In his book The One
Purpose of God (Eerdmans, 1998) Jan Bonda presents persuasive
evidence that most people will be saved (Postings # 5). I presented
this hypothetical: "If this evidence is valid, then we may not
dismiss the question of the relative number of those who will be saved
by simply saying, 'The secret things belong to God.' or 'Where the
Bible is silent we ought not to speak.'"
TWO
RESPONSES
I wish to reply to these two responses I received:
1) "This question of
few or many has been put directly to Christ himself, and our Lord
has explicitly declined to answer (Luke 13:23). Christ's refusal
to answer means that further prying on this particular question is
at best useless and at worst counterproductive."
2) "I think it's not worth all
the discussion!"
LUKE
13:23
"Lord,
are only a few people going to be saved?"
Jesus did not
answer this question. However, one would be hard pressed to
show that he "explicitly declined" to answer. Knowing
the questioner's thoughts (Matt. 9:4) Jesus exposed the pride that
prompted the question.
Jesus refused to be drawn
into a discussion about this question (Luke 13:23) in the context
of what is required for entrance into the Kingdom of God." Verses
24, 25 reveal the context. Jesus knew that the questioner relished
the thought that "few" would be saved and he considered
himself to be among that those favored "few" who "ate
and drank with" Jesus and in whose streets Jesus taught (Vs.
26). He was among those who claimed "Abraham as our father"
(Matt. 3:9) and therefore mistakenly thought that therefore his place
"at the feast in the kingdom of God" was secure.
Jesus response is that the
questioner need not think only the Jews would enter kingdom of God.
There would be many coming from all directions (Vs.:29).
Those many might well have precedence over those who think their place
is secure. The concluding thought of Jesus in response to the
question asked in Luke 13: 23 is "Indeed there are those who
are last will be first, and the first who will be last" (Vs.
30).
NOT
SPECULATION
I said, "Nothing is
gained by speculating about 'few' or 'many.' To be willing
to be instructed by what the Word of God says is not speculating.
If we are willing to accept what the so-called "universalistic"
texts clearly say (Posting # 2) then -- the relative number of those
who will be saved is not "speculation," "useless,"
"counterproductive," or "worthless." Then it is
among "the revealed things that belong to us and our children
forever" (Deut. 29:29). "For God has bound all men over
to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all" (Rom.
11:32). If it were not for the "exceptions" found elsewhere
in the Scriptures, we would conclude all persons, without any exceptions,
will be saved.
The pride of the questioner
in thinking that he was among a favored few who had a place "at
the feast in the kingdom of God" should not close our eyes to
what God's written Word says about the vastness of God's mercy.
Not only in the life to come but also in this present age God wants
to be praised for his exceeding great mercy, having declared "Where
sin increased, grace increased all more" (Rom. 5:20).
HONORING
GOD'S NAME
There is nothing more sacred
than God's name, his reputation. He does all things for His name's
sake. God has proclaimed his name. He desires to be known as
and to be praised for the fact that he is: "The Lord,
the Lord the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding
in love and faithfulness, mainting love to thousands, and forgiving
wickedness, rebellion and a sin" who reluctantly "does
not leave the guilty unpunished" (Ex. 34:6, 7).
Ever since the days of Pelagius
(Posting # 1) there has been a general perception that the vast majority
of mankind will not find a place at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.
If that kind of picture misrepresents the scope of God's work of redemption,
then a grave injustice is being done to God's name. We should be willing
to be directed by the teachings of God's Word.
© 2003
by Northland Books. Box 63, Allendale MI 49401. Unlimited permission
to copy and distribute this document without altering text is hereby
granted if this source is acknowledged.
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