Does "all things" mean everything?

[JimB]

Does all mean everything—like, in these verses:

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19.26)

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9.23)
​

Are we to believe that it is possible for me to sprout wings and fly if I just believe I can?

Or is “all things” in these verses a synecdoche, a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part. As, when we say “with all speed” or ”beyond all doubt” or “all showed up” or “it’s all good.” Does all, in the way Jesus used it in these verses, mean, everything or does it mean “any; any whatever; dominated by or as if by the conspicuous possession or use of a particular feature” (which are also definitions of the word “all” at Dictionary.com).

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[SavedByGrace3]

"Are we to believe that it is possible for me to sprout wings and fly if I just believe I can?"


If you can believe that... then yes.
Trouble is you cannot believe that.
But if you could, then yes. He meant exactly what He said.

 

[JimB]

"Are we to believe that it is possible for me to sprout wings and fly if I just believe I can?"


If you can believe that... then yes.
Trouble is you cannot believe that.
But if you could, then yes. He meant exactly what He said.

Then none of us have ever believed since no one has ever sprouted wings and flew or, for that matter, replanted a (literal) tree in the midst of the sea or moved a (literal) mountain.

Why do you suppose that is?

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Then none of us have ever believed since no one has ever sprouted wings and flew or, for that matter, replanted a (literal) tree in the midst of the sea or moved a (literal) mountain.

Why do you suppose that is?

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

Obviously they have not believed.

What Jesus said is still true.
If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.

 

[IchoozJC]

Then none of us have ever believed since no one has ever sprouted wings and flew or, for that matter, replanted a (literal) tree in the midst of the sea or moved a (literal) mountain.

Why do you suppose that is?

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

Good question. You would think that after 2000 years that, if all things meant all things, then at least one person would have been reported to have moved a mountain. It would be nice to see that scripture played out to it's fullest before the culmination of all things. I mean, are we all so weak in our faith that not one person has enough faith to move one measly little mountain?

That, or it's all things according to His will, and God likes his mountains where they are just fine?

 

[Svt4Him]

Are we to believe that it is possible for me to sprout wings and fly if I just believe I can?

Tell me if it's possible for you to believe this, because if you can't fulfill your part in the verse you can't expect it to come to pass.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

It think rather than try and explain away or otherwise discount the wonderful faith inspiring words of Jesus, we ought to just learn the lesson:

Luke 18:1 KJV
(1) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 

[pinetree]

 

[JimB]

Tell me if it's possible for you to believe this, because if you can't fulfill your part in the verse you can't expect it to come to pass.

Okay, then, do you believe that you can sprout wings and fly? You say you do.

If so, this would be a golden opportunity for a sign to confirm the word you preach. Not only would it prove to me that Jesus was speaking literally and not figuratively in Matt. 19.26 and Mark 9.23 but it wouldm prove it to the world--it would make every newscast and front page on the planet. So, if you can give me documented proof that those verses should be taken literally by showing me (and the world) that you can sprout wings and fly then I will gladly admit it and change my interpretation of Matth 19.26; Mark 9.23 and I will never bring this up again.

On the other hand, if you can’t, and you know you can’t, then I hope you will also have the courage admit you are wrong.

But until you can sprout literal wings, or move a literal mountain, or replant a literal sycamore tree by faith, only then will your literal interpretation of those verses prove to be true and not just a theory. Until then, it is just a theory and I am not going to place my faith in an unworkable theory. I will prove all things and hold fast only that which is true (i.e., not theory).


~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[Yekcidmij]

Does all mean everything—like, in these verses: these verses:

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19.26)
​

Well, in the Matthew 26 verse Jesus is saying God can accomplish salvation:


19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 19:25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 19:26 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” 19:27 Then Peter said to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you!



The question posed to Jesus was specifically about salvation, "who can be saved"? The answer was to that question, "it's impossible for humans but God can do it". It's simple in this passage: we cannot accomplish salvation, but God can. This passage gets overly abused so many times.

 

[JimB]

Obviously they have not believed.

What Jesus said is still true.
If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.

Then no one in the 2000 year history of the Christian church has ever believed, Dids, even those who, like you, boast that they do. And that would make us all unbelievers.

So, I could say, put up or shut up, let signs follow the word you preach, but I too much of a gentlemen to do so.

Furthermore, if– I repeat, IF–you really believe “all things” means “every” thing in the verses in the OP then you will have to believe that “all” means every in the following verses and that would, ergo, force you to admit that the proof texts offered by Biblical Universalists (Evangelical Inclusivists) to "prove" their point is true, after all, because they, like you, accept only one definition of the word “all”:

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15)

“He [God] has made known to us the mystery of his will ... as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Eph. 1:9, 10)

“Through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” (Col. 19-20)

“Therefore, just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s [Christ’s] act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.” (Rom. 5:18)

“For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.” (Rom. 11:32)

Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (1 Tim. 2.5-6)

He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2 Cor. 5.15)
We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4.10)

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.‘” (Rev. 5:13)

“Indeed, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2)
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. (John 12.32)
​

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[razzelflabben]

Does all mean everything—like, in these verses: these verses:

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19.26)

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9.23)
​

Are we to believe that it is possible for me to sprout wings and fly if I just believe I can?

