Scriptur
01-12-2010, 07:45 AM
Pretend I am a brand new Christian. I am looking at 1 Tim. 4.10, "Savior of all men, specially those who believe." I like to read English plainly and it should be easy enough for a young child to understand.
"Savior of all men" can't mean universal salvation, because obviously not everyone is saved and Jesus said many are going to Hell. And it can't mean "Savior of other men in the world who believe" because it says they are in contrast to "specially those who believe." How can there be other men in the world who are saved who don't believe? or who believe but not specially believe? How is specially believing different than believing?
The only possible explanation is that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, grace is sufficient for the whole world, common or special grace of the gospel. And since man is accountable, without excuse, he cannot be totally depraved.
Thus, the whole idea of Totally depravity of man is Totally fallacious. Take Cain and Abel. Was Abel Totally depraved? Of course not. He gave a proper offering pleasing to God. He was not irresistibly inspired to do it. Nor was Cain denied grace.
This must be why Calvinists have had to resort to a new approach which is to say that Jesus did in fact die for the sins of the world but that is just God's revealed will he wants all to be saved. Secretly though he doesn't want all to be saved. That tries to explain the above problems for Calvinism but of course it fails since 1) God can't contradict himself, and 2) to die for the sins for the whole world, wanting none to perish, grace is sufficient, therefore man is not totally depraved.
"Savior of all men, specially those who believe" (1 Tim. 4.10) can not be translated "Savior of all men WHO WILL BELIEVE, specially those who believe" because that is repetitive convoluted mumbo jumbo. Who talks like that?
The only possible option is unlimited atonement and sufficient grace for all (prevenient grace) so no totally depravity and no need for irresistible grace. Praise the Lord!
"Who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Tim. 4.10) can't be read as...
"Who is the Savior of all men who WILL BELIEVE, specially of those that believe" since that is redundant nonsense.
Who is the Savior of all men NON-ELECT ONLY, specially those that believe" since the non-elect don't believe.
So the correct reading is: "Who is the Savior of all men, specially those that believe"; that is, "As the Savior of all men He provides sufficient grace and universal atonement, and those who believed responded, repented and believed in Christ to be regenerated.
"Savior of all men" can't mean universal salvation, because obviously not everyone is saved and Jesus said many are going to Hell. And it can't mean "Savior of other men in the world who believe" because it says they are in contrast to "specially those who believe." How can there be other men in the world who are saved who don't believe? or who believe but not specially believe? How is specially believing different than believing?
The only possible explanation is that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, grace is sufficient for the whole world, common or special grace of the gospel. And since man is accountable, without excuse, he cannot be totally depraved.
Thus, the whole idea of Totally depravity of man is Totally fallacious. Take Cain and Abel. Was Abel Totally depraved? Of course not. He gave a proper offering pleasing to God. He was not irresistibly inspired to do it. Nor was Cain denied grace.
This must be why Calvinists have had to resort to a new approach which is to say that Jesus did in fact die for the sins of the world but that is just God's revealed will he wants all to be saved. Secretly though he doesn't want all to be saved. That tries to explain the above problems for Calvinism but of course it fails since 1) God can't contradict himself, and 2) to die for the sins for the whole world, wanting none to perish, grace is sufficient, therefore man is not totally depraved.
"Savior of all men, specially those who believe" (1 Tim. 4.10) can not be translated "Savior of all men WHO WILL BELIEVE, specially those who believe" because that is repetitive convoluted mumbo jumbo. Who talks like that?
The only possible option is unlimited atonement and sufficient grace for all (prevenient grace) so no totally depravity and no need for irresistible grace. Praise the Lord!
"Who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Tim. 4.10) can't be read as...
"Who is the Savior of all men who WILL BELIEVE, specially of those that believe" since that is redundant nonsense.
Who is the Savior of all men NON-ELECT ONLY, specially those that believe" since the non-elect don't believe.
So the correct reading is: "Who is the Savior of all men, specially those that believe"; that is, "As the Savior of all men He provides sufficient grace and universal atonement, and those who believed responded, repented and believed in Christ to be regenerated.