Will Jesus fail to save all people? The boiled-down answer

Jesus simplified things. He was the Master of the boil-down. There were over 600 specific laws God gave to Moses for the Israelites. Jesus boiled them down to 2 commandments in Matthew 22:35-40.

That's the way I like it - nice and simple. And I hope you do too.

In this post I'll boil down a major subject in the Bible - universal salvation through Jesus - with just 3 verses from the Bible. And I'm not even sure I need all 3 to make my point. But I'll give you 3.

It's really as easy as 1-2-3

This may be too simple for some people's liking. But here it goes - 3 simple, yet very powerful Bible verses.
 
First: What is God's will?

[God our Savior] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4, King James Version)

Second: Who will accomplish God's will?

Then [Jesus] said, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” (Hebrews 10:9, New International Version)

Third: Is God able to achieve His will?

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27, KJV)

The answer to God's question is obvious to me. I say, "No, God. There is nothing too hard for You."

What do you say?

Well, there you have it. Easy peasy - 1-2-3. 

A VERY BIG NO-NO

When the subject of universal salvation comes up, all of a sudden many Christians say this is something that God can't do. They say this even though God said it's His will, that He sent His Son to do it, and that He's able to do it. 

Most from the Christian pulpits today preach as though 1 Timothy 2:4 says,

[God our Savior] will not have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (NV - No Version of the Bible says this)

And most followers of Jesus believe this over what is actually written in the Bible.

Is this not adding to God's words? What does God say about this whether we do it directly or indirectly?

Add nothing to what He has said; for if you do, He will correct you and expose you as a liar. (Proverbs 30:6, The Voice - not the TV show, the Bible translation)

Do not add to or take away from God's words. This is a no-no!

When we read the first three verses above, we see what God's will is, Who will accomplish it, and that He is able to do it. And universal salvation through Jesus is a good thing! It's why He came to earth - for all of us!

No. Jesus will not fail to save all people.


Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. If you want a fuller biblical explanation of Jesus saving all people, read the Bible with the understanding of the 3 foundational verses above. You can also click on the book JESUS and Hitler above and dig in. 

The darkest day in the history of the U.S.A.

"Thanks Mom for loving me!"

57 million dead and counting, at a rate of 3500 a day.

Slaughtered right here in the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Murdered by their fellow Americans. And it's all perfectly legal and acceptable according to the powers that be. It's actually a good thing in the eyes of some.

This subject really gets to me. If I come across harsh, so be it. There are some wrongs in life that we should strongly stand against.

January 22, 1973

Since this infamous day, it has been legal to murder a child in the womb in America. A handful of "Supreme Court" justices decided it should be so, and tens of millions have paid the price with their lives through horribly barbaric methods.

"Thank you Mother."

There's no birth certificate. No death certificate. No criminal charges. Their deaths - averaging nearly 1.4 MILLION PER YEAR in the U.S. alone - never make the headlines. You won't find them in the obituary section either. It's as if they were never there.

But they were.

And they were murdered.

Ganged up on by a ruthless, bloodthirsty, money-grubbing "doctor" and clinic staff with their atrocious weapons of death, the innocent little one didn't stand a chance. Even the baby's own "mother" stood in the camp of the enemy. I know, she had a really good reason for murdering her own child. COW CACA! There is never a good reason for killing an innocent child. I've heard all the best excuses. They're all pitiful attempts to justify cold-blooded murder of a defenseless little human. And you know it.

The American killing machine silently devours its victims day by day, year by year. Americans legally killing Americans. You gonna fix this Donald Trump?

A terrorist, whether home-grown or foreign, kills one American and there's an uproar - and rightly so.

"I know you love me Mama and Papa."

Where's the uproar for THE MOST DEFENSELESS among us? The ones who aren't heard. The ones who aren't even asked if they want to live. The ones who can't run away. The ones who can't fight back.

According to the Supreme Court, the perfectly innocent little one in the womb isn't "a person." I'm sure the tiny tots would disagree. But their immature, uninformed opinion means nothing in sophisticated, civilized America. 

The pro-abortion side talks about "safe" and "unsafe" abortion. ALL abortion is unsafe to the little one being dismembered.

From 1973 through 2014, nearly 57 million legal abortions occurred in the U.S. That's like killing all the inhabitants of  Maine or Hawaii - about 1.4 million - every year, year after year after year. This would probably not sit well with all those Maniacs or Hawaiians. At least they could try to fight back.

God knits, man destroys

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

¹³ For You created my inmost being;
    You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    Your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
(Psalm 139)

Most of us would agree that children that are wanted and allowed to live and welcomed to join us on this side of the womb bring us unimaginable joy. And we know that they are wonderful works and gifts from God. I'm blessed to have three children, and I can't imagine the world without them. The innocent ones who are killed would also bring the world joy if given the opportunity.  

