The resurrection - 1 Cor 15

[Guest]

Did you know that Christ's death on the cross reconciled all of humanity to God?

2 Cor 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Col 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Rom 11:15
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Did you know that being "reconciled" and being "saved" are two different things? Paul points out that even though everyone has been reconciled to God through Jesus, there is still a need to be saved from the wrath of God.

Rom 5:8-11
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

This wrath, I believe, is remedial and will ultimately lead to the fulfillment of God's plan which is the gathering together of ALL things in Christ.

Eph 1:9-10
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Todd

[Guest]

The doctrine of never-ending torture has it's roots in biblical texts that say things like "everlasting punishment" (Matt 25:46) and "everlasting destruction" (2 Thess 1:9). Some have argued that the Greek word which is translated "everlasting" does not actually mean never-ending, but some long period of time that does have an end (age enduring). The idea is that this judgment or wrath of God is meant to correct the sin - to bring about a reformation of the sinner.

I do believe, as Paidion has said, that all of God's judgments are remedial and meant to bring about a changed heart in submission to Christ. However, I would like to suggest that there is another way to look at the texts which say "everlasting punishment" and "everlasting destruction." Think of this. In our society when someone is convicted of stealing or rape he is cast into prison (a correctional facility) in an attempt to reform him. Also, when a father punishes his son for lying or being disrespectful, he is hopeful his son will not do it again. However, many times the son or the prisoner, once the punishment is finished, will, after some time, repeat the crime or infraction. You see, these punishments were only effective for a short time, because the sin was not corrected - there was a recurrence of the sin. That is not the case with God's judgments. When Christ returns to execute God's wrath, the sinfulness of man will be completely "destroyed" - there will be no recurrence of the sin. The punishment will be completely effective - it will be "everlasting." There is no need to see this as a long period of suffering to be everlasting or eternal.

Now then, is God's wrath something to be avoided? BY ALL MEANS! But you can be sure that God would not give the life of his Son for the world only to have the majority of it destroyed.

Mal 3:2-4
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Todd

[Guest]

A point to ponder may be that "everlasting punishment" is not the same as "everlasting punishing."

[Guest]

Over the last couple of years I have delved into the subject of what Dr. Loyal Hurley calls "the outcome of infinite grace" -for me it satisfactorily answers more questions than either "eternal torment" or extermination. I agree with those who take comfort in the possibility of it.