STP Logo

This leads me to this point: Was Christ then a liar too? Matthew 4:17 says of Jesus:

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Let’s look at some other verses. Is Christ a liar or is everyone He preached to elect? He also commands us to preach the gospel.

Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 11:5
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Why would Christ command everyone to repent if:

1.He knew who the elect where?
2.He knew who He would die for?
3.He knew whom He loved?
4.He knew they didn’t have a choice unless He gave it to them?

This would make Christ either a liar or evil because of His sarcasm. This would also make Him a sinner and His sacrifice for us would be null and void. Therefore, salvation would not be possible.

What about Paul? Is he a liar too, especially under inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
Acts 14:7
And there they preached the gospel.

Acts 14:21
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Acts 16:10
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Romans 1:15
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Why would Paul preach the gospel to everyone if:

1. He knew Jesus didn’t die for everyone?
2. He knew God doesn’t love everyone?
3. He knew they didn’t have a choice unless God gave it to them?

Also, why would Paul even say, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Rom 9:1-5)

If Paul knew Israel was not going to be saved, why even say this and even have a burden so deep for his people to be saved if it were not possible leading the Roman Christians, and us who have the Scriptures, to think that it were possible?