WE CAN NOT INDORSE IT by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 14, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 46.

WE CAN NOT INDORSE IT.

By Editor

We are asked by a reader and a professedly good friend of the SIGNS, to indorse a pamphlet which advocates the doctrine of universal salvation. A specimen argument is 1 Tim. 2:5, 6: "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." The pamphlet uses a number of scriptures in the same way; we need not refer to any others, as the principle is involved in this one. Christ is a ransom for all; He purchased all, but we are saved "through faith," and salvation can come in no other way. Christ died for all, but only those whose faith appropriates the sacrifice can gain any benefit from it. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It is true that the promise to Abraham was, "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed," but the promise is "through faith." All the world is blessed in having the opportunity of salvation, but a failure to accept the conditions is a rejection of the blessing. Salvation is not forced upon any who do not appreciate it. God does not accept enforced service, nor does He in anywise save people against their will. Salvation means salvation from sin (which is disobedience of the law); and a heart obedience can not be compelled even by the Lord Himself. The pamphlet to which we refer teaches that after death there will be another probation, and men who have not believed will then believe. But the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) is against that doctrine. There it is very clearly stated that "if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, tho one rose from the dead." If all are to be saved, how is it that "the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch" (Mal. 4:1)? G.