ONLY 3,000 SOULS SAVED: WHY WERE SOME NOT SAVED?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Only 3,000 Souls Saved
Acts 2:41
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
a) Why were there only 3000 souls saved that day? Many were not saved, and remained part of "this twisted generation" (Acts 2:40). How do we explain that only a portion of the populace received forgiveness?
b) You might correctly say, “The 3000 were saved because they listened, believed, welcomed the gospel and obeyed it; the rest remained lost because they wouldn't and didn't.” That is virtually saying that people contributed to their salvation.
c) If everybody had an opportunity to be saved, but only 3000 took that opportunity, then God was fair and just to save only the 3000. But if nobody contributed anything except their sin, and it was all up to God, why didn't he grant forgiveness to everyone?
2. Why Were Some Not Saved?
a) Why not? Didn't God want the blood of his Son to save everybody? Did he limit the atonement to some sinners and make atonement unavailable to all the rest?.
b) Peter said, "The promise is made to you, to your children, and to all who are far away; yes, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39).
c) Did some sinners on the Day of Pentecost have the gospel preached to them yet were not called and not able to obtain grace? Were they excluded from the promise? Did God withhold grace from them? Were they left helpless? Or were they unsaved because they refused to trust and obey?
d) Peter spoke to the people "of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem" (Acts 2:14). He never hinted that some of them had no access to forgiveness or joy in the gospel. So we ask again, why did only 3000 receive grace?
The End ...
1. Only 3,000 Souls SavedActs 2:41
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
a) Why were there only 3000 souls saved that day? Many were not saved, and remained part of "this twisted generation" (Acts 2:40). How do we explain that only a portion of the populace received forgiveness?
b) You might correctly say, “The 3000 were saved because they listened, believed, welcomed the gospel and obeyed it; the rest remained lost because they wouldn't and didn't.” That is virtually saying that people contributed to their salvation.
c) If everybody had an opportunity to be saved, but only 3000 took that opportunity, then God was fair and just to save only the 3000. But if nobody contributed anything except their sin, and it was all up to God, why didn't he grant forgiveness to everyone?
2. Why Were Some Not Saved?
a) Why not? Didn't God want the blood of his Son to save everybody? Did he limit the atonement to some sinners and make atonement unavailable to all the rest?.
b) Peter said, "The promise is made to you, to your children, and to all who are far away; yes, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39).
c) Did some sinners on the Day of Pentecost have the gospel preached to them yet were not called and not able to obtain grace? Were they excluded from the promise? Did God withhold grace from them? Were they left helpless? Or were they unsaved because they refused to trust and obey?
d) Peter spoke to the people "of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem" (Acts 2:14). He never hinted that some of them had no access to forgiveness or joy in the gospel. So we ask again, why did only 3000 receive grace?
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