http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/savior-of-the-world/all-saved.htm
“From the article ‘God might save the world?’”
Another line of approach by those that desire to bring the Savior of the world down says that these were Samaritans who said this. Just because THEY called him the savior of the world doesn’t mean that Jesus actually is. Gee, here Jesus, through given them His very own words, convinces them that He is the Savior of the world—Jesus doesn’t correct them for saying so—and Christians who desire to preserve their tradition of Hell or Annihilation want to dismiss the words of these sinners as not being true. Isn’t it amazing how low people will stoop to degrade our Savior just so they can hang unto those traditions which make the word of God of no effect?

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

In the very passage where John, the apostle whom Jesus loves, whose very ear rested on Jesus’ heart at the Last Supper, we find another plain “Savior of the world” passage. There are many like myself and many others who have also seen in the Scriptures and in the Spirit that the Father sent the Son “to be Savior of the world,” not just a sliver of it. We testify to this glorious fact. And Satan has deceived and recruited others to cause the world to doubt this truth. For without faith, it is impossible to please God. If Satan can cause people to doubt this glorious truth, then those in doubt can’t see it. All things from God come through faith. Those who will stand up to Satan’s army, in which there are millions of Christians who believe in the name of Jesus, will find themselves in a great battle.

“This is a FAITHFUL saying and worthy of ALL ACCEPTANCE. For therefore we both labour and SUFFER REPROACH, because we trust in the Living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MEN, specially of those who believe. These things COMMAND and TEACH.” (1 Tim. 4:9-11)

Here is where the real persecution of a Christian comes—for believing in the Savior of all men. This is a faithful saying and worthy of being accepted by ALL, but Satan does everything he can to put a little bit of doubt into even this glorious Scripture. Even with such a plain and clear scripture as this, those blinded by Satan’s doubt creating abilities have been seduced to diminishing God’s saving power. They say this Scripture says that God is only the savior of them that believe because of the word “specially.” They say God is NOT the savior of all men, but just those that believe. They say the word “specially” excludes all the world except believers.

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples in other Scriptures to see how God uses that word “specially.” In the Greek, it is the word “malista.”

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, SPECIALLY they of the circumcision.” (Titus 1:5)

The word “specially” is the very same word in 1 Tim. 4:9-11. Are we to believe Paul was only calling them of the circumcision unruly and vain talkers or was he singling them out as particularly unruly and vain? The answer is really quite obvious, isn’t it, that is, for those interested in the truth and not trying to twist the scripture to conform to their tradition.

“Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord.” (Phil. 1:16)

Again, the Greek word behind the English word “specially” is malista. Is this brother only a brother to Paul because of the word specially or is he a brother to the other person as well but ESPECIALLY to Paul? Obviously, he was a brother to both. And that is how the word malista should be used in 1 Tim. 4:9-11. It has been translated in the King James Version specially 5 times, especially 4 times, chiefly 2 times and once as chiefly, most of all, and above all.

In Galatians chapter 6, verse 10 we have the following sentence:

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (NKJV)

Again, it is the exact Greek word (malista) used in 1 Timothy 4:9-11. Is Paul saying that we are only to do good to the “household of faith” or is he saying we are to do good to “all,” but especially the “household of faith?” Obviously, we are to do good to both groups. In like manner, Jesus is, in fact, Savior of all mankind and Savior of those who know they are saved. He is the Savior of both groups. The Greek word in both passages is the same Greek word, malista, which means “most of all.” So then, we are to do good to all, most of all to the household of faith, and Jesus is the Savior of all, most of all to those who already have an earnest of the promise within them, that is, the Holy Spirit.

The Devil has no real power except to twist the truth. And his twisting seems to have no end. Of course all this twisting is done in the minds of men. Satan has no other means to express himself on the earth expect in the dust he is cursed to swallow. The “carnal mind,” the earthy lower fleshy mind is where Satan does all of his twisting. It is human beings who become the instruments of his will here on earth and Christians who choose to sow into the flesh instead of the spirit become the candidates for Satan’s expressions of doubt in the earth.

His ability to manipulate words and to inject false traditions and false interpretations of words in the Bible seem to have no end. At this point, earthly-minded Christians who have been seduced by the twisted, manipulative tactics of the evil one, will begin to try to interpret “all men” or “all mankind,” etc., (depending upon the translation) as meaning “all sorts of men” such as some Europeans, some Americans, some Africans, etc. In other words, He will save some out of all mankind, but He won’t save “all of mankind.” Now they realize that is not what the passage plainly says, but they feel they believe that is what the passage means. None of the leading Bibles translate the phrase that way. The Jehovah’s Witness’s Bible translates it “all sorts of men.” So those who want to “interpret” this passage that way find themselves in agreement with a group notorious for putting their own interpretations right in the Word of God.

