Can we truly trust that God is the wisest, strongest, and most loving? Or was the serpent correct in suggesting otherwise? All of us, along with the rest of creation, bear witness to the ongoing vast cosmic theological debate surrounding the nature of God.
One way to interpret Genesis 3 is as a depiction of the fall of man, and while this interpretation holds truth, I also believe, in light of the cosmic spiritual warfare between God and Satan, that there is much more to this renowned story. Similar to the story of Job, Genesis 3 provides insight into the cosmic spiritual warfare between God and Satan over humanity’s will.
Your short life, whether it lasts 15, 50, or 120 years, gives you just enough time for a brief glimpse, a quick peek into this cosmic warfare. For most people, it’s difficult to make sense of life, not recognizing the spiritual reality behind it. But what if you could see it all—from beginning to end—from God’s perspective? Sure, now we see only dimly and know in part, but one day, we shall see face-to-face and know fully (1 Corinthians 13:12). That day, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14) Then the truth will become obvious to all.
Is Yahweh the Strongest and Wisest of All?
Scripture affirms God’s omnipotence, stating that God does whatever pleases Him (Psalm 115:3; cf. Isaiah 55:11 and Jeremiah 32:17). Nothing is too difficult for Him (Genesis 18:14), and His word is never devoid of power (Isaiah 55:11).
God is omniscient, meaning He knows everything about Himself, His creation, and all of history. Scripture frequently highlights the universality of God’s knowledge (Psalm 147:5; John 21:17; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 John 3:20). It also mentions that God is aware of detailed events on earth, including those in the future (1 Samuel 10:2; 1 Kings 13:1-4; 2 Kings 8:12; Psalm 139:4; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28).
Is God Really Omnipotent and Omniscient?
In the days of the Old Testament, God often invited Israel to test Him and observe His works (e.g., Malachi 3:10; Isaiah 7:11; Isaiah 43:10)—to test and see what? His power, wisdom, and goodness. We, His finite, limited, and “infantile” creations, are meant to critically examine whether God truly embodies the pinnacle of wisdom, power, love, and goodness. If this is the case, if God is indeed our loving Father, then we can trust Him.
If God is the strongest and wisest, this suggests that He is not only superior in strength and wisdom to all other deities or beings but also that He possesses these attributes to the utmost degree. God’s omnipotence (all-powerful) and omniscience (all-knowing) affirm that He is the ultimate embodiment of strength and wisdom. These qualities imply that His power and knowledge are limitless; He can do anything possible and knows everything that can be known. Furthermore, He can bring about any outcome He desires without compromising anyone’s free will. This conception of God reflects the classical theistic view that God’s abilities and insights are absolute and unmatched, surpassing all imaginable levels of strength and wisdom. In other words, being the wisest and strongest is, in part, what makes Him God.
These attributes of God are central to understanding His nature, capabilities, and intentions. The pivotal question is: Can God really bring His will to fruition? According to 1 Timothy 2:4, His will is clear: “He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” But can He really do it? Is Yahweh really wise and strong enough to make His will triumph over the enemy’s? Or maybe 1 Timothy 2:4 is just Paul’s metaphorical cosmic wishful thinking?
Well, it seems clear that Paul took the idea quite literally, frequently repeating it in his epistles. For example:
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10
Can God’s Will Be Discarded?
Much like a loving parent who wants the very best for their children, God’s grand will is made clear in the scriptures, especially in 1 Timothy 2:4:
God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4, NIV
God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4, NLV
God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4, ESV
God our Savior, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4, KJV
God wants all to be saved. This is not a matter of translation but the only logical conclusion if we assume He is a good and loving God. The debate is not over His will but whether He is wise and powerful enough to have His will be done. Accordingly, 1 Timothy 2:4 offers a profound basis for testing and comparing the coherence of God’s divine attributes, especially his power and wisdom, with His actions and the outcomes of His will. If God truly possesses omniscience (being the wisest), omnipotence (being the strongest), and omnibenevolence (being the most loving), and if His will is indeed for humanity—all of it—to be saved, as it is written in 1 Timothy 2:4, then logically, the eventual complete reconciliation of all souls—through their own free will—becomes not only a possibility but a necessity. If God can indeed save all, and if He wants all to be saved, then the only two questions left are—how and when. This is the climax of the gospel narrative and the day Paul himself longed for. For God’s will “to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:10)
Any scenario other than the total reconciliation of all things, whether it involves the salvation of only 5% or even as much as 99.5% of humanity, suggests that God is not the wisest and strongest possible. Indeed, if He is unable to persuade His own creation of His goodness, wisdom, and power, managing to save only a few, then He would be perceived as an impotent god. In that case, it might be argued that there are other, stronger, and wiser gods out there we should consider. The real theological puzzle, therefore, is whether anything can thwart God’s will. If there is something (e.g., free will, age, our mental capacity, etc.) or someone (e.g., Satan, society, etc.) that can discard, stop, or negate the will of God, then we might need to seek the strongest and wisest God elsewhere.
