Frequently Asked Questions #2

WILL ONLY A FEW BE SAVED?

Nothing is gained by speculating about how "few" or "many" will be finally saved.  It is useful, however, to consider why it is that, among evangelical Christians , the commonly held impression is that proportionally "few" will be saved.  We will consider four reasons for this general impression:

1) Premise "A"

The first reason is the fact that ever since the fourth century most theologians have mistakenly worked with the premise A), that is: "All persons will be finally lost except those who the Bible declares will be saved" (See Posting #1).  This seems to imply that relatively few will be saved. 

                                        2) Scarcity Increases Value

Another reason is that scarcity increases the value of most things. Antique collectors are well aware of this. Consider, for example, that at one time salt was so scarce it was used as money. The chemical composition of salt has not changed but it is so plentiful it can no longer be so used. If diamonds were as plentiful as gravel, we might pay someone to haul them away from our property. Because salvation is so extremely valuable, we are biased toward thinking it must be scarce.

Salvation is not scarce. "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Rom. 5:20). Its price is right, "Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isa. 55:1). The assurance is given, "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matt. 7:8). The command is, "Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full" (Luke 14:23). The invitation we hear is, "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' and let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Rev. 22:17). 

                                   3) The Kingdom Parables

A Hidden Treasure, A Pearl of Great Value

The kingdom of heaven is depicted as a treasure hidden in a field that a person buys. Consequently he is the only person who has the "hidden treasure" (Math. 13:44). Again, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl "of great value" that one merchant, by selling "everything he had," was able to be the sole owner of that pearl (Math. 13:45).   These two parables depict the high value we ought to place on entering the kingdom of heaven.

It is clear that these parables are not intended to teach us that few persons can find the kingdom or that it is costly to enter it.

The Two Ways

Math. 7:14: "Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Does this parable of "The Two Ways" mean that the entrance to heaven is hard to find because the "gate is small," that entering the kingdom is difficult because the road "is narrow," and rarely does anyone enter because it says, "few find it"?

The conclusion reached in the preceding paragraph seems plausible.  However, that can not be the lesson that Jesus intended to teach.  The kingdom of heaven is not given to us as a reward for our diligence and careful walk.  That would be salvation by works.  Furthermore, in this same chapter Jesus has already taught us that the entrance to the kingdom is not hard to find because everyone "who seeks finds" it.   It is not difficult to attain because to everyone "who knocks, the door will be opened." It is not limited to a few because "everyone who asks receives" it (Matthew 7:7 and 8).

The "small gate," "narrow road," and "few" finding convey the thought of the intrinsic value of salvation, not the extent of its availability.  These expressions have the same meaning as finding the "hidden treasure," and selling everything else in order to purchase the "pearl of great value."

                                     NOT CONCERNED WITH NUMBERS

These kingdom parables are not calculations regarding the number of persons who will be saved. They are intended teach us to covet the kingdom of heaven as a rare discovery, an invaluable treasure; be willing to forsake all other interests in order to attain it. An attitude of thoughtlessly drifting along with the crowd through a "wide" gate is a sure sign that one is not on the road that leads to glory.

The observation has been correctly made that there is no more reason to conclude from the parable of the "Two Ways" that few will be saved, than there is to conclude from the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) that precisely as many will be saved as will be finally lost.

                                      4) Matthew 22:14

We must also consider Math. 22:14: "For many are invited, but few are chosen." The word "For" at the beginning indicates that this verse is the conclusion to the series of parables that immediately precede this verse. The parables are: The Tenants, The Cornerstone and the Wedding Banquet (Matt. 21:33 to 22:13).

"When the chief priests and Pharisees heard" these parables, "they knew [Jesus] was talking about them" (Matt. 21:45). In verse Math. 22:14 Jesus is not talking about the masses of mankind telling us that few among them will be saved.  The theme of each of the parables (The Tenants, The Cornerstone and Wedding Banquet) is: "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him" (John 1:11). The religious leaders and most of God's covenant people did not respond favorably to Jesus' earthly ministry.

We need not think this was a permanent result even among the "Men of Israel."  Peter proclaimed the name of Jesus and "three thousand were added to their number" in one day (Acts 2:22-41).

The ministry of Paul and Barnabas also demonstrates that this early rejection by the countrymen of Jesus was overruled for good:"We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46, 47). "For many are invited, but few are chosen" refers to the fact that few of his countrymen responded to Jesus' invitation and therefore many from among the Gentiles were invited and came.

                                                ONLY BY IMPLICATION

In response to my Postings a seminary professor wrote: "I am in general agreement with what you have written.  However, I do not believe as many people will be saved as you claim."  Just as premise A) seems to imply that relatively few will be saved (See above.), so premise B) "All persons will be saved except those who the bible declares will be finally lost," seems to imply that most persons will be saved.  Neither premise addresses the question of "few" or "many" except by way of implication.

                                  THE OLD TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE

Before reading Jon Bonda's book The one purpose of God, (Eerdmans 1998) I never spoke about the relative number of those who will be finally saved or lost.  In fact I said, "The Bible does not provide an answer to this question" (What's Good About the Good News?, P. 87).  Bonda provides persuasive evidence that the implication of premise "B," that most people will be saved, may be biblically valid (See Posting #5).

That many will be saved is also the express testimony of the Scriptures. Hebrews 11:12: "And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."

We ought not to glibly dismiss the question of the relative number of those who will be saved by simply saying, "The secret things belong to God." and "Where the Bible is silent we ought not to speak."  It is just as impious to deny what the Bible reveals as it is to affirm what the Bible denies.

 

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