Saviour of All Fellowship
October 2004

Dear Friends in Faith,
     God and Christ's love are inextricably connected with what they have done to save all mankind. Several verses come to mind:
     John 3:16 is a favorite passage among Christians, yet many fail to see the significance of John 3:17 in connection with this love God has for humanity. It is stated in verse 17 that God dispatched His Son into the world that the world may be saved through Him. This is all related to “thus God loves the world.” The words “may be saved” do not use the “may” of doubt but the “may” of dependency. I have a pencil in my hand. I loosen my grip on the pencil that it may be falling. Its falling is dependent upon my grip being loosened. Thus also, the salvation of the world is dependent upon God dispatching His Son into the world. That has occurred. Therefore the world will be saved. And this is according to God's love for the world.
     Paul wrote this to the Corinthians: “For the love of Christ is constraining us, judging this, that, if One died for the sake of all, consequently all died” (2 Cor.5:14). In his letter to the Romans Paul also relates God's love to what He has done for all sinners: “yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes” (Rom.5:8).
     Can we have any doubt, when after reading Paul's understanding of what love is in 1 Corinthians 13 that since God is love personified, He will do what is best for all mankind?
     Ephesians speaks of “God's vast love” (Eph.2:4) in which we are rooted and grounded (3:17), as well as the love of Christ (3:18). These are associated with our completion “for the entire complement of God” (3:19), which brings us back to the thoughts of Ephesians 1:23 mentioned above in relation to our recent meetings in Grand Rapids. Divine love has in view the completion of the all in all.

     A friend we have been acquainted with for many years, James Burson, has written some booklets. Two of these we wish to bring to our reader's attention: “Obstacles to the Scriptural Teaching of Universal Salvation,” and “I Believe Colossians 1:20.” You may write to James at: Burson Brothers Book Bindery, c/o Jim Burson, 4829 Harrisburg Pike, Grove City, OH 43123. A small sum of $3.00 for each booklet is requested.
     Our Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 2 and 3 was like an appetizer to a feast, centered in the book of Ephesians. What an epistle of riches! Thoughts on the last verse of chapter one were especially memorable: the ecclesia is the complement of the One completing the all in all. Two of our speakers came from quite a distance: Don Bast from Sudbury, Ontario, and T. M. from Cortland, Ohio.

Yours in God's grace and peace,
Dean Hough and Tony Nungesser

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