The phrase in question here is the Greek “ta panta.” The Expositor’s Greek Testament on page 504 in Volume 3 renders it “The universe in its widest sense regarded as a collective whole.” Professor John Eadie, professor of Biblical Literature in the United Presbyterian Divinity Hall renders it, “The universe, the whole that exists, all things, whether they be things on earth, or in heaven.” (Taken from Commentary of the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, page 52, 73) Dr. J.B Lightfoot D.D., D.C.L., L.L.D. speaking of the phrase “ta panta” says, “The whole universe or things, material as well as spiritual, shall be restored to harmony to God.” (St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon, page 160) “‘Ta panta’ is the existing all, the totality of things [The universe, Alford-R], panta would be all that actually is (Winer’s Grammar p.105)” This was found in Lange’s Commentary Volume II under Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, by Karl Braune D.D..

Using my computer to try to find how “all sorts of” would appear in the Greek, I found nothing phrased that way. The closest I could come was “kinds of” in 1 Corinthians Chapter 14. The word for “kinds” was “geno,” not “panta.” In short, this Scripture very plainly states that Jesus is the Savior of All, both in the English and in the Greek. One has to add their own doctrines or interpretations in order to make it say something different. The Jehovah’s Witnesses tampered with the Bible text itself, and those who interpret “all men, ta panta” as “all sorts of men” are doing exactly the same thing.

We have seen in this article several meanings of the English word “might.” How we use that word can be critical to our understanding of who God really is. The word may imply doubt, the word may be used “to express contingency, purpose, or result clauses introduced by that or so that.” Or the word may be used to express power and strength. “He pushed against the rock with all his MIGHT.” We find this use of the word as an adjective used to express the powerfulness of our God, “aMIGHTy God.”

Satan will do whatever He can to malign the Almighty God so that we humans will be satisfied with a lower expression of who God really is. Satan wants to bring us into idolatry. I believe Satan has succeeded in this beyond what we can imagine. Think. How many loving parents do you know who would endlessly torture any of their children because the children did not obey or love their parents? How many loving parents do you know who would annihilate their children because they did not do what they were told? I don’t know of too many parents who would do such a thing. I don’t know of ANY loving parents who would do such a thing. God is LOVE! That’s His nature. And yet, according to the traditional view of God, this “loving” Father has created a lake of fire into which He will personally throw billions upon billions of human beings. There are countless denominations that have invented thousands of different rules and regulations that determine whether a person will be thrown into this lake by God. It is an utter mass of confusion. And we know who the “author of confusion” is, don’t we?

What is it about us that causes us to think the worst about our heavenly Father instead of the best? Do the Scriptures not declare that the mind of man cannot conceive of all the goodness of the Lord? Yet look at what we have reduced Him down to…worse than the worst of human beings. Satan has done this through using human beings (often Christians) to twist the words of the Bible; to bring God down to some kind of image perhaps some people might fear, but could never really love unconditionally. This God’s love is clearly VERY conditional, yet He demands we love Him unconditionally. This God tells us to love our enemies while He endlessly tortures His. This is what a hypocrite does. Satan, using traditional Christianity, has made us believe that our God is a hypocrite who tells us to do something that He is not willing to do Himself…love His enemies. The first commandment requires us to love God with all our MIGHT. Friends—we may pretend to love such a fiend—we may express outward signs that we love such a fiend as portrayed by orthodoxy, but our hearts could never truly love such a monster. We have been drugged, seduced, deceived by the great deceiver.

Gary: I think most if not all ARE on youtube. Try typing “Tentmaker Ministries” in the Youtube search box. Glad they are enlightening to you. Peace, Gary

In Him,
Josh
Gary:
Here’s a list:
http://www.tentmaker.org/lists/ReconciliationScriptures.html

I do not disagree with your assessment of Jesus’ call to pacifism and its implications for Christians serving in our military. Unless I misunderstood your presentation, this man was talking to the pastor about becoming a Christian, not what he had done as a Christian. Your application of Jesus’ call to non-violence is applicable to those empowered by the Spirit to live in accordance with His commandments and example. However, should any Christian truly be surprised when an unbeliever acts like an unbeliever? No, for the Scripture clearly states they are at enmity with God and are unable to obey Him apart from the indwelling Spirit. Again, you address the wrong issue.

The question is not what he should have done prior to joining the military, but what can be done for him now. He is seeking forgiveness for himself, not for those he killed. If I add what you wrote in your response to your application of the victorious gospel to this man’s situation, I have to summarize your dealing with this man in this manner: “Sir, it is understandable that you suffer such inconsolable grief because you disobeyed God when you decided to join the military and actively engage in combat. But there’s no need for you to worry about the eternal destiny of the soldiers you murdered, for God will bring them to Himself through His Son, Jesus. And it is this same Jesus through Whom you can be saved, too.”

