If God Wills the Salvation of All People…

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:16)

It is almost universally believed that God wills the salvation of all people without exception, that he wants to save all, that he has done all he can to save the whole human race. If that is the case, if the Lord God wills the salvation of all and some are not saved, as is the case, what does the will of God have to do with anyone’s salvation? — Absolutely nothing!

            If God willed the salvation of all, and some are lost in spite of his will, God’s will would be just as irrelevant and meaningless as yours or mine. But that is not the case. He declares, “I will do all my pleasure!”—“Our God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased!”—“Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the sea, and in all deep places!”

      The Word of God declares, with unmistakable clarity, that it is the will of God alone that is the cause of our salvation in Christ (John 1:11-13; Romans 9:16). If salvation depended upon the will of man, no one would ever be saved. What is the condition of man’s will? It is the same as man’s condition. —Spiritually dead! —Depraved! —Perverse! —In Bondage! This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture (John 5:40; 6:44; Romans 3:10-12). It is not the sinner’s will that brings him to Christ, but God’s will (James 1:18; Ephesians 1:3-5, 9, 11; John 6:37-39). If God almighty willed the salvation of all, all would be saved (Isaiah 14:24; 46:9-11; Daniel 4:34-35). —“The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have thought, so shall it stand!”

Don Fortner

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com