My deductive argument can be summarized in the following way:
- God is the utmost culmination of wisdom and power and is good and loving.
- God’s will for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) is because He is good and loving.
- God’s totality in power and wisdom means His ultimate will to save all must eventually come to fruition.
- Therefore, the premise and promise that “every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess” cannot be discarded. God’s will to save all must come to fruition; otherwise, He is not God.
Individualistic vs. Collective God
The concept of God desiring the salvation of all has become somewhat sidelined in the modern Western Church, where salvation is predominantly seen through an individualistic lens. This reflects a broader cultural shift toward egocentrism, contrasting sharply with the collective mindset of ancient societies. In those earlier communities, salvation was often understood as a communal endeavor involving and benefiting the entire group. Today’s focus on personal salvation highlights this change, emphasizing individualism at the expense of a more collective approach. This shift changes how salvation is perceived and reflects a larger societal movement towards individualism, moving away from the communal and interconnected understanding of human existence that characterizes many ancient cultures, especially Judaism.
Biblically and theologically, however, God’s will to save all people is a fundamental aspect of His good and loving character, as clearly revealed through scripture (2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:23; John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:2.)
Thus, if we observe any outcome where some individuals are eternally condemned or remain in perpetual separation from God, it would pose a significant theological dilemma. Such a scenario would imply a limitation on at least one of God’s attributes: either His power (unable to save all), His knowledge (can’t figure out how to convince us), or His goodness (He does not truly care to save all).
Therefore, the totality of salvation emerges not just from a hopeful interpretation of scriptural promises but as a critical litmus test for the consistency and reliability of our understanding of God’s nature. If God’s ultimate victory involves the complete restoration and reconciliation of everything, it confirms His unchallengeable sovereignty and demonstrates His attributes conclusively. This outcome would align perfectly with the scriptural declarations of His will and the prophetic visions of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing in recognition of His lordship, reflecting a cosmos wholly restored to its intended harmony and divine order.
If God wills that eventually all come to the knowledge of Christ and be saved, as stated in 1 Timothy 2:3-6, then it stands to reason that His power will extend to the realization of this all-inclusive salvation. It is not for us to know exactly how or when.
God’s Cosmic Scope of Salvation
In the narrative of Christian theology, Satan represents the principal adversary, actively working to lead humanity away from God by convincing us He can’t be trusted. Yet, if we accept that God’s attributes surpass any of His creations, including Satan, then Satan’s power to deceive and corrupt is ultimately temporary and inferior to God’s power to save and restore. To suggest otherwise would be to imply that Satan possesses the ability to thwart God’s ultimate plan, thereby imposing a limitation on God’s omnipotence and omniscience.
“As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.”
Romans 14:11-12
“As surely as I live” underscores the certainty and authority of God’s declarations. By invoking His own life, God is not only confirming the surety of His promise but also connecting His eternal, unending existence to the inevitability of His plans coming to fruition. This phrase emphasizes the unchangeable nature of God’s promises based on His eternal existence and sovereign power. It’s a declaration of God’s omnipotence and His sovereignty over all things, including His plans and promises.
In the context of God’s desire for all to be saved and Satan’s attempts to lead humanity astray, we find reassurance that God’s purposes will indeed prevail despite Satan’s obvious yet temporary influence. God’s grand plan for salvation and restoration of all things is sure and will be fulfilled because it is grounded in His unchanging and eternal nature. Until then, we are called to live, walk, and see by faith, not by sight, “until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (Acts 3:21)
The outcome mentioned in the verse, where “every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God,” points to a future reality where God’s supremacy is universally recognized and accepted. This aligns with the idea that God’s power to save and restore is far superior to any deception or corruption Satan might introduce.
Romans 14:11 suggests nothing new but simply recaptures what God “promised long ago through his holy prophets.” For instance, in Isaiah 45:23 it is written:
By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
Isaiah 45:23
All knees, all tongues.
Paul and Isaiah vividly illustrate a future in which not few, not some, not even many, but a future where every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, underscoring a universal acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and goodness. This imagery is not merely symbolic but declarative, indicating a state of complete and total submission to God’s divine authority across all creation.
