For a paperback book in outline form which addresses over 150 difficult verses that Arminians use against Sovereign Grace, check out: Problem Texts for Sovereign Grace: Rooting Arminianism Out of Every Verse.
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Problem Texts for Sovereign Grace
110. 1Ti 4:10
A. "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." (1Ti 4:10)
B. Does this verse teach that God offers to be the Saviour of the human race if they will but believe on Him?
C. No, it doesn't teach that because it doesn't say that.
D. It says that God is the Saviour of all men (1Ti 4:10).
i. Saviour - 1. a. One who delivers or rescues from peril. 2. a. He who saves mankind from sin and its consequences: as a title of God, and esp. of Christ (in the latter application often Our Saviour). Now always with capital S.
ii. It doesn't say that:
a. God is the potential Saviour of all men.
b. God could be the Saviour of all men.
c. God might be the Saviour of all men.
d. God offers to be the Saviour of all men.
e. God hopes to be the Saviour of all men.
iii. It says that God is the Saviour of all men.
E. Therefore, whoever the all men are for whom God is the Saviour are saved.
i. The entire human race are not saved (Jud 1:7; Rev 20:15).
ii. Therefore, the all men for whom God is the Saviour is NOT the entire human race.
iii. All men doesn't always refer to the entire human race (Luk 3:15). (See Section II,11,A on All Men)
F. Who are the all men of whom God is the Saviour?
i. The "all men" are the sheep for whom Jesus gave his life a ransom (Mat 20:28; Joh 10:15).
ii. The "all men" are those whom the Father gave Jesus to save (the elect) (Joh 6:37-39).
iii. The all men were as many as the Father had given Jesus for Him to give eternal life to (save) (Joh 17:2).
i. The all men for whom God is the Saviour are men out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation whom Jesus redeemed (Rev 5:9).
ii. The all men are all men distributively, not collectively.
iii. The all men of whom God is the Saviour were eternally saved by God's grace when they were dead in sins (Eph 2:4-5).
iv. The eternal salvation of all of the elect is a completed fact (2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:4-5).
G. How is God specially the Saviour of those that believe?
i. Specially adv. - 1. In a special manner; in a degree or to an extent beyond what is usual or customary; particularly.
ii. While all of the elect (all men) are saved eternally, God specially saves (temporally) those who believe in this life. (See Section II,7,B on Temporal Salvation)
iii. God saves those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ from ignorance and the deception of works-based salvation (Rom 10:9 c/w Rom 10:3-4). (See Rom 10:9 - Section III)
iv. God saves those who believe in Christ from the bondage of fearing death (Heb 2:15).
v. God saves those who believe by giving them the knowledge and assurance of eternal life (1Jo 5:13) and of their election of God (1Th 1:4-6). (See 1Th 1:4-5 - Section III)
vi. God saves those who believe by giving them fellowship with Him and with believers of like faith (Act 2:41-42,46 c/w 1Jo 1:1-3).
vii. God saves those who believe by giving them rest (Heb 4:1-10; Mat 11:28).
H. The two different aspects of salvation (eternal and temporal) in 1Ti 4:10 is demonstrated well in 2Ti 1:9-10.
i. God is the Saviour of all men -- God hath saved us, not according to our works, but according to His grace alone through Christ Who hath abolished death (1Ti 4:10 c/w 2Ti 1:9-10a).
ii. God is specially the Saviour of those that believe -- God brings life and immortality to light through the gospel when it is believed (1Ti 4:10 c/w 2Ti 1:10b).
I. All of the elect (even the elect who are enemies of the gospel - Rom 11:28) shall obtain eternal glory (God is the Saviour of all men), but Paul endured all things for the elect's sakes so that they could also obtain the salvation which is in Christ with (in addition to) eternal glory (specially those that believe) (2Ti 2:10).
111. 2Ti 2:10
A. "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2Ti 2:10)
B. Is this verse teaching that Paul endured all things so that he could get the elect eternal glory?
i. No, it is not.
ii. Paul was working (enduring all things) so that the elect could obtain some type of salvation.
iii. But eternal salvation is not of works (the elect's, or the preacher's) (Tit 3:5; Rom 9:11,16).
iv. Election is by grace, not works (Rom 9:11; Rom 11:5-6).
v. Therefore the salvation in the verse is not eternal glory, but another type of salvation in addition to eternal glory.
C. Furthermore, the elect are not in need of eternal salvation because they already have it.
i. All of the elect have already obtained the eternal salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus (2Ti 1:9; Rom 8:30).
a. They don't need a preacher to labor for them to obtain that salvation.
b. Jesus did that all by himself (Heb 1:3; Rom 5:19).
ii. Preachers labor so that the elect may also obtain another salvation.
a. Also - 1. (went out of use in 1400's) 2. In the very manner of something else; in like manner, in the same way, likewise, similarly (passing in later times into 3). 3. As a further point, item, or circumstance tending in the same direction; further, in addition, besides, as well, too; taking the place of OE.
b. Obtain v. - 1. trans. To come into the possession or enjoyment of (something) by one's own effort, or by request; to procure or gain, as the result of purpose and effort; hence, generally, to acquire, get.
c. There is a salvation that is in addition to eternal salvation that the elect are in need of which is the preacher's job to tell them about.
iii. This "salvation which is in Christ Jesus" is with eternal glory.
a. With - II. Denoting personal relation, agreement, association, connexion, union, addition.
b. This salvation which is in addition to eternal salvation which the elect can come into the enjoyment of by hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel is temporal salvation, such as salvation from ignorance, deception, fear of death, trying to establish their own righteousness, chastisement in this life from God for sin; and salvation to the knowledge and assurance of eternal life, fellowship with like-believers, rest, and joy (See Section II,7,B on Temporal Salvation).
c. Paul was laboring to bring life and immortality to light in the lives of the elect (2Ti 1:10).
iv. Preachers labor to teach the elect to put on godly traits, which, when they do, will save them from this untoward generation to a life of joy and peace in the body of Christ (Act 2:40 c/w Col 3:12-15).
a. When they do this, the elect access the grace wherein they already stand (Rom 5:2).
b. This is the abundant life which Jesus came to give His sheep (Joh 10:10).
112. 2Ti 2:12
A. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" (2Ti 2:12)
B. Does this verse teach that if we deny God that we will lose our eternal life?
C. No, it most certainly doesn't. (See Mat 10:32-33 - Section III)
For a master copy of the outline, click here:
Problem Texts for Sovereign Grace
