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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
Jul 316 min read

Does the Bible Teach That Everyone Will Be Saved?

Understanding the Nature of Salvation


To understand what the Bible teaches about salvation, we must first define what salvation means in a biblical context. The terms "save" and "salvation" are used by Bible writers to convey the idea of deliverance from danger or destruction. For instance, Exodus 14:13-14 describes God saving the Israelites from the Egyptians: "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. Jehovah will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.'"


More often, however, these terms refer to deliverance from sin. Matthew 1:21 records the angel's message to Joseph about Jesus: "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Sin is the root cause of death, and thus, those who are saved from sin have the hope of eternal life, as expressed in John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."



The Path to Salvation


The Bible is clear about the way to salvation. To gain salvation, one must exercise faith in Jesus and demonstrate that faith through obedience to His commands. Acts 4:10-12 emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus: "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."


Romans 10:9-10 further elaborates on the necessity of faith and confession: "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Additionally, Hebrews 5:9 states that Jesus "became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him."


However, the Bible also teaches that faith must be accompanied by works to prove that it is alive. James 2:24, 26 states, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." This does not mean that salvation can be earned by works; rather, salvation is a gift from God based on His grace, as explained in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."



The Possibility of Losing Salvation


The Bible also indicates that it is possible to lose out on salvation. Just as a person saved from drowning could fall or jump back into the water, a person who has been saved from sin but fails to continue exercising faith could lose salvation. Jude 3 urges Christians to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." Philippians 2:12 advises believers to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."


The Role of God and Jesus in Salvation


The Bible identifies God as the primary source of salvation, often referring to Him as "Savior." 1 Samuel 10:19 declares, "But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your tribes and by your thousands." Isaiah 43:11 echoes this sentiment: "I, I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior."


In addition, God used various men to deliver the nation of Israel, and the Bible calls them "saviors." Nehemiah 9:27 records, "Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies."


Likewise, since God provides salvation from sin through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Bible refers to Jesus as "Savior." Acts 5:31 states, "God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." Titus 1:4 also affirms, "To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior."



Universal Salvation: A Biblical Examination


The question of whether the Bible teaches universal salvation—meaning that everyone will be saved—requires careful examination of Scripture.


Luke 13:23-24 provides a direct response from Jesus regarding the number of those who will be saved: "And someone said to him, 'Lord, will those who are saved be few?' And he said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.'" This passage suggests that not everyone will be saved, and that effort is required to enter the kingdom of God.


2 Thessalonians 1:9 speaks of the fate of those who do not obey the gospel: "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." This indicates that some will face destruction rather than salvation.



Addressing Misconceptions About Universal Salvation


Certain verses are sometimes interpreted to support the idea of universal salvation. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:22 states, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." Critics argue that this teaches universal salvation. However, the context of this verse discusses the resurrection, as indicated by verses 12, 13, 20, 21, and 35. The phrase "in Christ shall all be made alive" refers to all who are resurrected receiving this blessing through Jesus Christ, not that everyone will be saved eternally. John 11:25 clarifies this: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.'"


Titus 2:11 is another verse often cited: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people." The Greek word translated "all" can also mean "every kind or variety," as explained in Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Thus, the correct understanding of Titus 2:11 is that God is making salvation available to all sorts of people, including those "out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues" (Revelation 7:9-10).


2 Peter 3:9 states, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." While this expresses God’s desire for all to be saved, it does not indicate that all will be saved. God desires people to be saved but does not force them to accept His provision for salvation. The same chapter, in verse 7, speaks of "the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly."



Conclusion


The Bible clearly teaches that not everyone will be saved. Salvation requires faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commands. It is a gift from God based on His grace, and while it can be lost if one fails to continue in faith, it is not universal. Misinterpretations of certain passages do not align with the broader biblical context, which consistently points to the necessity of faith and the reality of judgment for those who reject the gospel.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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