Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

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The Words Might Be

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Hi J____,

Thanks for your question. You gave me a quote from your friend with three scriptures which use the words “might be saved,” and you ask:

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

In all three of these verses the words “might be saved” are translated from one Greek word. Why three words for one? The reason is that the Greek word in question is ‘sozo,’ pronounced ‘sode’zo.’ Here is Joh 3:17 with Strong’s numbers:

Joh 3:17 ForG1063 GodG2316 sentG649 notG3756 hisG848 SonG5207 intoG1519 theG3588 worldG2889 toG2443 condemnG2919 theG3588 world; G2889 butG235 thatG2443 theG3588 worldG2889 throughG1223 himG846 might be saved. G4982

Notice, the Greek word ‘sozo,’ Strong’s number G4982, is translated with the last three words in this verse, the words “… might be saved.” Now here is Strong’s definition of that one Greek word ‘sozo:’

G4982
σωζω
so zo
sode’- zo
From a primary word σως so s (contraction for the obsolete σαος saos, “safe”; to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): – heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

This is the case for all three verses you list here. They all mean “to save.” There are no words ‘might be’ involved.
Can either of us convince your friend that ‘all in Adam will be made alive in Christ?’ No, we cannot. Only the holy spirit can do that. Can either of us make your friend acknowledge that Christ ‘is the savior of all men, specially, but not exclusively, believers?’ No, only the holy spirit can do that. Can a blind man see that Christ is the propitiation for our sin and for the sins of the whole world? No, a blind man will never see, until he is healed of his blindness and given sight. You and I know that will one day happen, but at this time there are few indeed who have been healed of the spiritual blindness with which we have all been born.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. [ We too, are “firstfruits” Jas 1:18.]
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end [“ingathering at the end of the year”], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, [ which is] in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [ not exclusively] of those that believe.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Christ will save all men in “the end” harvest. In the meantime it is God Himself and Christ who has come who have come to “blind those who see.”

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

If indeed God is blinding this world, then it is incumbent upon Him to, in the end harvest, “at the end of the year” after the firstfruits, to become “the savior of all men, specially of them that believe.” That is why we are told that:

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Our calling is at the expense of those who do not at this time believe: “yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:”
But why have we been given faith at their expense? Is it so they can burn forever in excruciating pain in real physical flames of fire in a fabled ‘eternal hell fire?’ Is that what the scriptures teach? Where??? Here is what the scriptures really teach is the reason for a “firstfruit… first resurrection:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

So it is that at this time “many are called but few are chosen,” but those few chosen are chosen to later “show mercy” upon those who at this time are unbelievers who have been blinded by God Himself:

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

I hope this has given you some thoughts which you might share with your friend, but do not make the mistake of trying to make anyone see what they cannot see and hear.

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? [ even] because ye cannot hear my word.

Those words were spoken to “those Jews which believed on Him”, and it is so to this day.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [ then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Neither you nor I come willingly to God. We are all dragged to God by humbling experiences which change our will and cause us to say “what would you have me to do Lord” to the very Lord we were persecuting only moments before.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [ Greek, drage] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Now we are into another subject which your friend cannot, at this time, accept, and that is the subject of ‘free will.’ If you have not yet done so read After The Counsel of His Own Will.
I leave both you and your friend in the hands of Him “who is working all things after the counsel of His own will”, but I do so with the prayer that you now can see clearly that the words “might be” are not in the original Greek, and that there are no uncertain ‘mights’ as we use that word, in the original Greek. Good or evil, God is working it all.

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Pro 20:24 Man’s goings [ good or evil] are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

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