In the ancient world, bowing one’s knees was a gesture of profound respect and allegiance, typically reserved for deities and kings. In Daniel 3:16-18, three Jewish men refuse to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar, believing such honor should be reserved for God alone. To the Hebrew mind, therefore, the phrase “every knee will bow” signifies a freely chosen act of worship. True worship comes from love and respect, not fear of punishment. (1 John 4:18)
In Hebrew, the word “TISHABA,” describing the action of the tongue in Isaiah 45:23, means “shall take an oath” or “to swear.” Publicly confessing with one’s tongue is a way to affirm allegiance and reverence. When a king goes to war, his subjects are expected to pledge their allegiance to him, even to the extent of sacrificing their lives for their sovereign. This act of swearing loyalty signifies a profound commitment and devotion.
In this context, bowing knees and confessing or swearing tongues do not suggest the notion of humiliation, punishment, or degradation, often understood by some Christians, but a surrendering out of admiration and respect. These verses do not imply God will humiliate and degrade all people. Instead, to say it simply, it suggests all of mankind will fall in love with God, which will be evident by words (swearing tongues) and actions (bowing knees). This suggests a future where all creation, willingly through divine persuasion, recognizes, believes, and accepts Christ’s lordship out of love and admiration.
Satan Can’t Stop God’s Promise, Plan, and Will
Satan isn’t fighting God over dirt and stones but over souls. Accordingly, Satan’s primary tactic in opposing God is to distort the human understanding of love. By altering how we perceive and practice love, Satan aims to undermine the very essence of God’s character and His commandments, which are rooted in love. This deception leads people away from true divine love—selfless and sacrificial—and towards a self-centered version that contradicts the nature of God.
An outcome that involves only a subset of humanity achieving salvation, with the remainder eternally separated from God, raises significant challenges to the claims of God’s omnipotence and benevolence. Such a scenario would suggest that God’s will—despite His power and knowledge—is somehow frustrated by human agency or demonic interference, implying that His sovereignty is not absolute. More critically, if Satan manages to claim even a single soul, it would symbolically represent a victory against God’s plan, undermining the ultimate supremacy and perfection attributed to God. This notion is incompatible with the scriptural portrayal of God as the supreme ruler of the universe, whose purposes and will cannot be thwarted in the slightest. God does not will for the salvation of 8.7%, 24.5%, or 93.1% of humanity, but for “all people to be saved.” If His will is not totally and completely done, then He isn’t truly worthy of trust and worship. We can’t trust God unless He is indeed wise and powerful enough to accomplish His will in its entirety.
The concept of total reconciliation, therefore, is not merely a hopeful outlook but a logical extension of the nature of God as described in the Bible. It asserts that the cosmic spiritual war between God and Satan will culminate in God’s absolute victory, characterized not just by the defeat of evil but by the restoration of all things:
And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:20
This view posits that any temporary victories by Satan are just that—temporary—serving ultimately to manifest God’s glory and the depths of His redemptive power and mercy. Accordingly, any concept of an afterlife hell must be of a temporary and corrective state. The Greek words “aion” and “aionios,” and the Hebrew equivalent “OLAM,” mean “age” and refer to a specific eon, epoch, or season. Although sometimes translated as “eternal” and “everlasting,” they do not mean forever and ever.
This doesn’t mean there won’t be any punishment or loss of rewards. Justice often involves the loss of rewards and sometimes includes punishment, but the nature of these penalties is fundamentally corrective rather than abusive. This view redefines the purpose of life as a learning experience and the purpose of divine penalties as aimed at rehabilitation and spiritual growth rather than mere retribution or the never-ending infliction of suffering like the burning of one’s skin in the fire for its own sadistic sake just because the person has yet to realize God’s true nature. God is a loving Father, not a sadistic psychopath. Good parents do not abuse their children for imperfections or misunderstandings.
The corrective approach to divine punishment asserts that any suffering or consequences experienced are designed to bring about a deeper understanding of justice, encouraging souls to repent and turn back to the right path. This framework aligns with a more compassionate view of God, who desires not to inflict pain endlessly but to restore and reconcile. The ultimate goal of this correction is not to abandon the soul to torment but to prepare it for eventual reunion with the divine, purified of the flaws and sins that once estranged it from God.
If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2
This concept of hell suggests a process akin to a refining fire that purifies rather than destroys, emphasizing transformation and redemption over endless suffering. Such an understanding offers a more hopeful and merciful vision of the consequences of sin, framing them within the larger narrative of God’s eternal plan for humanity’s salvation and ultimate good, which best aligns with a coherent theological framework that upholds God’s attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence. It assures that God’s desire for all to be saved will be fulfilled, thereby affirming His ultimate sovereignty and providing a powerful rebuttal to the notion of any permanent victory for Satan.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Psalm 22:27
Amen.
This article is part of the book, “HELL: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine”
