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The UK Bible Students Website Christian Biblical Studies |
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Unless
otherwise denoted, all Scripture references are to the
New
International Version (NIV; British text)
Question:
Will only Christ’s Church be saved?
Answer:
Many Christians believe that Christ’s Church exclusively will be saved forever,
and that the remainder of the human race have no hope. The Bible does teach the
salvation of the Church, but close examination reveals that it also holds out
the hope of salvation for the entire human family.
We’ll
use 1 Timothy 4: 9, 10 as the basis
for our answer:
“This
is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labour
and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of
all men, and especially of those who believe.”
Here
we see God’s Plan of Salvation for two general classes
—
1.
A heavenly, elect class, the Church,
referred to by the words, “especially of those who believe”;
and
2.
An earthly, non-elect class, the
whole of humanity, referred to by the words, “all men.”
The
Bible contrasts these two classes:
•
The Church’s call is by the election of
individuals, qualified by their faith. The world’s call is by free grace; the general outpouring of
God’s mercy, designed to bring them to faith.
•
The Church has been called, developed, and delivered during the Gospel Age — an
age of faith. The world will be called, developed, and delivered during the
Millennial Age — the Kingdom of Christ, intended to save the
non-elect.
•
The Church is promised the reward of the Divine spirit nature, with Heaven as
their eternal home. The world is promised the reward of human perfection, with
Earth as their eternal home.
Election vs Free
Grace
From
the beginning God determined that a class would become sharers with Christ
as His “Bride”, and that every individual member of this select group would
possess certain characteristics and qualities (Romans 8: 28, 29).
During the Gospel Age, God selected the
individuals who would make up the elect
Church (Revelation 17: 14). (It
seems, however, that God did not predestinate, or predetermine who the
individuals would be.)
Free Grace,
on the other hand, refers to the comprehensive offer of salvation for all
mankind, which will take place during the Millennial Age Kingdom, the world’s
Judgment Day, during Jesus’ Second Advent, yet
future.
The Elect to Bless the Non-Elect
Why
did God plan both an elective and a
free grace salvation?
God
determined that the Church would be selected first, having proven themselves
faithful through trials, sufferings, and persecutions. They then could be used
as His qualified Divine agents in blessing the world of mankind during the Millennial Age (Romans 8: 19). The Church will
enable mankind, the non-elect — all those who are not of the Church — to make
good the opportunities to gain the salvation which will then be presented to
them.
All vs
Most
Note that there is a difference between universalism and universal
salvation.
Universalism says that Christ’s ransom sacrifice on Calvary’s cross
guarantees the eternal salvation of every
individual.
The
Bible teaches, however, that those who prove incorrigibly wicked will be
destroyed, as is suggested by the following
references.
Deuteronomy 30: 19:
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set
before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you
and your children may live . . . .”
Romans 6: 23:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”
Copyright
June 2008, UKBibleStudents.co.uk. May be reproduced only with
permission.
****************
Romans 8: 19
“The
creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be
revealed.”
“And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers.”
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”