Or is “all things” in these verses a synecdoche, a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part. As, when we say “with all speed” or ”beyond all doubt” or “all showed up” or “it’s all good.” Does all, in the way Jesus used it in these verses, mean, everything or does it mean “any; any whatever; dominated by or as if by the conspicuous possession or use of a particular feature” (which are also definitions of the word “all” at Dictionary.com).

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

put all of scripture together

Matt. 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 19:25-27 (New International Version)


25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"


Mark 10:26-28 (New International Version)


26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
28Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

Philippians 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ


This is just a handful of scriptures and yet in each we see that our focus is to be on God not on what we can do with enough of this or that. Many people go through life seeking the things of God, or the things they can do through Christ. They want to heal the sick, move mountains, etc. But no a single one of them can tell you when they last needed a mountain moved so that they could spread the gospel to the people. Even in this OP, I have no doubt that if you needed to sprout wings and fly in order to take the gospel to a people God needs you to reach, it would be done. The problem is, that in the OP, sprouting wings and flying would glorify no one but self and that is not who God is, nor does is fulfill God's command to love.


That being said, I have seen miracles in my life, things that defy the natural order of things. these things, always surround the love of God and His purpose of reaching a lost world for the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Consider this last verse I post here... 14When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15"Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."
17"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." 18Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."[a]
22When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief.


If we can't even have faith in the authority of the Christ, what makes us think we have enough faith to move mountains, or sprout wings and fly?

 

[JimB]

No one in this forum has denied that miracles happen. What I object to is the misuse of scripture that would cause a person to be misled into thinking they can perform miracles by using a particular (and unworkable) faith formula.

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[JimB]

Well, in the Matthew 26 verse Jesus is saying God can accomplish salvation:


19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 19:25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 19:26 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” 19:27 Then Peter said to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you!



The question posed to Jesus was specifically about salvation, "who can be saved"? The answer was to that question, "it's impossible for humans but God can do it". It's simple in this passage: we cannot accomplish salvation, but God can. This passage gets overly abused so many times.

Yep, context is always a bugger ... for some.

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[razzelflabben]

No one in this forum has denied that miracles happen. What I object to is the misuse of scripture that would cause a person to be misled into thinking they can perform miracles by using a particular (and unworkable) faith formula.

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

exactly and what I am suggesting is that the difference is in what we are seeking or the reason for the thing we ask. Does God not say that "we have not because we ask amiss". If our asking is amiss, if we seek the wrong things, why would we see the things promised?

 

[JimB]

exactly and what I am suggesting is that the difference is in what we are seeking or the reason for the thing we ask. Does God not say that "we have not because we ask amiss". If our asking is amiss, if we seek the wrong things, why would we see the things promised?

Yes, but not only that. If we mislead people in to thinking they can manipulate God by using what we tell them is “faith” (which is often nothing more than positive or wishful thinking) so that all things and everything they want they can have just by working up enough faith, we are setting people up for disappointment and actually damaging, not reinforcing, their trust (faith) in God.

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[razzelflabben]

Yes, but not only that. If we mislead people in to thinking they can manipulate God by using what we tell them is “faith” (which is often nothing more than positive or wishful thinking) so that all things and everything they want they can have just by working up enough faith, we are setting people up for disappointment and actually damaging, not reinforcing, their trust (faith) in God.

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

actually, it's worse than that. According to scripture it is false teaching and the false teachers are not only looked unfavorably but are responsible for all they lead astray.

That being said, I also think there is a difference between teaching people there is a big santa in the sky, waiting to grant their every wish with enough faith. And teaching that God will protect you and provide you with everything necessary to fulfil His will, His purpose for you.

 

[JimB]

actually, it's worse than that. According to scripture it is false teaching and the false teachers are not only looked unfavorably but are responsible for all they lead astray.

That being said, I also think there is a difference between teaching people there is a big santa in the sky, waiting to grant their every wish with enough faith. And teaching that God will protect you and provide you with everything necessary to fulfil His will, His purpose for you.

I think any mature Christian would agree with this. I think the problem arises when teachers make Christianity a self-centered means to an end—whether it be physical (i.e., temporal) health and personal prosperity. When this false teaching become part of a Christian’s thinking, as it sometimes does when people have been mis-taught an unbalanced theology, they will begin to view God as existing primarily for their benefit, comfort, and happiness. God is reduced to a genie in a bottle to make their every wish come true.

Please do not say this attitude does not exist. I hear it on TBN, I see it in a couple of neighboring churches and I hear it on CF (except when someone spells it out in its most stark terms; then it is denied).

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​

 

[Limozine]

He said all things are possible if we believe, meaning God CAN make it happen if necessary. He did not say all things would happen just because we believe.

 

[JimB]

He said all things are possible if we believe, meaning God CAN make it happen if necessary. He did not say all things would happen just because we believe.

I can agree with this.

~ Hugh D’Mann

Contentment is not found in having what you want, but in wanting what you have​