Your application of the victorious gospel addresses the eternal destiny of the soldiers he killed in combat, not his guilt over having killed them. These are two separate issues. The traditional gospel says he cannot know what the final state of those soldiers is (unless he asked each before their deaths); he, like us, has to assume they weren’t Christians. The victorious gospel says he can know their final state. As touching the latter issue, both views espoused as the gospel are capable of addressing how this ex-soldier may be forgiven.

Your confusion of the issues would only serve to further condemn this man for a decision (the eternal destiny of the those he killed) for which he bears no responsibility; that is for God to determine. To lay the burden for their final state at his feet is to create false guilt and remove personal responsibility for one’s spiritual decisions (make him responsible for the spiritual state of the dead rather than they themselves).

I have heard it said, “You can’t say everything, because if you try to say everything, you wind up saying nothing at all.” I think the statement applicable to your presentation inasmuch as you assume much that is not clearly stated: as an unbeliever, it is credible to expect him to obey God; his military service was voluntary (Was he old enough to have been drafted? How long ago was he active in the service?); the enemy combatants were non-Christians; he is responsible for the eternal destiny of those whom he killed (no matter which gospel is presented, you make this assumption to be true). Without further clarity, it is difficult to address the specifics of any one person’s case. But as a general course of counseling this man, I would still adhere to my path: separate false from true guilt, and deal with the latter through the person and work of Jesus.

Your response only deals with the latter issue. It still fails to answer how the victorious gospel can “cleanse his conscience” regarding the eternal destiny of those for whose death he is responsible. The most you can reasonably claim is that he should not feel guilt for their eternal destiny because God will save everyone eventually regardless of the choice of faith they choose in this life.

I know you feel passionately about your beliefs but I hope in the future you will not use language that tends to alienate those you seek to win over to your position. Accusing traditional Christianity of being “the military church filled with false traditions of men”; insinuating that anyone who disagrees with you and affirms the reality of false guilt is insane and heartless; and charging the traditional gospel with hypocrisy . . . These are not likely to be seen as winsome to those you seek to convince.

I appreciate your passion evident in this clip. My best friend’s son was deployed to Afghanistan with the Marines only 2 weeks ago. I worry about how his conscience may respond in the future to just such a scenario as you discussed.

It seems to me that your pastor friend was “stuck” only because he failed to realize this ex-soldier was struggling with two separate guilt issues, only one of which he was responsible for. It also seems to me that you fail to recognize this confusion and as a result, the “answer” of the victorious gospel is no greater a solution to this man’s stricken conscience than is that of the traditional gospel.

From your recounting of the story, the man appears to be struggling with the following: (1) guilt over the sin of murder, and (2) personal responsibility for deciding the ultimate fate (however false) of the 46 men he killed. It should have been made clear to him that he bears no responsibility for the latter issue. Whether one believes in election/predestination or in human free will, the sole responsibility for which religion/faith the dead soldiers embraced was theirs alone. In this instance, the gentleman was experiencing “false guilt”. If this had been dealt with adequately, then the issue for which he is solely responsible, i.e. murder, could have been singled out and dealt with.

In such a case, I see no difference between the offer of forgiveness for his personal guilt between the victorious gospel and the traditional gospel. Both are more than sufficient to take away his sin because Jesus is presented in both as his personal Savior. The victorious gospel would be able to satisfactorily answer the question of the murdered soldiers’ ultimate spiritual fate. But neither gospel can satisfactorily explain why they met their ultimate fates in this life at this man’s hands. That is a mystery beyond the ability of either gospel to answer.

I suggest it was this confusion of false and true guilt that exacerbated the ex-soldier’s situation. If the first had been recognized and dealt with, so he could leave the fate of the dead soldiers in God’s hands, then he might have more easily received the forgiveness offered by either gospel. I fail to see how the victorious gospel’s affirmation of the dead’s ultimate salvation in any way relieves this man of the false guilt he mistakenly voluntarily shouldered.
Gary’s response: False guilt? Jesus said to lay down our life rather than take it. The military with the help of a corrupt church has made it acceptable to kill for all kinds of ungodly reasons. Furthermore, if the soldier kills an unbeliever, according to what the soldier is taught in Christianity, if that “enemy” is not born again, that person is tortured endlessly forever. If the soldier lived by Jesus’ words and not the military church filled with false traditions of men, that man would never have joined the military in the first place. How can you say that soldier isn’t in some way responsible? He didn’t have to join the military. He could have been a conscientious objector. Without the knowledge that Jesus can undo what he did when he killed someone, I believe any sane person with a heart would feel guilty and rightfully so. The Victorious Gospel is the salve that can cleanse that conscience, I don’t believe the hypocritical traditional gospel can.

