Verses that show God WANTS to save all

[jo]

Hi all, I am sure there has been a discussion on this before, I just cannot find it. I've read some ET arguments that God wants to punish sinners/unbelievers and does not want to save all.

Does anyone have specific verses that prove that God does not want people suffering forever, or that prove he wants to save everyone and will save everyone. Thanks! :)

[jabcat]

I'll start :)  ;

PHILIPPIANS

2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.


I TIMOTHY

1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—
   
2:4-6  who WILLS all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
   
4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

[GodIsLove]

You beat me to it Jabcat!

[GodIsLove]

1 Timothy was what I was thinking about. We can list more, but those verses are just so crystal clear.

[jo]

Thanks Jabcat for your response! I was actually reading 1 Timothy last night, and have some questions about it.

I TIMOTHY

1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—

I see that 1:15 clearly supports UR, but 1:16 says "but for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." I feel like read together it is saying that Jesus did come to save sinners, but in order to be saved they have to believe that Jesus came for their sins also. Or is it to be read saying that Jesus forgave Timothy, and that this is to be an example to ALL people that they should believe in Jesus because he even forgave the worst of sinners, and not necessarily that they have to believe to be saved?   

2:4-6  who WILLS all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

My bible version reads the WILLS portion as WANTS. I am assuming wills is the proper translation and in this context it means that he absolutely will save all?
   

Thank you again for your answer! I am still new to UR and I feel like many times I am stuck in the "what if it is not true" thought, which leaves me anxious and depressed. I try and remind myself that if I am so anxious about people I dont even know going to hell for eternity then how could a God so much more loving than all humans be okay with it, but I feel like every time I read a UR supporting verse the context makes it seem like only believers will be saved. I am new to understanding scripture so I am just trying to get it all figured out correctly!!

[jo]

1 Timothy was what I was thinking about. We can list more, but those verses are just so crystal clear.

Thank you for your answer!! I just read 1 Timothy in entirety (I read the first 4 verses for the firs time last night) and it really is an uplifting book. I still am confused because I interpreted some of the verses in a way that the "all" only refers to those who believe, but hopefully I can resolve that and understand it correctly!

[jabcat]

Thanks Jabcat for your response! I was actually reading 1 Timothy last night, and have some questions about it.

I TIMOTHY

1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—

I see that 1:15 clearly supports UR, but 1:16 says "but for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." I feel like read together it is saying that Jesus did come to save sinners, but in order to be saved they have to believe that Jesus came for their sins also. Or is it to be read saying that Jesus forgave Timothy, and that this is to be an example to ALL people that they should believe in Jesus because he even forgave the worst of sinners, and not necessarily that they have to believe to be saved?   

2:4-6  who WILLS all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

My bible version reads the WILLS portion as WANTS. I am assuming wills is the proper translation and in this context it means that he absolutely will save all?
   

Thank you again for your answer! I am still new to UR and I feel like many times I am stuck in the "what if it is not true" thought, which leaves me anxious and depressed. I try and remind myself that if I am so anxious about people I dont even know going to hell for eternity then how could a God so much more loving than all humans be okay with it, but I feel like every time I read a UR supporting verse the context makes it seem like only believers will be saved. I am new to understanding scripture so I am just trying to get it all figured out correctly!!

Hi jo.  I will answer from my understanding of scripture.  Much more elaboration of details could be made, but I will be direct and "get to the point".  Sort of a Cliff's Notes version :)

I believe yes, we do need to believe on Jesus as Savior.  Some are called, drawn, ,and given faith to do that in this lifetime/age.  Most will be in the next age, as God's work is of the ages.  There are multiple scriptures about how to be saved, and they all include calling on Him, believing on Him, confessing Him, etc.  But it also says "by grace are you saved through faith..and that not of yourselves..not works".   So He does the work through us, gives us what we need to come to Him.  "No man comes to the  Father unless the Spirit draw him.."

