Scriptures that appear to Teach against limited Atonement !

[savedbygrace57]

All things !

Also the words all things have been used to wrest scripture, many force that to mean that God hath reconciled to Himself all people without exception by Christ. For instance:

Eph 1:10

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Col 1:20

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

But this expression is also used with a restricted sense, for example here:

1 Cor 9:22

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Would not all things be limited to things that are conducive to a fruitful ministry ? Would Paul be made a fornicator to save fornicators ? A drunkard to save drunkards ?

1 Cor 10:23

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Can all things here be meant in a unrestricted sense ?

How about Rom 14:20

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Now is this True in an unrestricted sense ? That all things without exception are pure ?

So how is Eph 1:10 true in that in the fulness of times He will gather together in one all things ? All things in Christ whether they be in Heaven or on Earth.

This is talking all about all believers in Christ, of which some presently are in Heaven and some here on Earth, but the time will come when all must come together.

All the Angels of Heaven and the Saints must come together in One for Universal Praise and Worship of the Lamb and God the Father.

All Persons outside of Election in Christ would be excluded from the All things reconciled in Christ !

 

[savedbygrace57]

The word world or whole world !

Another word that those who wrest scripture like to refer to in promoting that which is opposed to the Truth is the word world or the whole world ! But if we look into many of those passages we come to know that the biblical usage of the word or words are restricted in some sense. It's restricted by immediate context or the sake of the Truth context, meaning, it must be in conformity to overall tenure of scripture truth on a given subject !

Jn 7:4

4For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

Shew thyself to the kosmos ! Now did Jesus brethren mean for Him to shew Himself to everyone in the world without exception ? Of course not. World here gives the connotation of just being seen by the public openly. That would be the general public were they resided or frequented..

Jn 12:19


19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

The Kosmos is gone after Him ! Does this mean to say everyone in the world without exception has gone after Him ? Of course not. It just means a good number of folk, thats it !

Jn 6:33

33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Literally this is "giving life unto the Kosmos" not offering life or making it available, but He is actually giving Life, [Spiritual] because He is the Lord from heaven coming down from heaven 1 Cor 15:47

47The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Now does world in Jn 6:33 mean actually every single individual without exception ? Of course not. The world here means His Sheep, for He came that they might have Life as per Jn 10:10-11

10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The Life is Eternal Life He gives to the world of His Sheep Jn 10:27-28

27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Notice, speaking of the Sheep, " I GIVE unto them Eternal Life"

Thats what is meant in Jn 6:33

He GIVETH life unto the world !

1 Jn 5:19

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Now does John literally mean that the whole world without exception lieth in wickedness ?

This world John is speaking of is a world destined or appointed to wrath !

The word is in the present tense at means a continuing to lie in wickedness or under the wicked one. In each generation of mankind up unto the end there will be this world lying in wickedness as Jesus intimates here Matt 13:

38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Thats why the lieth in wickedness continually, because they are the designated or appointed children of the wicked one.

Now back to the word lieth in 1 Jn 5:19, it is the greek word keimai:


metaph.

a) to be (by God's intent) set, i.e. destined, appointed

b) of laws, to be made, laid down

c) lies in the power of the evil one, i.e. is held in subjection by the devil

Its the word appointed in 1 Thess 3:3

3That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

So the whole world in 1 Jn 5:19 is limited to a appointed world of the children of wicked one. Thats the world that Paul says shall be Judged 1 Cor 11:32

32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

So this how we should understand the word world and whole world in its redemptive sense, in a restricted sense !

 

[JMJ]

God desires for all mankind to be saved and so He sent Jesus as a ransom for all mankind.

To the persons who choose to love Him until their deaths, He grants these persons eternal life; but the persons who do not choose to love Him until their deaths are condemned to hell for eternity.

God does not arbitrarily force some persons to inherit eternal life nor does He arbitrarily force other persons to be condemned to hell for eternity. He did not force Esau to sell his birthright against his will nor did He force Pharaoh to enslave the Israelites against his will. These men freely chose their own destinies using their own free wills.

For example:

Romans 9:13 "As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

This is hyperbole/exaggeration to stress the point that God prefers the second born Jacob to be the leader of His people instead of the first born Esau. He does not actually literally hate Esau. God loves all mankind including Esau. Esau freely chose to sell his birthright to Jacob. He was not coerced by God to do it.

