Jesus' Sacrifice for Humanity | Why Some are Lost

We often ask God why He will not save everyone. The Bible is clear that Jesus’ sacrifice was complete enough for all to be saved:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJV).

The key is in the words “whosoever believeth in Him.” And this has always been the condition of our eternal existence with God.

When God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the garden, He gave humankind one of the most important gifts of all; He gave us the power of choice. Throughout the centuries of hardship and the results of sin ravaging the planet, many have asked why a loving God would permit these things. Why did He not just prevent Satan from tempting Adam and Eve? God allowed Adam and Eve to be tested to allow them the freedom of choosing to serve God out of love and not force.

Throughout His Word, the Lord constantly entreats us to serve Him, not because we have to, but because we love Him and understand that His form of government is fair and the only way we can be truly happy. When we trust God by obeying Him, we show that we believe in Him and everything He stands for.

The fork in a road. Source: John Keane on Flickr.

Why some are lost and some are saved is really very simple. We ourselves chose our destiny. In the most loving and compassionate way, God calls His children:

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).

So then why do some choose not to believe in Jesus? The Bible gives us the reason for this as well:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices (Proverbs 1:29-31)

It is not God who decides who will be lost and who will be saved, it is we ourselves who will choose this individually.

God has given us a fair example of what happens when we choose to rebel against His law and government. He wants everyone to be warned about the results their choices will have in this life and in the life to come.

Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good (Isaiah 7:15).

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23).

If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers (1 Samuel 12:14-15).

The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you (2 Chronicles 15:2).

God loves us too much not to respect our freedom of choice. He has done everything He can to prove His love by sending His Son to take our punishment and giving us a second chance to believe in Him so that we may be saved.