God’s Salvation: Broad and Narrow

From: firstlight@billriceranch.org

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God's salvation is as broad as all men and as narrow as one mediator.

I Timothy 2:4-5 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. This past spring I was privileged to hold a revival meeting in Arizona. For three or four nights in a row there was a man who attended the service and every night indicated that he wanted to be saved. I talked to him one night about the gospel. He seemed hesitant as though there was something that kept him from trusting the Lord Jesus. Finally, on Friday night he again indicated that he wanted to be saved. I talked to him again, and it turns out that he just wasn't sure that it was God's will to save him. I am so thankful that I could tell this man with confidence that God did want to save him, and that is exactly what God did as this man turned to the Lord Jesus Christ to save him. I Timothy 2 helps us to frame God's boundless salvation. We tend to put it into fences that can't contain it, or we tend to narrow or broaden it more than we should. Verses 4-5 tell us God's opinion about who can or cannot be saved. It says of God, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." The "all" there means exactly that. For instance, in verse 1 he says, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men." We are to pray for all men. Verse 2 says we are to pray "for kings, and for all that are in authority." If the Bible commands us to pray for all men including the President of the United States, for example, who would it not include? I don't know every individual on this globe, but I can pray for those I do know including the President. If "all" means all in verses 1 and 2, then whom do you think "all" would include in verse 4 where God would have "all" men to be saved? It means just that. God wants you to be saved, and God wants your neighbor to be saved. It is God's will. God is no less spiritual or concerned than you about the souls of men. God is the One Who gave His only begotten Son to die for such sinners. Verse 5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." So who would God our Savior have to be saved? All men. Who can save them? Only One. Here's where we get in trouble. We live in a society that wants to say, "There are many ways to heaven and many different names for God and many different Gods." We try to broaden salvation beyond the scope of God's mandate. On the other hand, we try to narrow the scope of God's salvation when God has said "all men to be saved." God's salvation is as broad as all men and as narrow as one mediator. There is only one go-between who can make peace between sinful people and a holy God, and that is Jesus Christ. The work that Jesus did has been done for all men . Go about your day with the confidence that God has made provision for every person to be saved, but remember that this provision is only through one person, Jesus Christ. Share Share Enjoy more devotionals, sermon audio, and articles on our website! Read Past Devotionals Bill Rice Ranch 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road, Murfreesboro, TN, 37128

HEAVENLY INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEVILISH DOCTRINES

DEUTERONOMY 13

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. SATAN CAN USE MIRACLES [v. 1-5]

1. The Miracle is Secondary in Importance [v. 1-2a]

2. The Message is of Primary Importance [v. 2b-4, Gal. 1:6-10]

3. The Meaning is Clearly Important [v. 5, 2 Jn. 1:10-11]

II. SATAN CAN USE MAMA’S BOYS [v. 6-11]

1. The Human Relationship is Immaterial [v. 6a, Zech. 13:2-3]

2. The Religious Relationship is Immoral [v. 6b-7, 1 Tm. 4:1]

3. The Eternal Relationship is Immortal [v. 8-11]

III. SATAN CAN USE MULTITUDES [v. 12-18]

1. The Source of False Doctrine [v. 12-13, John 8:44]

2. The Search for False Doctrine [v. 14, Acts 17:11]

3. The Severity of False Doctrine [v. 15-18, Gal. 1:6-10]

3 WORDS FOR MEMORIAL DAY

                                                               Pastor Rick Jackson

Though there is some ambiguity concerning the exact origin of Memorial Day. Most historians agree it started during or shortly after the War Between the States. The exact history of the day need not be known to appreciate what it really means. I am not talking about barbecues, days off, and sales at various stores. I can say these words because my father, a World War II recipient of the Purple Heart came home. Many didn't. Those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country are the ones we are supposed to honor on this Memorial Day. They gave their all and we all enjoy the freedom their sacrifice made possible.

What powerful words: SACRIFICE, HONOR, FREEDOM.

The ultimate meaning of these words goes back farther than an American War. There would be no America had there not been a Bible, and the Christ of the Bible. If Americans forget their Christian heritage they lose a large part or what made her what she is.

I. SACRIFICE [John 15:13]

1. The Greatest Sacrifice (I Cor. 5:7, Heb. 7:27, 9:26, 10:11-12)

2. The Greatest Motive (Rm. 5:6-8, Eph. 5:2)

3. The Greatest Response (Psalm 116:12-13, Rm. 12:1, Heb. 13:15-16)

II. FREEDOM

1. True freedom is "free from something" (Rm. 6:18-23, 8:2, Gal. 5:1)

2. True freedom isn't free (Rm. 3:23-24, 5:15-18) Christ had to pay for it!

3. True freedom is free (Rev. 21:6, 22:17)

III. HONOR

1. True honor is honestly heartfelt (Mt. 15:8, Rev. 19:7)

2. True honor perceives position (Jn. 5:23, 8:49-54, Eph. 6:2, I Tm. 1:7, 6:16, I Pt. 3:7, Rev. 4:11, 5:12-13)

3. True honor surrounds service (Jn. 12:26, Rm. 2:7, I Tm. 5:3ff, 5:17, II Tm. 2:20-21)

Question of the Week: Could the Earth Be Flat? Observable Science Gives Answers

Subject: Could the Earth Be Flat? Observable Science Gives Answers
From: www.answersingenesis.org

