Is salvation available for anyone who desires it?

It seems with so many taking scripture out of context, I'd ask this question. One of the scriptures that is taken out of context so often is John 3:16. With regeneration being the focus of the third chapter of John... the truth that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life, is misused to represent universalism. If one would simply continue to read in context, they would see that "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. This points us right back to the beginning of the chapter which tells us that one must be born again. Even demons believe and fear and tremble.
Again in 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. If we take a look at who Peter was addressing, we see that in the first letter he was addressing the elect ( 1 Peter 1:1-2). So many would say that God would not have any individual of all time be lost... again universalism. If we see that Peter was addressing the elect and understand that the elect were chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), we would understand that He would not come back until all the elect are born and respond to the gospel. Certainly God has no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked, but He will see that they spend eternity separate of Him.
Did the rich young ruler, who came to Jesus wanting salvation, get what he wanted? (Matt 19:16-26) No.
Matt. 7: 21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23. "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Do you think that those who say "'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles", wanted to be saved? Don't you think that they were in church every time the door was open? They wanted to be saved. Why weren't they? Because He said "depart from me for I never knew you". He knows His sheep and calls them by name. (John 10)
I think that what is wrong with the church today is that there are so many who profess to be followers of Christ, but fail to follow Him. So many want salvation, but for the wrong selfish reasons. I just wish that people who claim Jesus as Savior could understand that God is able to accomplish all His will. He is not some weak God who sits in heaven saying, "oh how I wish I could save that one". We serve a mighty God. Once we recognize the sovereign God of all creation, and start to preach and teach exactly what the scriptures say He is, we will start accomplishing all He desires for us to accomplish. What a privilege it is to be a tool of such a God!

 

Ok Bapmom. So if you believe that His death acquired salvation for the "whole world" as in every individual who ever existed or will exist, then you believe in universalism. The word "whole world" in this case means all races of men.
MeForHim, i'll be glad to answer everyone of your questions... one at a time and please take the time to be precise in your questions.

 

Thank you webdog. Actually I've been here quite a while... just don't post much. So Jesus paid the price for those who will never receive Him? I suppose the sins of the reprobate will be paid twice then.... once by Jesus and once for eternity for themselves. Seems like double jeopardy to me. So me4him... Grace is dependent upon men's works? I don't think so. It is unmerited favor. Timtoolman... you'll finally get through the thumbsucking phase.

 

Webdog. You said "We either pay the fine on our own". IF you do not receive Christ then He has already paid for your sins.... why would you have to "pay the fine on your own"?

 

Me4him... I won't give you the credit of an answer for the first question. Jesus'death accomplished salvation for all who are His. It is finished, done for and complete for the elect. His grace doesn't depend on anything they do. But then again judging from your responses to the other threads concerning sovereign grace...it doesn't surprise me that you can't see it.

 

There has been enough debate on Calvinism and Arminianism. My question in this thread "Is salvation available for anyone who desires it? How about addressing the question?