Listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live on Mornings with Kelli and Steve on Moody Radio below.
Yes.
Below are an abundance of scriptures, most of which are self-explanatory, which establish the fact that every single person born on this earth has a chance to be saved. We cautiously step on Holy ground when trying to understand the mysterious things of God. When trying to answer tough questions we must look at all of Scripture and not just a few verses. Paul’s views on predestination are noted but the writings of Jesus, John and Peter have made it more than clear to all of us who truly seek Him in His word, that no one, pre-birth is designated for hell at the whim of God, and that everyone has an opportunity to recognize and choose the only one who can save us from the consequences of sin. The character of God supports this position.
Psalm 19:1-4 In this passage, David states that the heavens declare the glory of the Lord and the earth shows His handiwork. Day after day they pour forth knowledge and night after night they pour forth speech. There is no language where their voice isn’t heard. Their words have gone out to the end of the world.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest….Anyone who is weary and burdened is invited by Jesus to come to Him for rest. He doesn’t invite those he’s allegedly already chosen. He wants and invited all of us.
Matthew 18:14 When Jesus is talking about children, He specifically states that it is not His Father’s will that even one of these should perish. Clearly, Jesus is sharing His (and the Father’s) hope that every single one of the children on earth will seek Him and find Him. His will is that none perish, yet many do, thereby confirming that we have a will that can reject God.
Luke 2:9-11 When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds to announce Christ’s birth, he told them that he was bringing tidings of great joy which will be “to all people.”
John 1:1-18 The gospel of John (along with Romans Chapter 10) is a tour de force an excellent place to start in proving that Jesus came to save everyone who believes. Sadly, most reject his offer of salvation by grace through faith.
In the opening four verses, the Apostle John states, with great clarity exactly who our savior is, and he makes it abundantly clear that: Jesus “was the light of men.” Jesus was not the light of some men. He was not the light for certain chosen men. He was the light of all men. John then goes on to state that John the Baptist came as a witness to Jesus so that through Him all men might believe.(V. 7). Again, it was Jesus’ hope that every single person on this earth would believe in God…not just some men, not just certain pre-selected men, but all men. In verse 12, John also specifically states that anyone who receives Jesus, to him he will give the power to become a son of God. John is emphasizing the fact that there is a strong volitional element to salvation. Anyone who receives Jesus Christ can become a child of God.
John 3:16-21 In this well-known passage, Jesus restates the point made by John in chapter 1, by saying that anyone who believes in the name of Jesus will not perish but will have everlasting life. Verse 17 goes on to state that God sent Jesus into this world not to condemn it but to save it. He did not come to save a few preselected people who were already marked for salvation. Why would Jesus come and die a brutal, torturous death to save people who were already saved?
2 Peter 3:9 – “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
1 Timothy 2: 3-6 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 the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
Some Christians are dogmatic and espouse their belief that man does not have a choice and that God has predestined certain people to become His children. Scripture does not support this belief. We know that God knows all things and the hearts of all people. He knows but does not dictate but rather gives us choice to respond to the call of God, through the Holy Spirit. This is holy ground and something that our finite minds cannot understand. Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the Lord our God….”