33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
This “all” is all without distinction rather than all without exception. The entire city, every man, woman, and child was not at the door. It is important to note the difference in the Bible where all is used. Another word would be salvation that doesn’t always refer to being saved from Hell or damnation which doesn’t always mean being sent to Hell. Context is like location in the real estate business; context, context, context.
For instance, here is an example of all without distinction but not without exception.
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Clearly not all men or women are saved.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
As you can see below salvation can refer to being saved physically from an enemy.
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Damnation in the following verse is not eternal damnation but about condemnation and punishment from the civil authorities unless you believe that disobeying the speed limit can send you to Hell, in which case, we have a different Saviour and a different faith.
Romans 13:1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Note here, also, in this verse that the people gathered at the door to see Jesus and be healed. Now, though, Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. The Jews were seeking Him for a benefit, to be healed and delivered. But, He is seeking you, now, for fellowship, and to show His love for you by saving you from eternal damnation, the natural destination of natural mankind.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Notice an important difference between the Jews before the Resurrection and you. Every Jew belonged to God. They had virtually all strayed and were commanded to repent and return. As for the Gentiles and Jews of today, God is not seeking something that was His and then was lost for all are bound for Hell and then the Lake of Fire from the moment they know the difference between good and evil. He is seeking them to save them. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to a person’s heart to lead them to Christ. No truly born again Christian was ever saved by a logical argument, a debate, or by his own decision making ability, his reason. Salvation in this age is a work of God, it is not a B.C. Jew turning back to what he was called to be from the moment he was born. This is the problem with the modern Christian’s soul winning methods and plans.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
What constitutes soul winning in most churches today that actually have a heart for the lost is pure humanism and Greek logical argument. It is not of God.
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