At the moment of conception the child begins living and growing into a wonderful creation that will bear the image of our Creator. If the mother and/or other people stop the child from living and growing, are they not killing the child? Of course they are. 

God said to Cain after he killed his brother Abel, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground."

Though the tens of millions who uttered not one word were forced into a silent death, God hears them, and they matter to Him.

How loudly does the blood of these innocent little ones cry out to God? America, do you think God is impressed as you raise your blood soaked hands and sing "God bless America!"?  

Our inconsistent President

In 2012, an emotional Barack Obama spoke about the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut - "The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10-years-old," he said, pausing to wipe away a tear. "They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own."

Well spoken Mr. President.

But apparently, to our pro-choice President, the innocent ones in the womb don't have much of a future. So it's OK to kill them.

"Thanks for letting me fly Mom and Dad!"

Do you weep for them Barack? Or must they be 5 to 10 years old to deserve a tear from you? Surely, none of these innocent little ones would have liked birthday parties anyway. None of them wanted to find the love of their life (the opposite sex can be so demanding). Nah, they probably didn't want to have their own kids. Certainly, Mr. President, not one of the 10 million or so babies slaughtered under your watchful dry eyes would have enjoyed any of these things that we on this side of the womb count as tremendous blessings.

They too, El Presidente, "had their entire lives ahead of them."

My stomach turned in a new direction

In the USA, 4 out of every 10 new lives in the womb end up dead through abortion.

♪ ♫ "My Mom and Dad roooock!"♫ ♪

One woman who killed her baby for medical reasons wrote this, "The shot that stopped our Daughter's heart was potassium chloride. We watched the heart stop beating on the US,...it was very sad, but peaceful." WOW! A very odd kind of individual gets peace while sitting and watching their own child's heart stop beating - especially when that individual consented to it! I hope this woman either got a new heart from God or got fixed. Cold-hearted people like this shouldn't have children.

Another woman in the same situation wrote, "My son received a shot to stop his heart. Ultrasound was used with the injection. It was also the only option I was given." Sadly for some women, they think, and are often led to believe by unfit doctors, that this is their only option. Lies! Is not letting the child live an option?

Can God no longer work miracles? Besides, the child is the miracle! Any healing that God would do is just icing on the cake. How could you not want to look into the beautiful, living eyes of your own child, no matter what their physical condition is or how long their life expectancy is.

When I read these two sad quotes, I felt physically weird and sick. My stomach turned in a way it had never turned before. And my heart sank to a level it had never been to before. God have mercy on us.

Doctors are not gods

I'm often amazed at how powerful a doctor's words can be to a patient. I've seen people give up fighting to live because "Doc said I've only got 6 months left." But I've also seen many others fight and prove doctors wrong.  

They are not gods! And some of them aren't even good doctors. 

I'm paraphrasing a joke I heard by the late Robin Williams: If you narrowed it down through process of elimination, you could find the worst doctor in the world ... and somebody has an appointment with him tomorrow.

This joke is funny, unless you are the person who actually has an appointment with a bad doctor, and are unaware of his or her crappiness.

How often have babies been killed because a shitty doctor nudged an emotionally stressed woman or family into it?

Here's one wise couple's pregnancy experience with a bad doctor.

If you have an appointment with an abortionist, I suggest you cancel it. If you are unaware that your doctor is also an abortionist, and he nudges you that direction, fire his murdering ass and walk out. There are other options. 

The unseen consequences

Abortion kills a baby and makes the abortionist's bank account fatter.

But what are the unseen consequences?

"You always so good to me Mama."

How are the parents who did this to their own baby affected short and long term? 

What blessings does God withhold because of abortion? What curses does He bring that may not be recognized as curses from Him?

That little someone who was killed could have been the best president the U.S. has ever had. That little person could have been the one gift from God to humanity who cures cancer. That little, defenseless person could have been so many things - whether great or small. But we'll never know.

Think of all the good that could have been done by these 57 million and their children - citizens contributing to make America better and stronger.

Here are some interesting statistics concerning unseen costs of abortion.

 

So you're pro-choice?

"I choose that you don't be pro-choice!"

The term pro-choice sounds so PC. But what is actually being chosen?

A woman, and maybe others in her life involved in the decision to kill, basically says to the pre-born baby, "My life is more important than yours. And because of that, you must die."

All of the good mothers I know would lay down their own lives for their children a thousand times.

For all who are reading this who are in favor of killing pre-born children - aren't you glad your mother didn't think like that and kill you?

If someone you know is thinking of killing their baby, please try to talk them out of it. Every life is valuable.

Please pray for all people involved in abortion - babies, parents, families, doctors, leaders, etc. Only God can make this right. And I believe someday He will.



