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by Brother Carlton

10/12/15
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"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." 1 Timothy 4:10"

When Paul said that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men we must remember how the word "all" is used in scripture.

Those who call themselves Arminians and Universalists use this scripture text as a proof for their assertion that God has purposed the salvation of every single man, woman and child.

However, this can not be the case as we shall see.

Sometimes the word "all" is used to mean all without exception and at other times "all" is used to be all without distinction. It is the later meaning I believe the apostle has in view. Let me explain by using some scriptural examples.

Example #1 When it was said of John the Baptist that "There went out unto him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins" (Mark 1:5), we know that this doesn't mean every man, woman and child were baptized and yet that is what this passage seems to be saying doesn't it? When we compare Luke 7:30 it says, "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being NOT BAPTIZED of him."

So what does "all baptized of him" mean? It clearly does not mean all without exception but rather all without distinction as in all classes of people.

Example #2 In John 8:2 we read: "And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them."

Does the word "all" here mean every single person in Jerusalem? Obviously not because the temple could not accommodate every single person in Jerusalem nor would all the people desire to sit under the teaching of Jesus espcially the Scribes and Pharisees. We must conclude therefore that "all" in John 8:2 means all without distinction meaning all kinds and classes of people. That best fits the context.

Example #3 In Acts 22:16 it says, "For thou (Paul) shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou has seen and heard."

Surely we can not understand the world "all men" to include every single person in the human race can we?

Example #4, 5 & 6 We read that after Peter and John had healed the lame man at the door of the temple, "all men glorified God for that which was done" (Acts 4:21). Not all men glorified God for what was done because we know there were many who hated Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that they would be "hated of all men" for His name's sake (Luke 21:17). Not every man hates Jesus. His disciples and all who believe on him love him.

And when Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself" (John 12:32), He certainly did not mean that every individual of mankind would be so drawn. What He did mean was that Jews and Gentiles, men of all nations and races, would be drawn to Him. And that is what we see is actually happening.

Now back to 1 Timothy 4:10 which many try to use to prove "universalism" that is, that salvation is universal and that God has purposed to save every single person in the human race. By now you should understand that "all" doesn't mean necessarily "all without exception" but can mean "all without distinction." With this in mind let us read this passage again.

1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, (without distinction...all kinds of men, rich, poor, sick, healthy, Germans, Jews, Russians, etc) specially of those that believe." When it says specially of those that believe we should understand it to mean that Jesus is truly the redeemer of those given to him by the Father, that is, the elect chosen before the foundation of the world. (John 17:1-3; Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13)

Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos on https://www.YouTube.com/user/LAStreetPreacher CONTACT at [email protected]

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