God’s Desire: For You to Be Saved

God’s Heart for All People

In 1 Timothy 2:3–4, Paul writes these powerful words about God our Savior:

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

That’s the heart of God—His deep, unwavering desire for every single person to be saved. Not just a few. Not just the ones who grew up in church. Not just the “good” people. All people.

I can’t read those verses without pausing to underline them, highlight them, and let them sink in. God’s desire isn’t a vague wish—it’s a personal longing for you and me. And that desire is tied to one crucial decision in life: whether or not we will choose to be saved.

Two Paths, One Choice

The Bible paints a clear picture: there are only two ultimate paths in life.
• One is a path where I choose to rule my own life, make my own rules, live for myself, and answer to no one. I can live for my own pleasures, my own ambitions, or even a cause I believe in.
• The other is a path where I surrender my life to God, choosing to live for Him instead of for myself.

One path leads to eternal life with God in heaven. The other leads to eternal separation from Him in hell.

Now, I know even hearing that word—hell—makes many people uncomfortable. In our culture, we don’t like to talk about consequences. We prefer the good and uplifting parts. But if we’re honest, ignoring the reality of where our decisions lead doesn’t make the consequences disappear.

God will never force us to choose Him. But He will make His desire for us crystal clear—He wants us to be saved.

The Way God Provides

If God wants us to be saved, He’s going to provide the way to make it happen. And He has. In Mark 16:15–16, as Jesus prepared to leave the earth for the last time, He told His disciples:

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Belief and baptism. Jesus didn’t make this complicated—He made it clear.

This isn’t my teaching. It’s not a “church tradition.” It’s what Jesus Himself said.

What Happens in Baptism?

On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter preached the gospel for the first time after Jesus’ resurrection. When the crowd was convicted of their sin, they asked, “What shall we do?” Peter responded:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Two incredible things happen in baptism:

1. Forgiveness of Sins – Baptism washes away every sin, making us holy before God. Righteousness and unrighteousness cannot coexist. Without forgiveness, I cannot live in relationship with a holy God.
2. The Gift of the Holy Spirit – This is where I think we’ve sometimes under-taught the beauty of baptism. The Holy Spirit isn’t just an abstract idea—He is God’s seal upon our lives.

Sealed by the Spirit

Ephesians 1:13–14 tells us that when we believe and are baptized, we are “marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.”

Think of it like a rancher branding his cattle. That mark says, “This one belongs to me.” In the same way, the Spirit marks us as belonging to God. Without that seal, we aren’t His.

But here’s the problem: sometimes we treat the Holy Spirit like a check we never cash. Technically, the money is ours, but we never experience the benefit because we leave it in our pocket. The Spirit is given to us so we can live in His power now, not just when we get to heaven.

Unity, Not Division

Baptism was meant to be a doctrine of unity among believers, yet sadly, it has often become a point of division. Some emphasize baptism so much that they forget the need for confession and faith. Others focus on confession alone, leaving baptism out of the equation.

1 Peter 3:21 brings these together beautifully:

“Baptism… now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

It’s not just about getting wet. It’s about making a pledge of loyalty to God, declaring that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, and allowing His resurrection power to save you. It’s about both faith and action, confession and baptism, joined together.

Who Does the Saving?

Let’s not miss the most important point—baptism saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The act itself doesn’t have magic power. It’s Jesus who saves, but He chooses to meet us in that moment of faith and obedience.

An Invitation to Talk

I understand this topic can stir emotions, especially if you’ve been taught something different. My goal isn’t to upset you—it’s to share what I believe is a clear and simple truth from Scripture.

If you have questions or concerns, I’d love to sit down, open God’s Word together, pray together, and seek the truth together. This isn’t about winning an argument—it’s about aligning our lives with God’s desire for us to be saved.

A Fresh Start

Sometimes we just need a restart—a chance to check our direction and make sure we’re walking in step with God. Today could be that day for you. If God’s desire is for you to be saved, and He’s shown you how to respond, why wait?

My prayer is that you will live each day marked by the Spirit, forgiven of your sins, and walking in the joy of knowing that you belong to God.