Is Salvation Freely Offered To Every Person?--Part 1

Is salvation freely offered to every person? This is a very controversial subject. It is not mentioned by many preachers today for fear that they might lose some members. Read Paul’s words in Romans. “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [this is not regeneration but conversion because salvation here is connected to faith has nothing to do with being born of God or born of the Spirit] to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Rom. 1:14-17 NASB). The greatest passage in the New Testament on the subject of salvation is in I Thessalonians. “Knowing brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything” (I Thess. 1:4-8 NASB).

To repeat the question, Is salvation freely offered to every person? No, the gospel is never offered to anyone. It is proclaimed. There is a difference between the proclamation of the message and offering it.

The etymology of the term “offer” goes back several hundred years. Etymology gives the facts relating to the formation and history of the use of words. Originally, the word “offer” was connected with a proposal of marriage. It meant to present or volunteer oneself to someone as a spouse. However, it is considered archaic today for anyone to make an attempt to get married in this manner.

The chosen people of God are faced with the greatest display of apostasy in the history of the world. Religious success depends on who can make the largest “offer.” Therefore, the word “offer” has come to have the generally understood meaning of someone proposing or expressing willingness to do something conditional upon the consent of the person addressed. More and more people are made aware of the power of words. Therefore, the means of expression must be clearly understood. It takes more than the “sound” of words to convey a message. The “sense” of words must be known. How many religionists understand the meaning of such Bible words as grace, love, election, hate, justification, sanctification, adoption, regeneration, conversion, calling, repentance, faith, imputation, redemption, omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, decree, purpose, etc.?

In the controversy over the free offer of the gospel, the Word of God forbids two things: (1) The unregenerate sinner must not be represented as having the ability to paralyze God by his unbelief. Those who make the statement about paralyzing God through unbelief quote Mark 6:5-6—“And He [Christ] could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief” (NASB). This does not mean that unbelief tied the hands of Omnipotence. All the passage means is that Christ did not will to use the power He possessed. He knew that the performing of miracles at that time and place would be without any effect. He knew their hearts. Therefore, He suspended His miraculous work in that place. (2) God must never be represented as not being able to do anything until man lets Him. David said, “Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power…” (Ps. 110:3 NASB). Paul said, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13 NASB).

Many say the term “free offer” means the gospel should be preached indiscriminately to all men. They use as an illustration Ezekiel’s preaching to the dry bones (Ezek. 37). Ezekiel predicted the national resurrection and restoration of Israel and the uniting of the two kingdoms (Judah and Israel) into one kingdom. This chapter takes its deserved place among the significant passages of revealed truth relative to Israel’s future. What made the difference between the 3,000 people who repented under Peter’s preaching (Acts 2) and the Jews who blasphemed and stoned Stephen (Acts 7)? The difference is explained by Paul: “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth” (I Cor. 3:5-7 NASB). To be the people of God without regeneration is as impossible as to be the children of men without generation.

The word “offer” is used by many reformers and in many confessions of faith. Some are strong in their denunciation of those who restrict the gospel. The advocates of the “free offer” theory say that the restriction of the offer leads to serious error. That is not true. They say it causes sinners to look within to find a warrant to believe on Christ; however, sinners are to look to Christ and believe for salvation. They fail to make a distinction between regeneration (the new birth) and conversion (accepting the gospel and the fact that Christ is the One who bought the regenerated ones with His own blood). Regeneration takes place secretly. Its recipient does not know what has happened—just that it has happened. Conversion requires participation by the regenerated person. For conversion to happen, the gospel is proclaimed telling, those who have been regenerated that Christ died for their sins. The faith that God gave in regeneration is then exercised.

Scripture gives no one the authority to offer salvation. The word salvation has to be understood. It can mean that you are regenerated, that you are converted, that you have placed your faith in Christ when He is proclaimed (the gospel)—it depends on the context. There is a threefold salvation in one verse of Scripture—“who [1] delivered us from so great a peril of death, and [2] will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He [3] will yet deliver us” (II Cor. 1:10 NASB). When one considers regeneration, John 3:8 should be studied—“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (NASB). In the New Testament, every time the Greek verb gennao (being born of the Spirit) is used, it is always in the passive voice. There are three voices in the Greek: active, middle, and passive. The use of the passive voice means the individual had nothing to do with his regeneration or being born of God. The sovereign Spirit applies redemption to the elect by the authority of the Father and the Son’s redemptive work at Calvary.

Distinction must be made between restricting the offer of Christ and restricting the preaching of Christ. Illustrations used in preaching must support Biblical principles, not the sentimental feelings of people. Two of the greatest chapters in the Bible to be considered at this point of study are I Corinthians 2 and I Thessalonians 1.

Paul was a living example of what he preached. Evangelism is preaching the gospel, proclaiming the message of God. The word “evangel,” which is doctrine and can also refer to one of the four gospels, is regarded as being of prime importance. This is why Paul said, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (I Cor. 9:16 NASB). This is done in public, in the assembly, and in private conversation. Paul said to the Corinthians, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony [marturion, God’s secret or mystery hidden ages ago—see Col. 2:1-10] of God” (I Cor. 2:1 NASB).

