Did He Die In Vain?

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (Galatians 2:21).

Those who grew up in church should ponder the above. Every church I know of, including the one I grew up in, teaches that salvation is being offered men, but that the offer must be accepted and received by faith in this life. The minimum requirement in my church is to “believe and accept” the gospel. The most legalistic of the churches teach one must repent, be baptized in water and join the church. Some even go so far as teaching that you can lose this salvation if you fall into sin later.

But however minimal the requirement...such teaching implies that Christ died in vain. Salvation is a free gift by the Grace of God, not by works.

“…for the free gift of God is eternal life…For by grace are you saved…for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men….” (Romans 6:23b; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11-13)

God has guaranteed the salvation and reconciliation of "ALL people". That is trustworthy and should be accepted and taught...

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

I have had only 2 persons, friends or foes, come to me IN PERSON to object to my telling them that the Bible teaches salvation of all people. One said that he could not agree with me because it went against everything he had been taught in church, but that he would study the Bible until he could tell me why. About one year later he simply said. “I have finished my study...and you are right.” The other just says it makes common sense that an omnipotent God whose nature is Love would find a way to save everyone he created, and that it had always bothered him that God would torture some people in hell forever.

"...there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

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