Christ - Savior of all men

"Christ is the savior of all men, especially those who believe in Him." - 1 Timothy 4:10. I, as usual, have been watching 'youtube preaching' and I have heard this verse come up quite a bit, and I thought that it is high time it is explained. So what does this verse mean? If it means that all men are saved, what is this 'especially those who believe' part about? Is he any more a savior to them? No! This verse is not a statement of causality, but the declaration of a title. Christ the savior of all men is a title being applied here. We also again not confuse that this means all men are saved. Instead this means that he is the only savior; God's unique son, through whom is the only way to the Father. Why then include 'all men'? Because God is not God of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles too - Romans 3:29. This verse is not a foundation for the heresy of universalism (the belief that all men are saved and will go to heaven), but instead the condemnation of it! This is reaffirming what Christ said when he spoke of the narrow way and the narrow gate (Matthew 7:14). Christ is not only the mediator for all men, He is the ONLY mediator for all men. Not all religions lead to the Father.

Now you may ask, 'Matthew, why do you say this?' to which I will reply; 'to speak the truth, wholly and un-abashedly to the Glory of God'. Indeed, to use this verse, or any other, to say that all men are saved is contrary to many scriptures. Take for example Matthew 7:21, "Not all who say unto me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven"; clearly, there will be some, who even confess the Lord with their mouths, that shall not enter heaven, and thus are not saved.

Now you shall surely be confused, you must surely say, 'but Matthew, look at Romans 10:9 (If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you shall be saved)'. I would have to answer you to look closer: "And believe in your heart". There are those who lie, and who falsely 'confess' Jesus to be Lord. How is this possible? The answer is very simple, yet vitally important to understand: Faith is a gift from God, not something which we must obtain, or strive for, or exercise to keep. Faith, as a GIFT, saves because it is by faith that we confess and believe! Faith as a gift from a worthy sacrifice saves us, and does not let us go. This is what the great fathers of the reformation meant when they said 'faith alone'!

Not all are saved. Not all will be saved. It is a ploy of Satan to say 'How could a loving God condemn someone to Hell?' But this is an improper translation. Let me put it aright for you; 'Why would a perfect, holy God bear a single sinner who has rightfully earned his death, to enter into eternal life?' The answer isn't because he feels guilty. The answer isn't because he needs to, or has to. The answer is because he wants to. Why? FOR HIS GLORY!!!!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!