Can ‘They’ Be Saved?

“And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10

“…every tribe and language and people and nation…”

While recording what he saw and heard, John penned those words which reveal God’s mercy extended to all. Scriptures declare that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That His grace and His mercy is extended to all is very clear. Jesus’ earthly ministry was primarily to the lost sheep of Israel but even in the midst of fulfilling that mission he recognized great faith in some and extended His grace and mercy to those who were not part of the “lost sheep” family.

Does your ‘old man’ nature resist extending grace and mercy to some people because they are just not worthy? We are quick to answer that question with a loud NO! but I think sometimes we are all guilty of believing some groups of people just deserve hell! We make those judgments based on their behavior instead of on the redemptive power of God to change lives.

Maybe something in your past has prejudiced you against a whole race of people. Maybe today’s news stories make you rule out terrorists as receivers of God’s mercy. What about your politics? Can a Socialist or a Capitalist be saved? What about a Labor Union member or a Free and Accepted Mason? Well, you say, these all represent ideologies and not where, or under what circumstances, a person was born. Don’t they have more to do with behaviors and attitudes? Yes they do. But scripture clearly tells me in Romans 3:23 that “…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…” All Republicans, all Democrats, all conservatives, all Republicans, all abortionists and all ‘Right to Life’ advocates, all Muslims and all Catholics, all Protestants and all atheists (don’t read into any absences from this list as obviously it cannot be exhaustive).

ALL, ALL, ALL.

All have sinned and all need His mercy.

Will you extend His mercy to your own personal version of the ‘untouchables’?

Let God then do the work of changing their attitudes and behaviors. Don’t be offended though when He changes them to reflect His attitudes and not necessarily yours and mine because we are a work in progress too!