By Nick Bibile
When Scripture commands us to preach the gospel to unbelievers, it commands us to preach repentance.
“That
repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name
to all nations” (Luke 24:47).
“God
now commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
For repentance to make sense, sinners must clearly see four biblical realities:
God is holy
They are guilty before Him
There is real enmity between God and fallen man
They need a Mediator—Jesus Christ
Modern evangelism often begins with the phrase, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” While emotionally appealing, this message removes the necessity of repentance and creates a false peace.
“They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14).
If God already loves unbelievers in a saving, reconciled sense, then there is no wrath to flee from, no hostility to be removed, and no Mediator required—a direct contradiction of the gospel.
“Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
False assurance produces false conversions. This helps explain why vast numbers of “decisions for Christ” fall away—people were promised comfort, not a cross.
Scripture clearly distinguishes different kinds of divine love.
God shows kindness to all His creatures. He gives rain, food, breath, and life itself—even to the wicked.
“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good” (Matt. 5:45).
This love is real, but it is not saving.
God has a covenantal, redemptive love reserved for His people—those chosen in Christ.
“The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
This love is personal, particular, and purposeful, directed toward those given to Christ by the Father.
“You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him… I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world” (John 17:2, 9).
If Christ died to save every single person, yet many perish eternally, then one of two things must be true:
Christ’s atonement failed, or
God’s saving purpose is dependent on man’s will
Both ideas are unbiblical.
“He
shall save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
“I
lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15).
A ransom that is fully paid cannot leave captives still condemned.
“He
is the mediator of a new covenant… that those who are called may
receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15).
“By
Your blood You ransomed people for God” (Rev. 5:9–10).
Christ’s death actually accomplishes salvation—it does not merely make it possible.
John 3:16 is often cited as proof of universal atonement, but context governs meaning.
Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a Jewish ruler who assumed the Messiah came only for Israel. Christ reveals that God’s saving purpose extends beyond Israel to the world—that is, all nations, not every individual.
In Jewish usage, “world” often meant Gentiles:
“The Gentiles seek after these things” (Matt. 6:32)
“The nations of the world seek after these things” (Luke 12:30)
Thus, John 3:16 teaches that God saves both Jews and Gentiles, His elect scattered among the nations.
“As many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).
Scripture frequently uses universal language non-universally:
“All Judea was going out to him” (Matt. 3:5–6) — not every individual
“The whole world has gone after Him” (John 12:19) — obvious hyperbole
C. H. Spurgeon summarized it well:
Christ redeemed some of all sorts—not all people without exception.
The context explains the meaning:
“Prayers… be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Tim. 2:1–2).
“All men” means all kinds of people—rulers and subjects, Jews and Gentiles—not every individual.
Just as Noah brought every kind of animal into the ark (Gen. 7:14), not every creature, so God saves people from every class.
“Who
gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6)
Paul
immediately adds that he is “a teacher of the Gentiles” (v. 7).
Paul clearly distinguishes two groups:
“Savior of all men” — God preserves life generally
“Especially of those who believe” — God saves eternally and particularly
If “Savior of all men” meant universal salvation, the second phrase would be meaningless.
Scripture defines them consistently:
The seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15)
The seed of Abraham (Isa. 41:8)
God’s elect (Isa. 65:9)
Christ’s sheep (John 10:14–15)
Those given by the Father (John 17:2, 9, 20)
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Since not all are saved, “the lost” here refers to His people, who will certainly be found.
The apostles never approached unbelievers with the message:
“God loves you personally.”
Instead, they preached:
Sin
Judgment
Wrath
A necessary Mediator
Repentance
Faith in Christ alone
Examples:
Acts 2 — Peter preaches guilt and judgment; 3,000 repent
Acts 16 — the jailer trembles and cries, “What must I do to be saved?”
Christ Himself rejected modern slogans:
“If
anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross” (Luke 9:23).
“In
the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).
“All
who desire to live a godly life… will be persecuted” (2 Tim.
3:12).
God shows general kindness to all
God does not have saving love toward all
Christ died for His people alone
The gospel must preach repentance before comfort
“God loves you” is not the apostolic message to unbelievers
Instead
of saying:
“God
loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”
Say
this:
“You
are a sinner under God’s wrath. Flee to Christ, the only Mediator.
Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”