Does The New Testament Declare That Today Is The Only Day Of Salvation?
IS THIS REALLY THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR SALVATION?
The obvious problem is that if this is the only day of salvation, billions are now assigned to hell. However shocking, such a belief is held by many nominal Christians. This doctrine is based on a misunderstood scripture. Understanding this issue will allow us to more fully understand the New Testament. The problem of this time period being the only opportunity for salvation is based on a premise that makes God an unfair judge. We will undertake and in a balanced manner, to investigate this scripture below:
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NKJV 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Does verse two really say that now is the only time of salvation? Note that the Apostle Paul is writing to the called Corinthians believers. It is almost universally believed and taught that “the day of salvation” is for everyone. The word in verse 2, translated “the” is a mistake. The original Greek reads “ a day of salvation”. “If a missionary gets a flat tire then millions may spend eternity in hellfire being tortured”. This is a concept believed universally today in nominal Christianity. In truth, most in this world is deceived and has been since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden.
Revelation 12:8-9 NKJV 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The reading of any history book, right up into our modern age, would verify this overwhelming fact. The vast majority of mankind up to our present moment, has lived in deception, superstition and oppression theologically and politically. Biblical truth is far from most and is fast declining in our current growing secular progressive age.
Luke 4:5-7 NKJV 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."
It is worth noting that Jesus does not deny that Satan controls all the Governments of this world.
Mark 4:15 NKJV 15 "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Satan is actively countering what truths people are exposed to so well that one has to be called by God or they cannot retain the entire balanced truth of God.
THE WORLD IS NOT FACING A NOW OR NEVER ULTIMATUM FROM GOD
The world is not facing a now or never ultimatum from God, with missionaries desperately trying to “get the masses saved” before they are assigned to be tortured forever in hell. Some falsely accuse the Church of God of preaching two chances for salvation. People have only one chance for salvation but we believe that most are not being called at this time. The church should of course try and convert as many as we can, but God decides who and how many are called.
Acts 18:9-10 NKJV 9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
God revealed to Paul that his missionary work to the city of Corinth would be highly productive because God was in the process of calling “many people in that city”. God gifted Paul for his evangelistic work and backed him up by calling a lot of gentiles. Paul converted so many people that his pagan critics accused him of turning the world upside down. Note Acts 17:6. All people will get one chance for salvation because God is above all fair and just. Knowing the truth brings us accountability.
James 4:12-17 NKJV 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? vanishes away... 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
God will give grace to all mankind because of Jesus. Those who do not fully understand and repent with a full knowledge and receive the spirit of God at baptism will get an opportunity in the next age. Those who do repent and receive God's spirit are getting their opportunity now. The rest will get the opportunity to fully repent in the future.
Hebrews 10:25-27 NKJV 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
If one knows the truth and neglects it, and becomes a defiant sinner who does not care about trying to follow God, he is lost. That person has wasted the chance at salvation.
Hebrews 10:28-30 NKJV 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."
A person who with full knowledge of the truth counts the sacrifice of Jesus as a common thing is in trouble with God. One who takes the grace supplied by Christ's suffering lightly has forfeited his chance for salvation. Paul is saying repent and fear God before it is too late.
Hebrews 10:31-36 NKJV 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ... 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Paul is sternly warning them to endure until the end and to repent because it is a fearful thing to face condemnation. Keep repenting and never give up and go back to the ungodly world he urges.
2 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
This is our only chance of salvation once we fully know the truth.
GOD IS JUST AND FAIR TO EVERYONE AND FULL OF MERCY
Eventually all will get the chance to be saved and to grow spiritually with the help of the Holy Spirit. All mankind will have a choice of repenting and salvation or destruction. It is that simple!
John 3:15-17 NKJV 15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The Bible does not say the choice is salvation or torture forever in hellfire; no it is salvation or perishing. The premise that God will reward Satan by allowing him to torture defiant sinners for all eternity is twisted and sadistic. God is kind and slow to anger. Those whose lives are ended as defiant sinners are destroyed so they will not make themselves and others suffer. Sin hurts the sinner and others around him.
Revelation 20:11-12 NKJV 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
In the future, the Messiah will return and later resurrect all those who never had a chance to really repent with full knowledge of the Bible. All will be then judged by the books of the Bible. All will get a fair chance at salvation because God is fair. Some will have more to repent of than others but Jesus will be there to help. God is loving and the epitome of justice and fairness!
WHY THE NEED FOR THE THIRD TEMPLE?
Jesus said when asked what are the signs of his return and the end of this age the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem was prominent. Christ cannot return without a violated Temple therefor the third Temple must be rebuilt.
Matthew 24:15-16 NKJV 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Does the new peace deal with Israel and the circumventing of the PLO mean that the world has taken a step closer to clearing the way for a third Temple in Jerusalem?
