Let’s begin by reading 1 Timothy 2:4-6, “(God) will have ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.” We have that same glorious truth in John 3:16, “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance.” 1 John 2:2 tells us, “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.” The word ‘propitiation’ is a big word, but it simply means that the Lord Jesus is the ‘atoning sacrifice’ for the “sins of the whole world.” Does that mean the whole world will be saved since the Lord Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world? No, it doesn’t mean that at all. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus for sin is great enough to appease God for the sins of the whole world, but only those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. The offer has been made, and all may come to the Lord for salvation. We read the words of the Lord in John 6:37, “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Whoever comes to the Lord in faith, desiring to be saved, will be saved. The Lord Jesus does not turn away any who come to Him by faith.

With all that said, I feel compelled to expand on this topic a little. Without the drawing of the Lord, without His ‘interference’ in our hearts and lives, NO ONE would come to the Lord Jesus for salvation. Before salvation, we had absolutely no desire for the Lord. We read in Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, no, NOT ONE.” NONE, NOT ONE…nobody has a desire for the Lord while they are yet unsaved. The Lord, in His wonderful love and sovereignty draws souls to Himself and gives them that desire for salvation. Let’s go back and read John 6:37 in its entirety. It says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” God is at work drawing souls to salvation. Without that work, no one would come to Christ. Has the Lord ever refused to save someone that desired to be saved? Absolutely not! What is your desire? Is it to be saved from your sins and receive eternal life? Then bow your knee to the Lord in repentance of your sin and faith in Christ, and He will save you! The desire to be saved comes from the Lord working in your heart to bring you to Himself. We read in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Today, if you have never received the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, then heed the words of the savior in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, ALL ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Heed the warning of Hebrews 2:3, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?”

Today, if you have already received Christ as your savior, then rejoice in the working of God in your heart to receive Him. We read in Ephesians 1:3-6, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (309.4)