The question of the earth's shape was settled two millennia before Columbus.   (View in Browser)

Is the Earth Flat? Most people have not given this question any thought, because they have been taught their entire lives that the earth is spherical, so why worry about it? Consequently, with no idea of the reasons we know that the earth is spherical, most people long ago entered a complacent state of more or less taking someone else's word for the matter. So how did people in the ancient world know that the earth is spherical?   Get Answers →   Get Equipped The New Astronomy Book Shop Now 〉

Have NASA Computers Proved Joshua's Long Day? From time to time, one hears that NASA computers have proved the account of the unusual day that accompanied the Battle of Gibeon found in Joshua 10:12–14. What Is the Scriptural Understanding of Death? Some who believe in theistic evolution teach incorrectly that it was only spiritual death that came as a result of the Fall. We need to understand Genesis 2:17. Your Last Opportunity for Lifetime Access to the Ark! There's still time left to get lifetime unlimited admission to the Ark Encounter (including lifetime admission to the Creation Museum)—but not much more time! Now Hiring for Ark Encounter! This summer could be your best summer ever as you join a team of godly men and women who will be serving guests aboard the life-size Noah's Ark.

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John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

What about our country where about a million unborn babies were killed "legally" last year by wicked women who just wanted the pleasures of a wife or mistress but not the responsibilities of a mother, and by the wicked doctors who were glad to take money to murder? And when it is legalized by law and recommended by Baptist conventions, what hope is there that America can escape the judgment of God? Will it be war as has sometimes been in the past? Will it be revolution? Will it be financial disaster and utter depression? I do not know, but I know that no city nor nation can get by with sin. - John R. Rice

Bartimaeus was helpless. He was blind, a beggar. There was nothing he could do. His case was hopeless. How like a poor lost sinner that is! A man cannot save himself. A man has no remedy for his wickedness unless God will change his heart. A man has no sense of forgiveness for his sins unless he can rely on Jesus Christ that they are paid for, and trust Christ to forgive them, as He promised. So the healing of Bartimaeus must be an act of mercy, undeserved. There is nothing he can pay. So it is with every poor sinner who comes to Jesus. - John R. Rice

Bartimaeus was a beggar. He had on a beggar's garment, I suppose some distinctive dress so people would have pity and give him something. But when he came to Jesus- "he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus." Ah, he will need that beggar's garment no more! Now he can see. He can work. He can make a living, as do others. Jesus will heal him. And in that faith, when he came to Jesus, Jesus asked, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" And Bartimaeus said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." Jesus responded, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." And "he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." - John R. Rice

I must confess that I too have sometimes gone to sleep when I tried to pray. Sometimes our human resources fail and it seems we cannot hold on to God longer in persistent prayer. That means, then, that we ought to get rest when we need it, and we ought to be especially on our guard, for had Peter watched and prayed as he ought, he surely would not have fallen into such temptation as Jesus had warned him of.
Sometimes Christians ought not berate themselves for their weakness and their frailty. There is a tender note here when Jesus, after He had prayed through and seemed assured that God had heard Him, said to the disciples, "...Sleep on now, and take your rest" (Mark 14:41). God knows how frail we are. He remembers that we are dust and, "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him" (Ps. 103:13). - John R. Rice

So Judas went and hanged himself. The body hung and swung until the rope broke, and falling, his body burst open. I think he had sinned unpardonably. I do not mean that God could not forgive him, nor that God's offer of mercy to any poor sinner was not still held open for him. But he had so sinned against light, had so wickedly rejected every opportunity, that now he was set in character and found no place of repentance. He could not turn his wicked heart to repent.
It is always so about the unpardonable sin. It doesn't change God; it just changes the sinner so he cannot and will never accept the mercy of God. And what a terrible thing that is! - John R. Rice

I have sometimes preached on that wonderful text in Matthew 27:22, and I have asked people to first analyze the question. It is an "I" question. It is a "Jesus" question. It is a "do" question. You have to do something about it, about Jesus. What will you do? - John R. Rice

The tomb is sealed. Soldiers watch outside. There Jesus lay in the grave "three days and three nights," as He plainly said He would (Matt. 12:40). We believe Jesus was crucified on Wednesday. He was in the grave then Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sometime Saturday night He arose from the dead. As Dr. R.A. Torrey said, "He must be in the grave as much as 72 hours; He could be more and fulfill the Scripture but not less and fulfill the Scripture of 'three days and three nights.' " - John R. Rice