A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (April 27, 2017)
For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)
It is true that the Gospel is available to everyone in the world, but a heresy that is being taught by some is that it is automatically received. In other words, they teach that salvation is universal. By some it is referred to as the “Gospel of Inclusion.” Their teaching is so extreme that some of these false teachers say Hell is not a place, but a concept, and in reality does not even exist. To believe this, one must believe that Jesus cast out concepts that would eventually go to a place that didn’t even exist. No, Jesus said there is a Hell and that it was created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).
These false teachers tell their followers that because God is a good God, and because He loves everyone, and because He sent Jesus to die for the world, that the entire world will be saved. They say that at some point in time, every human born on the earth will be included in Heaven and that none will be lost. Again, they base this on the scriptures that say God loves the world and Jesus paid the price in full for salvation.
While it is true that God loves the world and while it is also true that Jesus paid the price in full for their salvation, their doctrine is false. Most biblical error is achieved when a truth is taken out of context and taken to the extreme. That is the case here. It is true that Jesus paid the price in full for the salvation of every person on the earth, but that does not mean that every person is saved or born again. Ephesians 2:8 says that we are saved by grace through faith. As I have previously stated, the grace of God (His power that He gives to us freely) is only activated by faith, which is our believing, trusting, and receiving what God has done. Even though God’s grace is available for everyone, it is only activated in the lives of those who believe Him and receive His grace through faith.
In Mark 9, when Jesus was talking with His disciples, He made a very powerful statement about the impossible. He told them that all things were possible. But He didn’t stop there. He went on to qualify the statement by saying that all things were possible, but only to those who believe (Mark 9:23). Is it possible for a Christian who has had a physical illness for years to be healed? Is it possible? Of course, the answer is yes. Is it possible that a Christian, who has suffered with poverty and debt all of their life, can be set free and walk in the prosperity that the Word of God promises? Of course, the answer is yes. Is it possible that a Christian who has had a broken heart because of betrayal and lies could have their heart healed? Is it possible that they could wake up one morning and the heaviness and pain that had plagued them for years could be gone? Of course, the answer is yes.
But now let me ask you this. Is it possible for everyone? Although it is possible, according to Jesus, it is only possible for those who believe. Jesus did not make an all-inclusive statement, but instead He clearly qualified it. Only those who believe will experience the power of changing the impossible. This is a principle that is threaded through the entire Word of God. In order to activate the power of a promise, there must be faith.
Many times God has moved over the face of the earth looking for one man or woman who will stand up and say, “I believe what God said.” When He finds that person, He empowers them with His grace to accomplish what needs to be done. If you have a need in your life, whether it be physical, financial, or emotional, God’s power is available in the form of His grace to do the impossible. All that is required is for you to receive His power by faith, walk in grace, and rejoice in the victory.
Grace is available for every believer, but is only accessed by those who believe it is available, believe it is for them, and receive it as a free gift without the expense of works.
