"Salvation is not meant for everyone, right?"

In Monday night's Systematic Theology class, we touched on the concept of universal salvation, something propounded by a few and felt to be true by many: basically, that since Christ has died for all and risen from the dead, then all are now safe from eternal judgment.

While the Bible makes it clear that the sacrifice of the Son of God was complete, eternal, and perpetually efficacious, it makes it equally clear that many will still not escape that eternal horror. No one has ever always believed in God... no one has ever done enough good things to get into heaven... no one is free of sin... no one is inherently perfect in a way that would satisfy the demands of a just God... no one goes to heaven just because he wants to.

There often appears to be a wide chasm between what we think we know about God, faith, or religion and a moment of actually personalizing His message of salvation. There must be that defining moment when we recognize our sinful nature and its consequences, when we hear with understanding God's invitation to repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when we consciously invite Him, once and for all, into our lives.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36 AV)

Pretty basic stuff. But what emerged from that brief discussion was weightier to deal with.

One dear brother, always the quietest, asked, “So then salvation is not meant for everyone, right?” He followed that up with “it's that my children____” and then he broke down and wept. His children had, one by one, invited Christ into their hearts at a young age. There does not seem to be much evidence of that today.

I was humbled and amazed by the others, who all tried to minister encouragement to him. One talked about how that the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) acted nothing at all like the son of his father the whole time he was out there squandering his inheritance; and, how that we cannot know God's timing and ways of bringing the prodigals home.

For my part, I talked about how that many of us as parents have those memories: a child who cries himself to sleep at night because he wants to have Jesus in his heart; another that bravely walks down an aisle during an invitation. When did God make it hard to come to Jesus? When did God make it hard for a child to come to Jesus? Whatever may happen later, I have trouble thinking that God would prepare such a wonderful salvation, only to shut a child out of heaven over some technicality.

No, not everyone will go to heaven when they die... not because they were extra evil, but because they died without receiving Christ by faith into their hearts.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:17-18 AV)

On the other hand, "getting saved" is not rocket science. Else, how could kids get it?

“But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” (Mark 10:14-15 AV)

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