3460 - Can Not Be Saved

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 13, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 23.

3460 — Can Not Be Saved

Do not Prov. 16:4 and Rom. 9:15-24 teach that some persons can not get saved?

No; God saves character; and He calls to savable character every soul. The first scripture simply teaches that all things are fitting in God's plan. The wicked will belong to the day of wrath, but God compels none to be wicked. See His oath in Eze. 33:11.

God would have glorified His name through Pharaoh's submission if the Egyptian monarch had yielded, even as He did through Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. He raised him up, brought him to the Egyptian throne, for that purpose. Pharaoh would not submit, therefore God's Spirit left him to hardness of heart. Yet God got glory to Himself despite the King's stubbornness.

Study one expression in the last scripture passage, Rom. 9:15. On whom is it God's will to have mercy?—"Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments." Ex. 20:6. We expect that; but upon what other class is it God's will to show compassion and mercy? Listen: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7. "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Eze. 33:11. God does not tantalize in "whosoever" in John 3:16 and Rev. 22:17.