Christ the risen Saviour, not potential Saviour !

[brightfame52]

In mans religion, though they speak of Christ as the Saviour, they really mean that Hes merely a potential Saviour and that Salvation ultimately rests in the decision or will of the sinner. In other words, its up to the sinner to make Christ a Saviour unto them.

This fallacious reasoning is error and dishonors Christ as the Saviour of His People. for its written that He shall save His People from their sins Matt 1:21, not potentially save them !

When Christ died and afterwards rose from the dead, and ascended to the Right Hand of God, He ascended as a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5:31

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

The word Saviour means: a savior, deliverer, preserver. None of these denote possibilities, maybes, or potentially, but actuality, He actually ascended as a Saviour, deliverer, a preserver.

Some may appeal to 1 Tim 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 of those that believe.


Now does this verse state that Christ is a potential Saviour to all men ? No it doesn't, but it says God is Saviour of all men, especially of those [men] who believe!

Many pervert this scripture so it would be saying that God is a potential Saviour to all men, but an actual Saviour to them that believe. See God cant be technically a Saviour to the unsaved, for thats a contradiction, He is their God in Judgment, but not as a Saviour.

So what does the word specially mean in this verse and how can it be understood without contradicting the fact that God is a actual Saviour and not merely a Saviour, or a Saviour unto unsaved men?

Its the greek word malista

:especially, chiefly, most of all, above all primary adverb μάλα mála (very); (adverbially) most (in the greatest degree) or particularly:—chiefly, most of all, (e-)specially.

So its a word Paul uses here to denote and clarify who particularly God in Christ is a Saviour to, not all men without exception, but particularly of they which are believers. I fact this verse should dispel the faulty idea of God being the Saviour of unbelievers. Sure even the saved are unbelievers naturally, however they shall be brought to Faith, because the promise is, the Just/justified shall live by Faith Rom 1:17

Folks Christ rose and ascended as a Prince and a Saviour, not a potential Saviour!

 

[timf]

By having paid for all sin Jesus is a Savior to those that believe and a judge to those that do not (vengeance is mine, I will repay). However, there is a potential for the unsaved as long as they live.

 

[Adstar]

One must believe Jesus and Trust in the Atonement He secured on the cross for their sins..

 

[brightfame52]

Christ is A Saviour/Redeemer for each and every sinner He died for and was raised again for. When He having finished His work for them, He for them obtained eternal redemption/salvation Heb 9:11-12

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.


The word redemption lytrōsis:

1. a ransoming, redemption
2. deliverance, esp. from the penalty of sin
   
   He obtained for them deliverance from the penalty of sin, which is death See Rom 6:23, hence its impossible for them to go into the second death
   
   Rev 20:14
   
   And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
   
   
   The second death is for the penalty of sin charged against them.

 

[brightfame52]

By having paid for all sin Jesus is a Savior to those that believe and a judge to those that do not (vengeance is mine, I will repay). However, there is a potential for the unsaved as long as they live.

Yeah but they believe only because He died for them and saved them. Those who do not believe, He never died for them, and therefore it was decreed they suffer the Divine wrath in themselves.

 

[ResidentAlien]

In mans religion, though they speak of Christ as the Saviour, they really mean that Hes merely a potential Saviour and that Salvation ultimately rests in the decision or will of the sinner.

Are you saying everyone gets saved in the end. If our will has nothing to do with it, and Christ died for all, wouldn't that mean all will be saved?

 

[brightfame52]

Are you saying everyone gets saved in the end.

No where close to what I said. Take your time and read it again with post 4 as well

 

[Aaron56]

 

[ResidentAlien]

No where close to what I said. Take your time and read it again with post 4 as well

I understood what you said, but it follows logically that if Christ died to save all sinners, and our will plays no part, then all sinners will be saved by God's grace. Whether that's what you meant I don't know, but it can be taken that way.

 

[brightfame52]

I understood what you said, but it follows logically that if Christ died to save all sinners, and our will plays no part, then all sinners will be saved by God's grace. Whether that's what you meant I don't know, but it can be taken that way.

I mean Christ is a Saviour and not a potential one. Can I be more plainer than that ? Are you suggesting He is Saviour of them who eventually are lost in their sins ?

 

[brightfame52]

I understood what you said, but it follows logically that if Christ died to save all sinners, and our will plays no part, then all sinners will be saved by God's grace. Whether that's what you meant I don't know, but it can be taken that way.

A saviour, a rescuer, saves and rescues by what he does, that is why he is called a saviour, or a rescuer.

 

[brightfame52]

Notice that Christ as risen Saviour gives two blessings in our text Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Christ gives repentance, its a Saviorhood blessing. Its the word metanoia:

a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done

As Saviour those Christ saves, He gives, furnishes endues them with repentance, a change of mind He gives them repentance towards God Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Genuine repentance towards God is solely in the hands of Christ to give, and so true Gospel Ministers Preach it in His Name Lk 24:47

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

An unrepentant sinner [final impenitent] can't possibly have Christ as their Saviour or something went wrong, and would contradict Christs Office as Prince and Saviour

 

[brightfame52]

Again they whom Christ is a Saviour to He gives them with repentance also the remission or forgiveness of sins Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Which is also Salvation. The knowledge of it is Lk 1:77

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,