THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN

1 Tim. 4:10

Morning Meditation 2/20/2013

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe."

When I say, "The Saviour of all Men," I do not mean all men are, or will be saved. The fact is that most of the people on planet earth will be lost. It is the broad way that leads to destruction and many there be which travel that path. But our text says plainly that Jesus is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.

We see in this statement God's desire for the salvation of mankind. The golden text of the Bible is true: John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

But love can be scorned. It can be rejected. It can be insulted. And the truth of the matter is that it is daily being insulted by mankind as a whole.

The Lord wants every man to have an opportunity to be saved. This is what Paul says, "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach." The word "labor" translates, "kopiao," and means, " to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief)." Paul describes the condition created by his seeking to get the message of salvation to all men. The missionary message is not an easy one especially when the people that you preach to do not want it. They do not say verbally that they want to go to hell but that is exactly what happens to those who reject the gospel.

It is not what God wants for them. He sent His Son to die for all mankind. 1 John 2:1-2, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

The sin of man goes back to Adam but the rebellion of man goes back to Cain. Adam sinned, but he accepted God's remedy for his sin. Cain took it upon himself to worship according to his own choosing. He offered the fruit of the ground (a bloodless offering) for his sins, and it was unacceptable to God. When God gave him opportunity to change the offering, he refused and chose a life of rebellion against God. He became a murderer and the founder of false religion.

There are many things that Cain did. He established the first city (Gen. 4:17) One of his sons became a cattle rancher (Gen. 4:20), his brother Jubal became the father of all those who handle the harp and organ. Tubal-Cain was the maker of musical instruments and an instructor in his generation in the use of instruments. But the sad thing is that there is no record of his repentance and all of his descendants died in the judgment of the flood.

When Cain rejected God's way of forgiveness, God led a lamb to the door of his tent and it stood there as an invitation to salvation as long as he lived. Salvation is by the blood. Lev. 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul."

Hebrews 13:20 says, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant."

This is God's way and He will not change or make an exception. God is a loving God and we are His creation and we are insubordinate when we suppose that He will change the rules for us. Romans 9:20 says, "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Jesus is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe. He died for all but only the believer will be saved.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White