Another example is Matthew 23:9-10 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ."

This is hyperbole/exaggeration to stress the point that we are not to desire to be given special titles, privileges, and honors.

What about Pharaoh? Pharaoh freely chose to enslave the Israelites. He hardened his own heart against God and the Israelites perhaps because of jealousy. The ancient Israelites often attributed their own actions to God. It was their manner of speaking.

Exodus 9:12 "But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses."

Exodus 8:32 "But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go."

It was actually Pharaoh who chose to harden his own heart against God and the Israelites. God did not force Pharaoh to harden his heart against the Israelites against his will.

How does a person love God?

John 14:21 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

What does Christ promise to the people who love Him (those people who keep/obey His commandments until their deaths)? He promises them the crown of eternal life.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

 

[savedbygrace57]

jmj

God desires for all mankind to be saved

No He doesnt, that is one of the biggest lies ever...

 

[JMJ]

No He doesnt, that is one of the biggest lies ever...

Both Paul and Peter disagree with you.

God does desire for all men to be saved. However, God does not deny us free will to condemn ourselves by our own free will evil actions/works/deeds.

1 Timothy 2:3-6 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,"

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

A man is condemned by his own free will evil actions.

John 5:28-29 " Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

 

[reba]

SbyG I would be interested in how you answer the Scriptures posted by JMJ.

They have been a bump in my road for while...

 

[savedbygrace57]

SbyG I would be interested in how you answer the Scriptures posted by JMJ.

They have been a bump in my road for while...

Ok reba for the 1 Tim 2:4 see my comments in this thread post's # 8,10-14

and for 2 Pet 3 post's 16-17

 

[savedbygrace57]

jmj

Both Paul and Peter disagree with you.

No they don't, you disagree with them, and promote a fasehood !

 

[JMJ]

No they don't, you disagree with them, and promote a fasehood !

Please read: 1 Timothy 2:3-7, 2 Peter 3:9

God shows no partiality. He approves of all people who fear Him (revere Him) and work righteousness (do good works/deeds).

Cornelius was a Gentile and therefore according to Jewish belief he was not supposed to inherit eternal life:

Acts 10:1-35

Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."

God's ways are not our ways and He judges rightly. Cornelius was a good man. The Gentile Cornelius was accepted by God as His own child regardless of the unfortunate circumstance of his non-Jewish birth.

God is Love. 1 John 4:16 He desires all people to know Him, love Him, and serve Him on earth so that they may live in heaven with Him forever. He did not create people in order to condemn them. People condemn themselves by their own actions.

Even the idle words we speak will be subjected to judgment!

IDLE - lacking worth or basis : vain <idle chatter> <idle pleasure>

Matthew 12:34-36 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart[a] brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."


Matthew 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

We are judged by our works after death. Our works determine whether we inherit eternal life or enter eternal fire. Good works are proof of true faith. Romans 1:16-32 Faith without good works is worthless, dead. James 2:20-26, James 1:21-24



John 5:28-30 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."

 

[savedbygrace57]

jmj

God shows no partiality

Who said anything about God showing partiality ?

But God chose a People to be Special to Him over and above all other people Deut 7:


6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

And He is not talking about the ethnic jews of Israel..He is speaking to those Chosen in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4

 

[JMJ]

jmj



Who said anything about God showing partiality ?

But God chose a People to be Special to Him over and above all other people Deut 7:


6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

And He is not talking about the ethnic jews of Israel..He is speaking to those Chosen in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4

In Deuteronomy God is speaking precisely of the lineage of the sons of Abraham who eventually became known as the ethnic Jews. The word Jew comes from the name of the tribe of Judah.


The New Covenant is a better covenant. It is a fulfillment of the Old Covenant and in this New Covenant God shows no partiality. Ethnic Jews are no longer God's only special people. They are no longer above all other people. Choosing one group over another is showing partiality toward them.

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

God knew before the foundation of the world who would know Him, love Him, and serve Him until they died and thereby be saved and enter into eternal life. He knew this because He is omniscient. He had foreknowledge of this future event. He chose these very same people to be His own before the foundation of the earth and He placed these people into His hands. We, however, don't know for sure if we are members of this elect until we die and are judged.