I must lovingly disagree completely with your statement that “we all will receive salvation” and that “there is no hell”. I do agree that the “doctrine of hellfire and damnation” has turned many away from the Lord but if we read our bible and listen to the words of Jesus; we will see that though His death upon the cross offers salvation to all, not everyone will receive it. Who was Jesus talking about when he said in Matthew 16:28 “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Brother, not everyone will be saved and this will be shown to us in the days ahead. God led me to write you this email to you. We are entering the “wilderness tribulation” where God is going to call out His true disciples out of the “beast” which is the world government and the church at large. It is only with complete submission to the Lord that one can be saved, not by simply attending church and “wearing the label of Christian.” God does not want religion… a works based, man made system, but rather the Gospel which is unmerited mercy and grace freely given by no works of our own.

Praise God brother and I hope you receive this message with an open heart and mind.

Tentmaker Response: I have many Bible translations which do NOT contain the concept of Hell or everlasting punishment. They consistently teach a God of Love. I prefer consistent translations, not ones that make God a double minded hypocrite.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/GatesOfHell.html

Thanks

Scott

I watched the podcast on “Toxic bibles. I have a comment and a question. My question: You have recognized Jesus as your Savior… Savior implies that we are being saved from something. If there is no hell, then what are we being saved from?

Comment: I have watched a dvd by Dr.Rawlings called “To Hell and back” There were people interviewed on this dvd that seemed very normal and very sincere. They gave an in depth account of there actual encounter in hell and calling upon the name of Jesus to get them out.

I would greatly appreciate your reply,

Blessings,

Scott
Gary’s Reply: Good questions. For thorough answers, please go to our FAQ section at: http://www.tentmaker.org/FAQ/index.html

Briefly, the consequences of Adam’s fall is clearly DEATH, not eternally being alive in torture. The wages of sin is DEATH. The Old Testament tells us EVERYONE goes to the grave, to sheol, the good, bad and ugly. There was no division. Tradition added that. The Bible tells us the death are asleep, they cannot praise God, they know nothing. Jesus came to deliver all mankind out of this state of death. Furthermore, He came to deliver those alive on earth out of death. “Let the dead bury their own dead.” He came to give life to a world of death. He came to ransom all that were lost. He came to reconcile all back to God the Father. He accomplished this. If eternal torment is the consequence for Adam’s fall, then Jesus had to be eternally tortured for each human being is in fact he “died for us” and took upon himself the consequences for our sins. But He is NOT being tormented today, proof that eternal torment is a false teaching.

Regarding those who claim to have been to Hell and Back, I guess hell isn’t eternal after all, they came back. They say we only have one chance to escape Hell and it’s here on earth. But these folks went to Hell and escaped. The Bible says Jesus went to Hell and preached and “led captivity captive.” I can go on and on. However, I wrote a lengthy article “To Hell and Back” dealing with the many videos and books from people who claim they went to hell and came back. If you email me I’ll send you a copy. It’s not on line yet because I’m not quite finished with it yet. Peace, Gary

I have only one problem with what you are saying. Why would God have created a perfect bible in its original form, and then allowed the vast majority of its translators to poison it as you say? Why would He allow the great majority of faithful preachers to teach something that is totally untrue?
Gary’s Answer: The answer is in the Bible. God gave the Law, the covenant, the promises, the miracles, etc etc to Israel. They had it for 1600 years AND it told when and how the Messiah would come. He would do great miracles. And the majority of the religious leaders and the people missed it just like today. Why? Traditions of men which make the word of God of no effect and the “lying pen of the scribes.”

Hell (read Revelation 20) is where you go if you do not get to be with God. You send yourself there. Preaching Paul taught no Hell when the other books of the Bible do is looking for a loophole, but Paul, as we have seen in 1 Cor. 6 does teach Hell for without the kingdom of God is Hell.

When you claim everyone is saved, what are you, in fact, doing?

“For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Rom. 13.9)

You are bearing false witness against God as said in Rev. 22.18,19.

The mark of the cross is totally effective, but God would be evil if he coerced everyone into salvation. Calvinism corrupts your thinking. Satan uses calvinism to twist your thoughts and deny there is a Hell for the unsaved. A loving God would never let a person who belongs in jail for life out to be with his victims. Why should God hold a lesser standard than man? It is because some men make up this teaching of no Hell so they think they have nothing to fear. How deceived and delusional they are!

That’s a primer for you, but if you want to talk about it more, the door is open at biblocality.com