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Desiring Salvation for All

1 Timothy 2:3-4 "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Let's be honest; how many of us genuinely wants what God wants? God wants everybody to be saved and to come to know Jesus. Everybody. Not some people or only those he likes, everybody. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is intended for every person on this planet.

If we are all being 100% honest, I think that many of us find ourselves at odds with this desire of God. I'm sure most of us would say we want all to be saved. I know I do. However, as I look into my heart that may not be true.

The more I learn about Nazi atrocities, the less I find myself feeling merciful. The more I learn about the horrific conditions under communist regimes where millions were casually murdered, I find myself less enthusiastic to share the Gospel. As I read headlines daily of child abuse, cold blooded murder, and human traffickers who peddle people as if they were sides of beef I find myself not rooting for their salvation, but their everlasting destruction.

If I'm being honest with myself, I take a sort of grim satisfaction in believing certain people will face the judgment of the Almighty. I find myself identifying with Jonah as he overlooks Nineveh, awaiting the wrath of God even though a promise of redemption has been made. This attitude, I believe, is far more widespread within the church than we would like to believe and it is wrong.

It is one thing to long for God's justice. This is good and right. It is another thing entirely to revel in the damnation of another.

Judgment belongs to God alone. It is his domain. It is neither our duty nor place to pass it on others. It is our job to be transformed into the pattern of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. This means having our desires transformed to conform to those of God.

This means wanting what God wants. Jesus was crucified for all people, not just the ones I like or can tolerate. He was even crucified for me. I am no more deserving of salvation than the worst Nazi war criminal or human trafficker, and yet God worked by grace to save even me.

The problem is not teaching judgment. The problem is that we enjoy it. We like the idea of being on the winning side, even though the only thing that separates "us" from "them" is the crucified Son of God. Rather than condemn or gloat over the destruction of the wicked, we are called to pray for their salvation. We are called to pray for God's mercy, that the grace shown to us may also be shown to them. We should want them to know Jesus and be saddened when people don't.

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