 

[savedbygrace57]

jmj

In Deuteronomy God is speaking precisely of the lineage of the sons of Abraham who eventually became known as the ethnic Jews

Thats a Lie. God is speaking to those of the ethnic jews who were chosen in Christ. The ethnic jews in and of themselves were not chosen of God ! Rom 9:8


8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

He was speaking to the children of the promise !

There was always within the ethnic jews, a small remnant according to the election of grace !

This small remnant were God's Chosen or Election Rom 11:

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.


6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election [Or Chosen] hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

So it is crystal clear that the remnant was Chosen, and the rest of ethnic Israel was not !

So again, The Chosen in Deut 7:6-7 is speaking of The Chosen in Christ Eph 1:4, and not the ethnic Israel..

 

[JMJ]

jmj

Thats a Lie. God is speaking to those of the ethnic jews who were chosen in Christ. The ethnic jews in and of themselves were not chosen of God ! Rom 9:8


8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

He was speaking to the children of the promise !

There was always within the ethnic jews, a small remnant according to the election of grace !

This small remnant were God's Chosen or Election Rom 11:

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.


6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election [Or Chosen] hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

So it is crystal clear that the remnant was Chosen, and the rest of ethnic Israel was not !

So again, The Chosen in Deut 7:6-7 is speaking of The Chosen in Christ Eph 1:4, and not the ethnic Israel..

The elect were chosen and named elect according to God's foreknowledge of future events.

1 Peter 1:2 "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: ....."

God knew before the foundation of the world which persons would, in the future, choose to know Him, love Him, and serve Him on earth and thereby be counted worthy to enter into eternal life after they died. These people are God's elect. God knows and has always known who His elect are but we will not know if we are one of His elect until we die and are judged.

Luke 20:35-36 "But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.


Many Jews chose to reject Jesus Christ even though they had the exact same opportunity to choose to accept Him as those Jews who did choose to accept Him. They all had free will and they all exercised their free will when they made their choices. Those who did accept Him are members of the Remnant prophesied by Isaiah. Isaiah 10:20-22

I have explained my understanding of this topic. You have explained yours. We do not agree with each other on this topic. Perhaps in future we will be able to agree on another topic.

I do want to make clear that when I stated sons of Abraham I meant that it was Isaac's descendants who eventually became known as ethnic Jews. Many Muslims (and others) claim that many of Ishmael's descendants are now known as Muslims.

 

[savedbygrace57]

jmj

The elect were chosen and named elect according to God's foreknowledge of future events.

More Lies..

 

[savedbygrace57]

Comment on 1 Tim 2:4

1 Tim 2:4

4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

I have already made comments on this verse and showed how it cannot mean all men without exception. However there is another reason as well.

What God wills or desires He does. The greek word for will in the above verse is thelo and means to will, have in mind, intend

a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose

b) to desire, to wish

Now if God wills it, wishes it, He does it ! Lets look at Ps 115:3

3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

The word here for pleased is the hebrew word chaphets and means:

to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with

a) (Qal)

1) of men

a) to take pleasure in, delight in

b) to delight, desire, be pleased to do

The same word is used of David here Ps 51:6

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.



Now scripture says that God has done whatsoever He desireth ! If He desires all men without exception to be saved and come into the Knowledge of the Truth, then He does it !

Ps 135:6

6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Same hebrew word for pleased as in Ps 115:3

 

[JMJ]

Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.


God desires that all people come to repentance and thereby be saved yet not all people are saved and this is because God gave each of us free will. God forces no person to be saved if s/he chooses to disobey His commandments. He forces no person to be lost if s/he chooses to obey His commands/commandments.

Jesus Christ: So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17


Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

To enter into Eternal life is conditional on whether a person obeys God's commandments or not and this includes all the people who have "accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior." There is no such thing as "once saved, always saved."

 

[savedbygrace57]

jml

Peter 3:9
The Lord
is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but
is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to
repentance.

See posts 16-17 in this thread

Jesus Christ: So He said to him, “Why do you call Me
good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want
to enter into life, keep the commandments.†Matthew
19:17

You teach a works Salvation, thats condemned by scripture..

 

[JMJ]

jml
You teach a works Salvation, thats condemned by scripture..

