Should Christians Be Outraged By Salvation?
By Jack Jackson - Minister Where You Are

In a forum discussion on OAO's message Board about theology a Brother (Chris) said he was really going back and forth over the whole Arminian vs. Calvinism issue, and while he decided he suggested the following for me:

"Even if you remain a non-Calvinist, BE OUTRAGED AT SALVATION! And then be amazed that you are saved! And worship! And glorify His name! Thank Him for overcoming the greatest injustice of all time by giving His beloved to us!"

At first read, his comment "Be Outraged at Salvation" sounds very noble to the believer, but let's think about that more. I know non-believer, and believers alike who are outraged by hell. That prompted me to write "Is Hell Fair" which is in the Devotional section of ministerwhereyouare.org. We see that to deny hell being fair, and there only being one other place to go, they are saying heaven should be more open, even to all. It would seem then that one who says "hell is fair", would also be for a statement like "be outraged at salvation", but I think that statement is a wrong attitude to have. Why?

Satan, the accuser of man, believes salvation is an outrage, and I don't think I, or any Christian for that matter, should be on the same side as Satan on anything. To be outraged at anything God does, or way He chooses to do something should not be an outrage to anyone, except those at enmity with God.

If someone is really outraged at salvation, they simply don't have to take God up on His offer to be made clean and go to heaven. I'm sure if on Judgment Day that they are outraged by salvation, He will allow them to decline the offer for heaven and allow them to go to hell if they insist how outrageous it is for Him to offer such a gift.

Have you ever noticed the false humility which is displayed when one tries to award someone and they are trying to pretend that they don't really want to receive the gift, while others just say "thank you for your kind gift". The concept of thinking salvation is an outrage sounds very spiritual and meritorious in itself on the surface, but it may just flow out of the theology of that person. If that person takes a "grace upon grace" approach where even the faith to believe is given to some, but others are left without the proper ability to even believe, we can see how this thought overcompensates. In that theology, God randomly chooses some that He will save, like a lottery. It can't be based on anything that person did or will do otherwise they see it no longer being grace. Faith, in this theology is also not their faith, but faith is impossible to have, unless God gives it them. I call this being saved by grace, through grace, or grace upon grace. But the Bible says we are saved by grace "through faith" (Eph 2:8-9) and not by works of the law. Abraham was not able to keep the law perfectly, nor can any of us even though it is written on our hearts (Romans 2:14-15), but Abraham was "fully persuaded" that what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:21-25)

These passages show God saves by grace, those who by faith, believe and trust His promises, all of them, and then act upon what they believe, proving they are fully persuaded.

We aren't to analyze whether salvation is outrageous, we are to trust and obey Him and know therefore, that through a fully persuaded faith that is active and real, His offer of grace is real.

To harbor feelings that salvation is an outrage is somehow to oppose it, and therefore oppose God. It would seem that type of mind set could lead to a subliminal desire for all to go where they should go, namely hell. How difficult it would be to preach the "Good News", when down inside you see it as not "Good News", but an outrage. How could they offers the "Good News" and genuinely want anyone to really accept it?

Rather than going around outraged that God planned from all eternity to redeem us by the blood of the Son because He actually loves the creatures He created Himself; why shouldn't we instead go out and preach that "Good News" with heart felt love and desire that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, before it is too late?

I don't see salvation as outrageous, any more than I would think it was outrageous for a father or mother try and save their wayward son or daughter. What I see as outrageous is that Christians who actually know the "Good News" and the "Bad News" that all are already condemned don't make it a regular part of their daily lives to tell this critical truth to a world on death row. To me it makes amazing sense. I was (and am) very thankful that while I broke His laws, God made a way through His blood to pay my fine. Once I had understanding that I was guilty on Judgment Day for breaking the law (go through the 10 Commandments to see for yourself), I suddenly knew I deserved hell. Then it finally made sense that that was why Jesus came here, to redeem men and offer them that redemption from the penalty of their sin, which they deserved, but which He bore in their place. When I finally understood why He died, I was not outraged, I was humbled, grieved at my sin, determined to turn from them, and was willing to love and follow Jesus, who had died to redeem me.

I saw the gospel as the power of salvation to all who would believe. And it compelled me to tell anyone who would listen that they could be forgiven of their former sins, be given the power over sin going forward, and that even if we stumbled, His Word says we could confess that sin and have it cleansed away too. What "Good News", what "Wonderful News of Grace". This truly was "good tidings of great joy, which was to all people" (Luke 2:10), not some kinds of people, but all! I was excited at what the Lord had done for me, and was anxious to tell others that there was a pardon available for them too.

I began ministering where I was and believed God at His word and went out and preached the gospel, and saw people give their lives to Jesus. I didn't know there was a such thing as "limited atonement" until almost 2 1/2 years ago. I just believed all could just believe the gospel, and couldn't believe anyone wouldn't turn to Jesus, once I explained it to them. Maybe that "fully persuaded" faith was evident to those who heard as well, because many came to make professions for Jesus.

It wasn't until I heard the doctrine from a former Pastor in a series of "sola ..." sermons around the early part of 2005 that was introduced to "T.U.L.I.P". I have trouble explaining just what I went through other than a Spiritual Flue when I heard him, but if you go to "devotionals" section on my web site and find an article I wrote called "My Gospel Presentation, If Calvinism Were True" you get a little part of what the hearing of this doctrine did to me. All I knew was that it was as if they preaching another god. This was not the God that loved me and had died to saved me, because He had called me to reach "everyone" in my path and made me think all had a real chance to repent and turn to Him also. Were some of my battles really against God? I thought the enemy was Satan, who was blinding them, no God keeping them from seeing (see Who Is The Enemy? On the web page).

You must understand that 13 of the first 14 I ever preach the gospel to came to Christ. I believed (believe still) it's the best news ever and only fools could pass it up. My Pastor started to tell me not to expect that kind of response all the time, but I said "Pastor, why would anyone say no?" He just chuckled and said "Just go and preach then!"

I have seen revival in my family. I knew (know) that if they can just hear the truth, they should come to Him, so I attack the lies of Satan (strongholds), with truth and believe the law of Lord is perfect converting the soul (Psalms 19:7), because I see it happen over and over and over again. We see Abraham was "fully persuaded" in Romans 4:21 that God was able to perform what He promised. Are we "fully persuaded" in our faith?

Once I was taught about limited atonement, I thought either God has me mostly around "elect" folks everywhere I am going, or limited atonement was just plain wrong and everyone can just believe once the truth (God law first, followed by grace through faith) is preached with love. I have seen it! I live it! I see it is true! Therefore, I can't believe in the "L", limited atonement of Calvin's "TULIP". I also can't see that I would be as zealous if I believed most have no chance (many are on the broad path and only few find the narrow one). Is that true because God limits how many He will have or because we as Christians aren't doing our job? Jesus says He will take all the Father will give Him, and will not cast any away. We should limited only by the time the Father allows before calling this age quits. Jesus will keep taken as many as we can reach, and do not depart from Him or deny Him before men. Only the Father knew the day and hour remember?

Be outraged at salvation? God forbid! It was His loving plan and gift for His creations which He loved so much, He sent His only begotten Son to redeem, so we could spread that "Good News" while it was still the harvest. It was to bring good tidings of great joy, not to cause us to be outraged. Only Satan and those opposed to God's perfect plan should be outraged by His very love!