Paul was a steward (oikonomos, an administrator of the mysteries of God—I Pet. 4:10) of God’s mysteries (I Cor. 4:1). Paul saw himself as a bond-slave raised to a position of high trust. The apostle said to the Thessalonians, “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (I Thess. 2:1-8 NASB).

Do not leave the endearing expressions of Paul to the Thessalonian believers until you compare the history of the apostle’s ministry to other assemblies. Thessalonica turned out to be the place where the model assembly was located (I Thess. 1:7). The same Paul made strong statements to other assemblies. (See I Cor. 1:10-31; 3:1-3; 4:1-7; 5:1-13; 6:1-3, 9-11; 10:1-11; Gal. 1:6-10; 3:1-3; 4:19-20; I Thess. 4:1-12; II Thess. 3:6-15; I Tim. 4:1-5; 5:1-25; II Tim. 3:1-12; 4:1-8; Titus 3:1-11, etc.) One’s attitude toward God and His message determines the type of teaching that is needed.

Scripture gives no one the authority to “offer” salvation to anyone. The sovereign Spirit applies redemption to whom He wills. Beware of using sentimental and flesh- appealing illustrations to gain a point in the ears of men. Illustrations must support Biblical principles, not the sentimental feelings of people. Looking to Christ for salvation is not the same thing as looking to Him for regeneration. The first is scriptural, but the second is unscriptural. The serpent of brass was lifted up in the fortieth year of Israel’s wilderness journey. Israel had already been delivered by blood, and now they were in the wilderness. Chronologically, it followed the “red heifer” offering. Those who lived by looking upon the “serpent of brass” lived in view of entering Canaan, the promised possession (Num. 21). Therefore, “look and live” must be distinguished from “live” in Ezekiel 16:6. There is no looking in order to live in Ezekiel 16. “Living” is by the voice of God, which represents regeneration. Numbers 21 denotes conversion which shows the necessity of Christ being lifted up.

Eternal life is outside the life of the flesh. Many religionists see no more in eternal life than the assurance of eternal security. The lesson in Numbers 21 was to teach Israel that their sinful flesh had been condemned. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3, 4 NASB). “And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Rom 8:10 NASB). The fact of this verse is twofold: (1) The body of the Christian is dead on account of sin, and (2) the spirit is alive because of imputed and imparted righteousness.

The following facts will bring Part 1 to a conclusion in our study of the question, “Is Salvation Freely Offered To Every Person?”

1. It is a fact that God does not give saving grace to all men without exception.

2. It is a fact that all men do not come to the knowledge of the truth.

3. It is a fact that God did not will the salvation of all men in His eternal purpose. To say that God willed or decreed the salvation of all men, if they will, is not to purpose salvation at all. It would be like saying, “I will that every individual person be saved; nevertheless, not as I will, but as they will.”

4. It is a fact that Christ died for “the sheep” (John 10:15 NASB), “His people” (Matt.1:21 NASB), and “many” (Matt. 20:28 NASB). This means that Christ redeemed, reconciled, ransomed, and became Surety of all those whom the Father gave to Him.

5. It is a fact that the gospel is universal in three aspects: (1) It is universal in the sense that it is sufficient to save all without exception if God had chosen all. (2) It is universal in the sense that it is to be proclaimed by God’s people indiscriminately (Mark 16:15). The problem is in the sinner, not in the gospel (John 5:4; 3:19-20). (3) It is universal in the sense that all nationalities and kinds of people receive it (John 11:52; Rev. 7).

6. It is a fact that the free offer of the gospel controversy is inseparably linked to the extent of redemption. Since redemption is restricted to the elect, the offer cannot be made to all without exception. It would be mockery to offer something that could not be possessed. It is a false exegesis to reason from a hypothetical premise and draw an absolute conclusion.

7. It is a fact that the gospel is not an offer, but it is the power of God unto salvation. Salvation is not offered to those for whom Christ died because it is applied to them (Rom. 1:16; I Thess. 1:4-8). The Savior supposes persons saved, and persons saved supposed the Savior. How different this is from what we hear today! Churches beg sinners “to come forward.” Evangelistic crusades stress “make your decision for Christ.” Child evangelism counts as saved all who say “they love Jesus” or “they raise their hands.” Campus Crusade gives the “four spiritual laws” and can do the job on the average person in 35 minutes, according to their report. There is Someone faster than Campus Crusade’s speed. God gave grace to the chosen from all eternity (II Tim. 1:9) because Christ has been slain from the foundation of the earth (Rev. 13:8). This stops all human religions in their tracks. All the elect of God, all chosen by God, are going to be kept or preserved until they are regenerated by the Spirit of God and become saints of God. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20 NASB). We were crucified with Christ at Calvary even though we did not exist then. “Christ lives in me”—that is Christianity. A Christian is still in the flesh, sins, and must confess his sins daily; but provision has been made—Christ’s blood takes care of it (I John 1:6-7). The elect are kept by God until they are effectually called. “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13 NASB). Only God can give you what He purposed to give you. Whatever you receive was given to you, but whatever God gives is received. If you live by faith, you are not living for the satisfaction of the flesh (Gal. 2:20).