games as a form of despotic pleasure to tempt people with good news and then taunt them by slamming the door shut on them?
When you read John 3:16, do you think there is some small print that God hopes sinners won’t read? Do you think there is a footnote to the ‘whosoever’ in the middle of the verse that limits God’s invite to a select few?
What does 1 John 2:2 mean if it doesn’t mean that Christ’s death satisfied God not only for our sins but for the sins of everyone everywhere in the world?
He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. 1John 2:2
Could the verse be any clearer? Christ was the satisfying sacrifice for the sins of the entire world, and anyone anywhere who puts their confidence in Christ will come into the good of Calvary’s provision.
The Word of God makes it clear that God, our Saviour, wants all people to be saved. That’s the desire of His heart. (1 Timothy 2:4). When Christ died, He gave Himself a substitutionary ransom on behalf of every single person in the human family — without exception. He paid the price in full for all. (1 Timothy 2:6) He tasted death for every person. (Hebrews 2:9)
Christ didn’t die for a select few, nor does the Spirit of God call a select number to be saved. The invitation is to all, and God now commands everyone everywhere to repent. If you think you have found a Bible verse that seems restrictive in its scope as opposed to the preponderance of verses that state otherwise, accept the fact that there is something about that verse you don’t yet understand.
Unless one has become jaded in their thinking or has spent too much time splitting hairs, it is hard not to see the fullness of the provision Christ made for everyone everywhere — and that is precisely the underpinning truth that makes the Gospel message so exclusively beautiful. Its inclusivity is its exclusivity. God offers Christ to everyone everywhere and to anyone anywhere.
Here are two links you might find helpful in studying the scope of the Gospel and the provision Christ made. Truth and Tidings 1 and Truth and Tidings 2
Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you – in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.
