Jesus is the savior of all.
The scriptures say “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). (All means all and that’s a promise). “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people” (Romans 5:18). It doesn’t say some people- it refers to Jesus’ redemption price paid on the cross for Adam’s original sin; a perfect life for a perfect life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NIV). The scriptures demonstrate that the gift of life is for the entire human race-without regard for when, or where, or how a person lived, what religion they were, or whether or not they accepted Jesus as their Savior during their lifetime. Every individual who ever lived has had a different experience and relationship with God and His son Jesus. There are also many different perceptions about what salvation actually is and how it is accomplished.
1 Timothy 2:1-6 states “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind; the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time”. The knowledge of the truth comes to different people at different times. The relationship that the heroes of faith in Old Testament times, that disciples of Christ had when they walked with him during his life on earth, and those trying to live godly lives since the gospel call went out all have different knowledge that will be clearly manifested in God’s “proper time”.
We believe the scriptures teach that the whole world will be given the same opportunity that Adam had- the possibility of human perfection and eternal life under favorable conditions on a perfect earth after the resurrection of the dead. Jeremiah speaks of this future time. “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34). (See also Isaiah 11:1-9 and Isaiah 35:5-10)
When Adam disobeyed God in Eden, the Lord said- “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground; since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return" (Genesis 3:19 NIV). 930 years later, Adam died a natural death and went to the grave. Looking at the word translated “hell” in the bible, we have the Hebrew word “Sheol” and the Greek word “Hades” defined as either the “grave”, the “tomb”, or the state of death – all a natural consequence of having lived. Ecclesiastes 9:5 tells us “For the living knows that they will die, but the dead knows nothing…” That seems to negate the possibility that anyone can experience the pain and suffering of “eternal torment” after they are dead. We believe that “hell” as popularized by Dante’s Inferno is not a scriptural concept and that salvation (or life) will be available for all humanity. All mankind sleeps in death awaiting the resurrection. God has a place for everyone in either his heavenly or earthly kingdoms. The Lord’s Prayer assures us that his “will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. (Matthew 6:6-13).
The God of Love has a plan of salvation for all mankind.
