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Chapter: 14.54
(Section 14: Selective Salvation)
Copyright © Michael Bronson 1998 -2005
BibleHelp.org

Jesus gave three parables about the thrill of finding something that was lost. They are the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and the lost son (prodigal son). All three parables contradict the doctrine of selective salvation.

The parable of the lost sheep is about a Shepherd who has 100 sheep. He discovers one of his sheep is missing, so he sets off looking for it. When he finds the lost sheep, he puts it on his shoulder and rejoices. He sends for his friends with the message, "Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep that was lost." An analogy is then given how there is great joy in Heaven over the salvation of one lost sinner.

 The parable of the lost coin is about a woman who has lost one of her coins. She continually searches the whole house until she finds it. After she finds the coin, she asks her friends to rejoice with her. Again, an analogy is given how there is great joy in Heaven over the salvation of a lost sinner.

The parable of the prodigal son is about a son who decides to take his inheritance and spend it on a life of sin. After his money runs out, his life hits rock bottom. Things are so bad even the pigs are eating better than he. He decides to return home and see if his father will take him back as a lowly servant. His father, however, doesn’t take him back as a servant. Instead, he takes him back as a son. His father clothes him with the best robe, kills the fatted calf, and throws him a party. The father is rejoicing because his prodigal son has returned.

All three parables share a common theme: The recovery of a lost item brings great joy. More importantly, the salvage of a lost soul brings great pleasure to God. You would expect this type of reaction from God with open salvation, but you would not expect it with selective salvation.

In fact, with selective salvation, there is no cause for celebration when a person gets saved. There are no lost souls who are salvaged. There are no people rescued from the gates of Hell. All of the people who get "saved" were actually saved long before the world was created. These parables don’t make sense if selective salvation is true. It would be like a person pretending to lose a coin and then throwing a large party when he "finds" it. In my opinion, these parables show selective salvation is not Biblical.

• Luke 15:3-7     Parable of the lost sheep

• Luke 15:8-10     Parable of the lost coin

• Luke 15:11-32     Parable of the lost son (prodigal son)

Other Chapters in this Section

Home
Up
PART 1: What is Selective Salvation?
PART 2: What Does the Bible say about Selective Salvation?
PART 3: Problems with Selective Salvation
PART 4: “Choice” –The Achilles’ Heel of Selective Salvation

Choice 1: The Contradictions of Selective Salvation
Choice 2: Can You Force Someone to Love You?
Choice 3: Is Choice Really a Choice Without a Choice?
Choice 4: Do We Really have a Free Will?
Choice 5: Can Prayer Change Things?
Choice 6: Can God be Grieved by Our Sins or Moved by Our Repentance?
Choice 7: The Choice to Sin
Choice 8: Are We Incapable of Choosing God?
Choice 9: Choice and the Moral Standard
Choice 10: The Purpose of Choice
Choice 11: The Suffering of Job
Choice 12: Why is God Pleased with our Obedience?
Choice 13: The Rich Young Ruler
Choice 14: Why was God so Excited when the Lost Sheep was Found?
Choice 15: A Man After God's Own Heart
Choice 16: Choose You this Day whom You will Serve
Choice 17: Appointed as a Ruler over many Cities

PART 5: Difficult Questions Answered
Appendix: Foundational Documents used by Selective Salvationists

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