1 Timothy 4:10 … we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

I read this passage recently and thought of that question, “If Jesus died for everyone, why isn’t everyone saved?” Lots of passages speak of Jesus being the Savior of all.

1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

There are lots of different answers to this question. Some believe everyone will be saved, but that discounts the passages that talk about people going to everlasting punishment. People do die unsaved. You have probably known some people like that. So the question remains: If Jesus actually died for the sins of everyone who ever lived, then why does anyone go to Hell?

The teachings about Jesus as Savior of All has been a source of disagreement in the church for a long time, and most likely it will be until Christ returns. But let me make an assertion: anyone who puts their faith and confidence in Jesus as his or her Savior from sin has been saved. If you have faith that Jesus is your Savior, you are saved. That is true whether you believe Jesus died for everyone or not. If you believe He is your Savior, if you trust that His death made payment for your sin, you get the benefit of everything He accomplished for you.

So what about those not saved? One of the best ways I have heard it explained uses the analogy of a meal. God has prepared a meal and you have been called to “come and get it.” It has already been done for you. You didn’t prepare the meal, God did. When you “come and get it” or eat the meal, you receive it and get the benefit of it. Your eating of the meal does not make it real. It was already there and existed. The eating simply receives what was prepared for you.

In the same way, faith does not cause God’s forgiveness – that was earned by Jesus. Faith receives what Jesus earned.

We also know there are those who stubbornly refuse to eat. I have two grandchildren living with me right now. I am again witnessing children refusing to eat. That does not mean the meal is not there, or that it was not nutritious or that it was not available for the taking. Some just refuse to eat, and do not get the benefit of what was offered.

Jesus is the Savior of all people and some people are not being saved. They will not eat the meal that has been prepared for them. Jesus died for all and is the Savior of all men. It is available for everyone. And those who put their faith in Jesus as a result of the Spirit’s work in their lives will reap the benefits of all Jesus earned.