Not everyone will be saved

The question was asked, “are you saying that God says “whosoever will may come” but does not mean it? Because if He said “anyone who wants to can come” then did not provide for that to be possible, it is not true – they can’t come. Thus God would be lying.”   No. I am saying what God said is often misunderstood. He said, “let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” But who wishes? Only those God has called. That’s not a lie. Just because you think God has to make it possible for someone to wish it does not make it so. Please provide scripture to support that idea. Being told to choose does not mean you will choose any differently than God has decreed. From our perspective, we have a choice. But that is because we do not know who it is that God has hardened. I can tell my children “Whoever chooses octopus can have it”, but that does not mean any of them will choose it – because they all hate the idea (God would have to work in them to desire it). It depends on GOD’s will, not ours. Before the twins (Jacob and Esau) were born, God chose Jacob, the second born, over Esau the first born. In fact, God said it does not depend on the man who desires or the man who runs (works for something), but it depends on God, not man. In fact, God hardens those HE desires and has mercy on those HE desires. Romans 9:11-18 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. Esau was not allowed to repent, even though he desired to. Hebrews 12:17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. Anyone who repents and turns to God will be forgiven and saved (Acts 26:20). But I think some misunderstand what it means when Christ said He will draw everyone to Himself. This does not mean that God the Father draws everyone to be saved. Just because God would like something does not mean God makes it happen. Here is something I wrote concerning the will of God: http://wbmoore.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/the-will-of-god/ We see that all the Father gives to Christ will come to Christ. This speaks of God drawing people so they will enter the kingdom of heaven; this does not speak of EVERYONE being given to Christ. 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” No one can come to Christ unless the Father enables them. John 6:43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” God the Father draws people to Christ for salvation, but Christ draws people for judgment. John 12:31-33 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. Scripture is clear that not everyone will be saved. Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ So, the term ‘draw’ is used for different purposes – one to be saved, the other at the end times to be judged. Each person is told to choose (this is the gospel message presentation, the external call). But only those God has predestined to choose will do so – in accordance with His pleasure and will (this is the internal call, the effective work of God inside people who will decide to accept what God has to offer – salvation). Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will Ephesians 1:11-14 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Romans 8:28-29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Obviously, some are NOT called to be saved, or Christ would not be a stumbling block to them. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Not all are saved because some are destined to not be. 1 Peter 2:8 and,“A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. Look, a dead man can’t do anything – they dont think, breathe, walk, choose to be saved, nothing. But while we were dead in our sins, GOD did it. GOD chose us, made us alive, saved us. Ephesians 2:1-10 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. GOD works in us to desire and to do His will. If God doesnt work in us, we will not desire His will. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. So let’s review: 1) Our salvation depends on God, not man. 2) everyone the Father gives Christ WILL come to Christ. 3) ONLY those drawn by the Father can come to Christ. 4) Not everyone will be saved. 5) God works in those who believe to desire and work as HE wills. 6) Some are destined for destruction. 7) Some are destined for salvation. 8) Christ draws everyone to Himself to be judged.

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