ACCURATELY DESCRIBING THE DIVINE WILL OF GRACE

By Gary Ray Branscome

Although we are saved by God’s love, when we are describing that love, or the fact that God “Wants all men to be saved,” we should never give people the impression that God’s love and salvation are available apart from faith in Christ. As it is written, “There is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). [See John 3:16, 1Tim. 2:4.] Likewise, we should never describe God’s desire to save sinners in a way that leads men to believe that by praying a prayer the unrepentant and unbelieving can continue in sin without any danger of eternal punishment. As it is written, “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sex perverts, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” // “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who does not believe the Son will not see life; but God’s wrath remains on him” (1Corinthians 6:9-10, John 3:36).

Although God offers salvation to all who trust in Christ, and reaches out to the lost through His Word, we should never give people the impression that faith is something they do to save themselves. The words, “You are saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” tell us that even our faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). And, the words, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” tell us that God gives us that gift through His Word (Romans 10:17).

Christ Himself said, “No man can come to me, unless the Father who has sent me draws him” (John 6:44). However, we should never give people the impression that God might not want to save them. Christ’s words, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me,” assure us that Christ’s arms are open to all (John 6:37). On the other hand, even if it looks to you like you have chosen Christ, the words, “No one can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” make it clear that apart from God’s grace you would never have made the right choice (1Corinthians 12:3).

The words, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but want the wicked man to turn from his way and live,” tell us that it is not God’s will for anyone to be lost (Ezekiel 33:11). However, the words, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be damned,” tell us that it is also His will for unbelievers to be damned (Mark 16:16). Neither of these truths should be construed in a way that contradicts the other. If these two facts seem contradictory to our puny finite minds, we need to accept what the Bible says without trying to manufacture explanations. When the Bible says, “Do not add to His words,” that includes making up explanations and teaching them as doctrine (Proverbs 30:6). The words, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” apply to all who think that they can discover spiritual truths that God has not revealed (Romans 1:22). And, the words, “How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out,” reveal the impossibility of discovering God’s “hidden will” (Romans 11:33).

SCRIPTURE ALONE

GRACE ALONE

FAITH ALONE