Whosoever Will

Toward the end of the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, we find this invitation.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost.
– Revelation 22:17, NIV-1978

It would be difficult to compose a more poetic and clearcut invitation to unite with Christ, to quench that otherwise unquenchable thirst that a Christless life leaves within us. This final, climactic invitation is an echo of Christ’s invitation to drink, given at the Feast of Tabernacles in John’s gospel.

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
– John 7:37–38, ESV

Anyone – whosoever – is thirsting may come to the water of life and drink.

One of my instructors at the university drilled it into our heads that “God is not a respecter of persons, but he is a respecter of character.”

For God shows no partiality.
– Psalm 124:8, NIV-1978

The impartiality of God is ubiquitous in scripture.

Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
who shows no partiality to princes     
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
    for they are all the work of his hands?
– Job 34:18-19, NIV-1978

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
– Matthew 5:45b, NIV-1978

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
– Acts 10:34-45, NIV-1978

As the Scripture says, “Everyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
– Romans 10:10-13, NIV-1978

Scripture is replete with “whosoever” references. On a whim, I did a count-search and found it in 290 distinct verses. Whosoever…

One of the most well-known and easily recognized instances of this, can be seen as just about every televised NFL football game, on a cardboard sign held buy a guy directly behind the goalpost.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
– John 3:16, KJV

Responding to Martha regarding the death of her brother, Lazarus, Jesus said:

He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
– John 11:25b-26a, NIV-1978

Statements like this abound in scripture. In the book of Acts, Peter says that whosoever believes in Christ will receive remission of sins.¹ John says that whosoever will confess that Jesus is the Son of God … that God will dwell in them, and he will dwell in God.² Elsewhere, John says this:

But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – 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 2:1b-2, NIV-1978

The apostle Paul says this as well.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
– Romans 5:18, ESV

The atoning death of Jesus, and his subsequent resurrection is sufficient for me and it is sufficient for all. It is sufficient for “whosoever will.” Jesus’ cousin John (the baptizer) made this very same claim.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
– John 1:29, ESV

The sin of the world, the whole world.

Salvation and life are offered through the grace of God and the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God to any who will accept it and give allegiance to the King of kings.

Don’t write anyone off. Never write anyone off. Whosoever will may come.

Blessings upon you, my friends.

Victoriously in Christ!

– damon

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1. Acts 10:43
2. 1 John 4:15