Sincerely, and with great sadness on this unhappy anniversary,
Wes


P.S. Killing a pre-born baby IS NOT an unforgivable sin. There are obviously a lot of people who have made the decision to kill their baby. I'm sure most of them feel extreme guilt (and rightly so). But our gracious God will forgive all who come to Him with a repentant heart. Romans 5:20 says, "... though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God His grace is wider and deeper still!" 

His grace and forgiveness are there for all to receive.

God says in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Reason with God today. 


These kids were too cute to leave off this page.

♪♫ "My future's so bright ..." ♫

"Who loves me more, Mom or Dad? OK, it's a tie."

"I got this handsome face from my Dad."

"I look good in red."

"Pucker up Ma 'n' Pa."

"Trevor, NOOOOOO!"

"Mama, I will make lots of money in WWE."

  

THE most important thing I learned while attending the Baptist Church is ...

"Whyyy are you not a Baptist?!"

... that I'm not a Baptist.


Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. Peace, love and joy to all my Baptist siblings.

Democracy will someday cease to exist...thank God!

Ahhhh... just imagine... no more political ads. Better yet, no more self-serving politicians! No more lies. No more mud-slinging. No more BS!

Do you long for a government that does what is right? Not one based on the majority, because history has shown the majority can be disastrously wrong. But a government based on what is really right - on what God says is right. 

I'm talking about a future when Jesus - God's Son, your Savior, the One Who loves you and died for you - rules on the earth.

The Principle of Contrast

The United States has some real bozos running it. But some countries have leaders who are downright evil controlling the people. 

Why does God allow weak, ill-equipped humans to poorly run this nation and the world? One major reason: Contrast.

One way God teaches us is through contrast. We don't appreciate a blessing until we've experienced a curse. We don't appreciate good until we've experienced evil. We don't appreciate God's provision of food unless we've been hungry. We don't appreciate rain until we've had drought. We don't appreciate life until we've seen death. We won't appreciate Jesus running the earth until we experience corrupt people running the earth. And our experience on the bad side of these things needs to last long enough for us to never forget it when we are enjoying the good side.

Let's be honest. We usually look to God seriously when times are tough. We tend to forget Him when times are good. We're like the "friend" who only comes around when he wants something.

The human race is slow to learn that we always need God - in good times and bad. Who do you think created your heart to beat without you even thinking about it? Who do you think created the air you're breathing? Yeah, we take God for granted.

If you ignore God and put your hope and trust in anything other than Him, He lets you have your way and experience the negative consequences that come with it. If you don't want God to be your King, the only other option is for other humans to rule over you. Bad choice. (I guess a third option could be Satan ruling over you, if that's your thing. Another bad choice.)

So God allows life to suck sometimes so we lean on Him and we'll properly appreciate life when it's good. 

We won't get a vote

"Willy, I told you the ladies dig the dreads."

The earth has been run by corrupt people for so long, I don't know if we can truly grasp how good it will be when Jesus does rule on the earth. I guess we'll just have to wait and experience it. But try to look beyond the voting booths and Donald Trump's hair to get a glimpse of the wonderful future. 

When you go from Bush 1 to Clinton to Bush 2 to Obama some things change - like new curtains in the White House. Maybe even a new First Dog. But it's pretty much government as usual with feeble men in charge. Even the better leaders are limited to what they can do by weak leadership in other areas of government.

But if you go from Bush to Clinton to Bush to Obama to JESUS, it's all gonna change. Can you say "night and day?" No more weak men running the world. Jesus is gonna take over. He won't whine in a political ad to get your vote. He won't need it.

Jesus and His followers - those hand-picked by Him - will reign on the earth. And His followers will act in harmony with Him and answer directly to Him as they rule the earth.

♪♪ You say you want a revolution ♪♪

The political systems we now see will be completely overthrown for the better. There will be a new, real Sheriff in town. Jesus will kick some butt, but total restoration is His ultimate goal. Here's a peek into the future.

¹⁵ And out of [Jesus'] mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. (Revelation 19)

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)

And the new Sheriff's posse will be a powerful bunch. Paul, one of Jesus' future top world deputies, wrote this in the Bible to other future world deputies,

² "Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Know you not that we shall judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6)

The reign of Jesus and his followers on the earth won't be weak. Sometimes discipline will need to be dealt out. Jesus said,

²⁶ "And he that overcomes, and keep My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to pieces: even as I received of my Father." (Revelation 2)

When Jesus reigns on the earth, the whole world will learn what is truly right from God's point of view.

When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. (Isa. 26:9)

He will not need NATO or other worldwide man-made organizations to accomplish His will. And He won't have to use nukes either. He has all power and all resources available to judge the world.  

⁹ The Lord will be King over the whole earth...¹⁶ Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁷ If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. (Zechariah 14)

Politicians talk about change. Jesus will make all things new, and right, and good.

