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You must know as a Christian that not everyone will be like you, a child of God through Christ Jesus. Yes, not everyone will believe in the Lord Jesus and live by His Word.
This is why many are unbelievers who mock, ridicule, chide and despise the name of Jesus, the Bible and insult preachers of the gospel even through the social and mass media.
I used to worry so much when I heard people blaspheme the name of the Lord Jesus, describing the biblical account of His birth, death, burial and resurrection as a myth designed to delude the ignoramus.
However, I stopped worrying about these verbal attacks and rather started praying for the mockers and scoffers of Jesus Christ and teaching my fellow believers after I received this knowledge I am sharing with you in this article.
You must know that the word of the Kingdom of God, the gospel of salvation, is preached to everyone, but not everyone will accept it for their salvation.
The Lord Jesus Christ knew before His incarnation (coming into the world) that many people would reject Him. For this reason, Jesus knew that He was coming into the world to save only people He had foreknown as His people.
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus had in mind people He would save. They are His people. They are the people of the congregation of Israel and people in Gentile nations who will believe in Him. John, the apostle, sheds light on this when he writes:
“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12).
The Lord Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom of heaven in the cities of Israel, but many rejected Him. It is said that man’s rejection provokes God’s direction. Christ Jesus was found by people who were not looking for Him (Isaiah 65:1).
Thus, when the earliest apostles preached the gospel in the Gentile nations many believed in Him. Many continue to believe in Him today for their salvation. They are His people chosen before the foundation of the world.
“…And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out FOR MANY for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28, Emphasis mine).
Pay attention here. Jesus does not say His blood is shared for everybody but for many. Yes, He died for all and so He shared the blood for all, but He knew that not everyone would believe in Him. So it is correct to state that His blood was poured out for many – those who believe in Him.
This means that even though Christ Jesus died or shared His blood for everyone, He does not force everyone to believe in Him. It is those who choose to believe in Him by their own free will who are saved.
In other words, there is potential atonement for the sins of all people but effective salvation is for only those who believe in Christ Jesus after hearing the gospel.
This makes the preaching of the gospel in towns, cities and villages imperative. There are many people in towns, cities and villages throughout the world who are Christ’s. Paul was committed to doing just that as Jesus had encouraged him.
“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I HAVE MANY in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9-10, Emphasis mine).
Once again, notice that Jesus does not say that all the people in the city (Corinth) are His. Rather, He states, “…I have many in this city who are my people.”
With this knowledge and understanding, Paul writes to Timothy, stressing that: “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).
Those who are His means that not everyone is God’s. Some have chosen to be Satan’s by rejecting Christ Jesus. These words should inspire and encourage those of us who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus to be zealous and steadfast for the Lord.
We should not consider it strange when we hear so-called atheists, social commentators and content creators mock Christ Jesus, Bible and the preachers of the gospel.
They must act this way to project themselves as children of darkness who need to be prayed for. May be God will have have mercy on some of them and open their hearts and minds to the truths of the gospel and the reality of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.
By James Quansah
