That None Should Perish
As we search longingly into God’s history of eternal plans for blessing his wayward people, we see his loving works in the Bible through centuries. In Deuteronomy 4:27,29 he declares
“The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations…But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
We begin to see the great love, mercy, and majesty of the Almighty which is described in the words of 1 Timothy 2:3-6
”…our God and Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself for all.”
First he demands repentance as in Psalm 14:2,3
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
And in Isaiah 55:6,7
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
But really, we must acknowledge from the Word of God in Psalm 49:7-12
“Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called their lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.”
So over all, we realize the conclusion that
“I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
However, before the appearance of Christ the Savior’s coming, it was necessary that the people must understand their guilt as unholy sinners before a righteous and holy divine Maker. Confession and repentance were essential. Therefore, preparation in the form of the prophet John the Baptist was sent to preach repentance. We see him in Matthew 3:1,2,7,8
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
We see now in a parable of Jesus in Luke18:10-14 how the Lord makes very clear what is genuine repentance:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Well known are the beloved verses of the New Testament in John 3:16-18.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Thus it is evident that it is faith alone, not works, for which God rewards both repentance and faith in the Savior with forgiveness, regeneration and eternal life. !n In other words THE SECRET OF NEW LIFE FOR THE AGES, in the teaching of Jesus is
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13,14)
For those who choose the pleasures of the world receive the strongest condemnation in 1 John 2:15
“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
The holy one descended from heaven declares forever
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Beyond all this fabulous blessing is this most gracious promise from the Savior in John 14:2,3
“In my Father’ house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
