Two analogies of salvation to consider.

I had written and posted this a while back. I reread it recently and realised it had some grammar issues, typical for my writing unfortunately. I hope some would consider it afresh and give input -

Many passages in scripture would seem to suggest, at first glance, a lack of fairness in the way people are saved.

For example:

Rom. 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to the Pharaoh "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills and whom He wills He hardens. (NKJV)

People will often go to great lengths to redefine what seems quite clear in scripture, in an attempt to make sure the way of salvation is fair to everyone. While I can't say my analogies below regarding salvation are perfect, no analogy ever is, I do hope they aid in understanding God's way of saving His people, with an emphasis on His word, over our view of what seems fair.

Typical analogy to show God's fairness in saving people -

God laments over the less than ideal circumstances that have left mankind drowning in the lake of sin. God throws out a life ring (salvation through Jesus) to all people. Some say "yes I want to live" and grab hold (saved), while others say "no thanks" and eventually drown (eternal condemnation). God tried to save all, but only some were smart enough, humble enough or something else enough to take the offer. Those who grabbed hold of salvation are glad they had what it took to make the right choice and take comfort in the fact that all had a chance! Fair maybe, but biblical maybe not!

A more biblical analogy -

From before creation God's redemptive plan included the present state of things, even mankind hopelessly drowning in lake of sin (mankind is still to blame for sin). God has also planned from before creation that He would rescue some of these drowning people by His grace and for His glory. Mankind does not want God and would never choose Him. Spiritually mankind might as well be dead at the bottom of the lake! All mankind are born lake dwellers (sinners) and enjoy life in the lake of sin separated from God and His righteousness. If God throws in a life ring, mankind will ignore it, throw it back, or even curse God for meddling in their business. In spite of mankind's enmity against God, His plan includes the gracious saving of some of the rebellious lake dwellers. Since they don't want Him and won't choose Him, God graciously changes the hearts of some of these lake dwellers, "rebirths" them (through word/Spirit), so that they recognize their true state and want to be saved from sin by Jesus Christ. God does everything necessary (through Jesus) for those He chose to save and others are left with what they wanted, separation from God and His righteousness.

Not a perfect analogy, but more biblical and as it should be - God gets all the glory! This seems especially fitting since scripture tells us that the way He saves us is not to the praise of our humility or wise choice, but - "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us acceptable in the Beloved". (Eph. 1:6 NKJV)

 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."