true light that gives light toeveryone was coming intothe world (John 1:7, 9).

Behold, the Lamb of Godwho takes away the sin ofthe world (John 1:29).

For God so loved the worldthat He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whoeverbelieves in Him should notperish but have everlastinglife. For God did not sendHis Son into the world tocondemn the world, butthat the world through Himmight be saved (John 3:16-17).

The Father loves the Son,and has given all things intoHis hand (John 3:35; 13:3).

We no longer believebecause of what you said, forwe have heard for ourselvesand know that this really isthe Savior of the world (John4:42).

For the bread of God is thebread that comes downfrom heaven and gives lifeto the world (John 6:33).

All that the Father givesMe will come to Me, andthe one who comes to Me Iwill by no means castout.… This is the will of theFather who sent Me, thatof all He has given Me Ishould lose nothing, butshould raise it up at the last

day (John 6:37, 39).

I am the light of the world(John 8:12).

And I, when I am lifted upfrom the earth, will draw allmen to Myself (John 12:32).

Jesus knew that the Fatherhad given all things into Hishands (John 13:3).

For you granted himauthority over all people thathe might give eternal life toall those you have given him(John 17:2).

Heaven must receive himuntil the time comes forGod to restore allthings (Acts 3:21).

As through one man’soffense judgment cameto all men, resulting incondemnation, even sothrough one Man’srighteous act the free giftcame to all men, resulting injustification of life (Romans5:18).

He has shut up all tounbelief so that he mighthave mercy on all (Romans11:32).

For from him and to himare all things (Romans11:36).

For since death camethrough a man, the

6

32 Scriptures that Dare

The Bible dares usto hope that inthe height, width,depth and length of

God’s love for us—a love onlygrasped through theindwelling power of theHoly Spirit—there is a hopefor all far more vast than wecould ask or imagine(Ephesians 3:14-21). The following passages arenot random proof-textsgathered into oneconvenient lump. Theyrepresent a sustainedbiblical testimony of God’srevealed purposes inChrist—from Alpha toOmega. Many of themspeak of a salvation given,not merely offered, to all,not merely a chosen few.They are the GoodShepherd’s promise to seekfor every last lost sheep untilhe finds them.Those who humbly hope,pray and preach for thesalvation of all find theirhope rooted firmly in theBible. What saith theScriptures? The following arekey New Testament texts thatdare us to such hope.

********And then all flesh shall seethe salvation of God (Luke3:6).

This man came for awitness, to bear witness ofthe Light, that throughhim allmight believe…. The

Those who humbly hope, pray and preach for the

salvation of all find their hope rooted firmly in the Bible.

Dare to Hope

resurrection of the deadcomes also through aman. For as in Adam all die,so also in Christ all will bemade alive (1 Corinthians15:21-22).

For God has put everythingunder His feet…. And wheneverything is subject toChrist, then the Son Himselfwill also be subject to theOne who subjectedeverything to Him, so thatGod may be all in all (1Corinthians 15:26-28).

He made known to us themystery of His will,according to His goodpleasure which He purposedin Himself, that in thedispensation of the fullnessof the times He mightgather together in one allthings in Christ, both whichare in heaven and which are on earth—in Him(Ephesians 1:9-10).

And He putall things under His feet, andgave Him to be head overall things to thechurch, which is His body,the fullness of Him whofills all in all (Ephesians1:22-23).

At the name of Jesus everyknee will bow—of thosewho are in heaven andon earth and underthe earth—andevery tongue

especially of those whobelieve (1 Timothy 4:10).

For the grace of God thatbrings salvation hasappeared to all men (Titus2:11).

He appointed the Son heirof all things, and throughwhom also he made theuniverse. In these last dayshe has spoken to us by hisSon, whom he appointedheir of all things (Hebrews1:2).

He is not willing that anyshould perish but that allshould come to repentance(2 Peter 3:9-10).

He Himself is the atoningsacrifice for our sins, andnot only for ours, but alsofor those of the whole world(1 John 2:2).

I heard every creature inheaven, on earth, under theearth, on the sea, andeverything in them say:Blessing and honor andglory and dominion to theOne seated on the throneand to the Lamb, foreverand ever! (Revelation 5:13).

Then He who sat on thethrone said, “Behold, I makeall things new” (Revelation21:5). q

Us to Hopeshould confess that JesusChrist is Lord, to the gloryof God the Father(Philippians 2:10-11).

He will transform thebody of our humblecondition into the likenessof His glorious body, by thepower that enables Him tosubject all things to Himself(Philippians 3:21).

He is the image of theinvisible God, the firstbornover all creation. Foreverything was created byHim, in heaven and onearth, the visible and theinvisible, whether thronesor dominions or rulers orauthorities—all things havebeen created through Himand for Him. He is before allthings, and by Him allthings hold together …andthrough Him to reconcile allthings to Himself by makingpeace through the blood ofHis cross—things on earth orthings in heaven (Colossians1:15-17, 20).

He desires all people to besaved and to come to theknowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:4).

We labor and strive forthis, because we have putour hope in the livingGod, who is the Saviorof everyone,

These passages are not random proof-

texts gathered into one convenient

lump... They are the Good Shepherd’s

promise to seek for every last lost

sheep until he finds them.

by Brad Jersak