The other part, I used to know this better than I do now.  Basically, the word used is thelema, which is a strong form meaning along the lines of "God WILL do it, He INTENDS to; not just wishes or wants it".  There is another word, echomai, that has a "softer" meaning, more along the lines of "would like that, or wants to" do whatever, and that word is not used here in that verse. 

Hope that makes sense and helps :)

[GodIsLove]

Also just in thinking about the distinction between wills and wants...

God, all powerful, omniscient, able to see the beginning from the end...and yet he wants something to happen that ultimately doesn't happen??

Imagine the suffering of God to have wanted things to turn out a certain way (all saved) and yet the reality is a different situation (small amount saved)...forever. It's one thing when people act in ways that are contrary to God's will temporarily (with Him allowing this to happen, I believe because he can work evil for good and/or the temporary evil will somehow give a greater good/glory in the end) with Him knowing ultimately good/love/GOD will prevail. It's another to imagine a God who wanted his creation to end up a certain way but is unable or unwilling to bring that about, and is frustrated for all of eternity.

[DavidFord]

or that prove he

Universal Restoration & the Fate of the Wicked
a Tentmaker.com handout, modified
https://tentmaker.org/forum/judgement-and-punishment/universal-restoration-verses/

[marie glen]

Amen! He does want - and therefor wills - that all be saved.. humans may wish.. but God wills. "With God nothing is impossible".

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not-willing-that-any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - which to me means not a waiting for all to repent, but that the whole drama of the results of imperfection, an abyss of potential, a "missing the mark" translated, sin.. which can only ever be tribulation/suffering, apocalypse/ruin and death/perishing.. So the whole truth proving drama is being allowed and needs to fully run out, unfurl and be witnessed by all, as His truth proving documentary.

God being life and "is perfect".. Can He fall short? Or "miss the mark"? If He is "not willing that any perish" can He miss the mark and one perish?

Also there's this, speaking of His longsuffering, since He is life, He lives through and experiences ALL things which ever occur.. all wars.. all things in all those wars.. All the inhumane things man ever does to man.. oh! and I wanted to mention how many well intentioned folks worry over God's acts of judgment in the Old Testament, but have they never had a garden? If they - never cut back the weeds - there will be NO garden. And of course they forget the context of those judgments.
God bless! :HeartThrob:

[CHB]

Hi jo,

I think these verses are very powerful. (Isaiah 45:23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Also. (Phil. 1:10-11) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.  jabcat pointed this out. They are going to do this to the Glory of God. What glory would God get from this if all were thrown in hell?

I have been told by hell believers that at this time it will be to late but if you read (1Cor. 12:3) it says,  "that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. So in my opinion these that are bowing and confessing,....which to me is repenting...they will do so by the Holy Spirit. I don't believe God would turn a deaf ear to someone repenting. This convinced me above all other verses.

CHB

[darryl]

2 Peter 3:9  says  ( Strong's definitions included) , ' The Lord is not (Greek= 'ou'= not, none, nothing) slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not (Greek word= 'me'= not, not at all, none at all ) willing ( the Greek word for 'willing' is = 'boúlomai' ="resolutely plan",planning for, intending, ) for anyone (Greek word= 'tis'= anyone at all )  to perish, but everyone (Greek work ='pantas' = all, everyone)  to come to repentance'.The Greek word 'boulomai' is a very strong term according to Strongs and means, in the strongest language possible, that God is 'resolutely planning' for all to come to repentance. So, God does not 'merely desire' all to be saved, He is resolutely planning toward all being saved. ( What does repentance lead to ?..it leads to salvation) .Therefore, what Almighty God 'resolutely plans', MUST happen.It's actually almost blasphemy to say God will fail to achieve that which He is resolutely planning.Therefore ALL will ultimately be redeemed.If they are not all redeemed, God is not capable of getting what He wants to get. ...we need to truly believe that 'all things are possible with God'.By the way, if we are going to talk about so called 'free will' I must say that the Lord's will and determination to save somebody is infinitely greater than that persons will to reject Him