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Philippians 2:12

I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling. I recommend this to all the people I discuss this topic with because only the people who do God the Father's will until they die are permitted to enter into eternal life.


For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.†Matthew 12:50


and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21

Please read this very carefully:

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:21-22

Jesus Christ saved me as His free gift (grace). Now, since He saved me, I must do His Father's will if I want to enter into eternal life when I die. Jesus Christ saved me so that I would be able to freely choose to do His Father's will. He created me to love God and to do His will. I must do His will/obey His commands to the best of my ability until I die if I want to enter into eternal life after I die.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21

People are first saved when they call upon His name and become born again.

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

2 Timothy 1:9
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

He has saved us and called us to do His Father's will. He saves us and supplies the graces necessary to make it possible for us to choose to obey His commands. We then use our own free wills until we die to either choose to obey Him or to choose to disobey Him.

Ephesians 2:7-10
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

After Christ saves us, we must do the good works that God has prepared for us (the Father's will) if we desire to enter into eternal life after we die.

People who sin spiritually deadly sins after they are saved are no longer saved.

OT Ezekiel 33:12-20 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.’ 13 When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. 14 Again, when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 17 “Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair! 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. 19 But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.â€

NT Romans 11:22
Therefore consider the goodness (grace) and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness (grace), if you continue in His goodness (grace). Otherwise you also will be cut off.

People who sin sins leading to death (mortal sins) after they have been saved are no longer saved. They no longer have the Spirit of God (sanctifying grace) living in them. They have defiled their temples/souls and so the Holy Spirit will destroy/condemn them unless they repent before they die.

Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully (deliberately) after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Sin spiritually deadly sins after you are saved and you are no longer saved.

Examples of spiritually deadly sins:

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice (do) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Saved people who choose to do these sins and who do not repent of them before death do not inherit the kingdom of God. They do not enter into eternal life after they die.

John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

When Christ returns at His Second Coming, all the physically living and all the physically dead will hear His voice and they will all be judged.

2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

 

[savedbygrace57]

1 Tim 2:3-4

3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Now who are these all men that God would have saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth ? I believe the scripture answers that question by Jesus words here Jn 6:37

37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

It is the All that the Father giveth Him [which are all those chosen in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4]

Coming to the Knowledge of the Truth would also mean coming to Christ who is the Truth Jn 14:6

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In the greek the word truth is preceded by the definite article, there is no objective nor experiential Truth regarding God, Salvation apart from Him, the Gospel, the word of Truth is regarding His Person and work and what it accomplished. All those God the Father desires to be saved and come into the Knowledge of the Truth, He gave them to Christ in Eternal Election before the foundation, and they shall come to the knowledge of the Truth. Paul writes in 2 Thess 2:13

13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 

[JMJ]

1 Tim 2:3-4

3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Now who are these all men that God would have saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth ? I believe the scripture answers that question by Jesus words here Jn 6:37

37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

It is the All that the Father giveth Him [which are all those chosen in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4]

Coming to the Knowledge of the Truth would also mean coming to Christ who is the Truth Jn 14:6

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In the greek the word truth is preceded by the definite article, there is no objective nor experiential Truth regarding God, Salvation apart from Him, the Gospel, the word of Truth is regarding His Person and work and what it accomplished. All those God the Father desires to be saved and come into the Knowledge of the Truth, He gave them to Christ in Eternal Election before the foundation, and they shall come to the knowledge of the Truth. Paul writes in 2 Thess 2:13

13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

God chose persons for salvation before the foundation of the world according to His foreknowledge of these persons' future actions. God knows everything and so He knew who would obey His commands/gospel to the best of their ability from birth until death and who would not obey His commands/gospel. He elected/predestined to heaven all the persons whom He foreknew would enter into eternal life after physical death.

God did not arbitrarily choose some people to be saved and other people to be condemned. People's own free will choices from birth until death either saves them or condemns them.

1 Timothy 5:11-13 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.â€

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

We are either approved for eternal life according to our own works or else we are condemned to hell according to our own works.

John 5:28-30 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

On Judgment Day, all the sheep will enter into eternal life because they did good works while they were on earth, but all the goats will enter into everlasting hell fire because they either did evil works or else they omitted to do good works while they were on earth.