"But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13)

Jesus is the King of kings, but has not yet come to rule the earth. But He will, just as God has said for a long time.

"Heaven must receive [Jesus] until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets." (Acts 3:21)

It's going to happen. It's just a matter of time. Are you looking forward to it, or dreading it?

God's message to the whole world, but especially world leaders

¹ Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break Their chains
    and throw off Their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in His anger
    and terrifies them in His wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed My king
    on Zion, My holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are My Son;
    today I have become Your Father.
⁸ Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth Your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
    You will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate His rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss His Son, or He will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for His wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

 (Psalm 2)

While we patiently wait for Jesus to reign on the earth, He can reign in your life right now. If you're not already part of His posse, call on His name and repeat after Carrie Underwood, "Jesus take the wheel."



Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. Until the day Jesus reigns on the earth, we should vote for the best possible people to govern us. And since God is the One Who is able to establish and destroy nations - including the United States - I simply suggest we choose public servants who are most in line with Him. But if they ignore God, don't be surprised when they fail. Keep your eyes on Jesus - He'll never fail.

Do you really want a human to rule over you? Read 1 Samuel 8.

God spoke to me...through my dog

First, I need to clarify. When I say God spoke to me, I'm saying this symbolically. I didn't hear thundering words from heaven, but the message was loud and clear. And He used my faithful pooch, Riley, to deliver the message.

Dog breaks curfew, steals car, goes on binge

It was around midnight, and I was sound asleep. I was awakened by the sound of my 16 year old daughter rushing up the steps. She barged into my room, "Dad, I need help! Riley puked all over!" Did I mention that I was sleeping, and doing a pretty good job of it?  

"Hey babe! Orange Julius run. You in?"

I reluctantly grumbled out of bed, got somewhat dressed, and slogged down to the scene of the crime.

Our living room carpet is light beige. It was now light beige with orange polka dots. Riley had puked up three big bright orange pools of something. There were no chunks. It looked to me like he had snuck out, drove to the mall, and binged on Orange Julius. It apparently was so good that he wanted to come home and share it with the rest of us. He's really thoughtful like that.

As we started to clean, I bent down over the biggest polka dot - about a 12" circle - and I noticed something. About a third of the top of the pool had been neatly skimmed off. Riley had come back for more. Apparently Orange Julius is still pretty tasty even when mixed with some tummy acid.

Then it happened. God spoke to me. As I was down on my knees scrubbing away, He flooded my mind with this Bible verse,

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." (Proverbs 26:11)

God could not have used clearer symbolism to speak to me. But it wasn't just Riley puking that God used to get my attention. The timing of the message was also key. I couldn't wiggle out of this one.

My folly

Just a few hours before Riley passed God's message on to me, I was a fool repeating my folly.

That evening I was watching something on TV I shouldn't have. Something that I'd watched off and on for quite some time. Something I knew deep down wasn't right, but I easily justified it and watched anyway. (Just in case you're wondering, it's not porn. It has to do with violence.)

But like Riley's return for Orange Julius seconds, I came back for more TV upchuck, even though my conscience told me not to. Sure, I enjoyed watching this stuff, but the guilt that was associated with it wasn't enjoyable.

I was obviously being stubborn about this. But God knows how to get our full attention. And sometimes when it gets to that point, it's not pretty. I should have done the right thing earlier, but I didn't.

The position of the message (pool of puke) is also important. Riley's largest Orange Julius deposit was about four feet in front of my La-Z-Boy recliner, where I usually sit to watch TV. And it was about four feet in front of my TV. Pretty much right smack in the middle of my living room. I cleaned the stain as well as I could, but it's obvious something happened there. The remnant of the message on my carpet is like a scar reminding me of my folly.

God prunes us and changes our hearts

Every smelly, gooey swipe of the paper towel reminded me of my sin. I felt bad, but I knew God was right, and that He truly wants what's best for me.

When we understand that what God does for us and to us is always based on His love for us, that makes God's discipline and pruning easier to endure. With this mindset, we know we'll become better people - more like Jesus.

Now when I'm scanning the TV guide using my remote, I'm not drawn to the violent shows like I was before. God changed my heart and my desires. When we get our joy from God, He gives us what we want, because our wants line up with His will.

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

It's personal

The fact that God gave me this message shows me that He's interested in the details of our lives, and that He'll speak very personally to us. He cares.

Is there something in your life that God's been trying to get your attention about? Is there something you need to add or remove from your life? It could be a person, a thing, an attitude or something else.

The question is, "Are you and I paying attention to God?" Will you and I listen and do what's right sooner or later? We'll see.

A prayer for myself and for you is that we'll all be more tuned into and obedient to God.


Sincerely,
Wes