Who Can Be Saved?

People have trouble in understanding that they are appropriate candidates for God’s salvation. We give many different explanations as to why someone is not the right person to find God and trust Him for their eternal destiny. We think that there people who are not good enough so they can’t get past all the bad things they have done and just believe. We think that some people are too good and don’t understand their need for the Savior. We think that some people have waited too long and have lost the opportunity to believe. Then we think that there are some who are too young to come to know Christ.
The fact of the matter is that it does not matter what we think. What is important is what God thinks. The Bible clearly tells us that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” What does the word “whosoever” mean? Does it mean all those who are good enough or those who are bad enough? Does it mean all those who are young enough or are old enough? It is obvious that the word “whosoever” means “whosoever.”
The Bible describes children coming to Christ. It tells us of the thief on his cross who trusted Christ and Jesus confirms his belief. The book tells us of the rich people who came to Christ. It describes the woman at the well who lived an unholy life, but trusted Christ and brought the Samaritan city out to introduce them to the one who saved her. The Bible describes those who were desperately sick and without hope, but found hope in Christ. The list goes on and on helping us to see the all inclusive nature if whosoever.
Many people become hung up on the word “election,” feeling that we can’t know whom God chooses so we better not ask them to believe. A friend of mine once observed that it is strange how many people become the “elect” when we tell them about the Savior.
I am sure of this: Whatever the word “election” means, if you want to believe, God wants you to believe. The Bible tells us that God loves the world and He would that all men would come to Him. The great salvation verse of John 3:16 suggest that “whosoever” believes will have eternal life.
God’s gracious offer of a new life here and an eternal life with Him is available to whosoever believes. Isn’t that great? This old sin cursed world implants itself on every one of us and tries to keep us from taking that step of belief. The Spirit of God cries out, “Repent, Believe.” There’s a decision to be made. Either we listen to the world or we listen to God.