When you say "death, are you thinking about physical death? Because I think it was both physical and spiritual.
Do you believe that Jesus
'died spiritually' on the cross?
In any case, I agree that, along with sin, the suffering it brings, and evil will be done away with since it was not originally intended in the creation of God, I believe.
So was the
'tree of good and EVIL knowledge' a good or evil tree? Or both? An old sage once said;
"There is no doer, but God." Even Job understood this deep saying.
JOB 2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
What I was trying to know, is if you believe all people will ultimately go to heaven, in your previous (to the one i am quoting here) post, you mentionned a "purgative fire". Are you thinking about something similar to that of Catholiscism? That that's a temporary punishment and then you get to go to Heaven? Do you think that would apply to all people or just some? I am trying to understand your view.
I think that divine fire is always purgative. In the OT when God destroyed a city, like Sodom and Gomorrah he was purging the land. All his judgments are purgative. That the people died also is not reason to believe that he does not reserve another fire later to purge them of the very thing that caused them to be the sinners they were. Even the pillar of fire in the wilderness led all those unbelievers to their graves, purging Israel..so to speak. Scripture tells us that on 'that day' the judgment of Capernaum, (the very home of Jesus after leaving Nazareth on being rejected) would be more harsh than Sodom. So much for the benefit of being a 'chosen' people of God, huh?
As for my perspecetive, I think there is an eternal place for those who refused to believe and in their folly, were stubborn in walking in evil and deceit, and refused the salvation God proposes.
That was
my perspective too for many years. So, do you now walk "
be ye perfect" without sin as Jesus commanded "
go and sin no more"? If not, then how is your '
stubborn walking in evil and deceit' going to be dealt with? I certainly don't want it in heaven with me. No offense intended.
I just now believe that God will intervene for the sake of Christ's faith and sacrifice and complete victory.
For God will not turn His back on those who seek Him and desire to be saved and ask for His forgiveness.
And how did you do that....contrary to scripture?
ROM 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands, no one seeks for God.
But for those who don't want, what can He do? Is it His fault? Of course He bears the moral responsibility over us, His creation, and that is why He didn't give up on us and I am sure He does all He can to save everyone,
I'm pretty sure God didn't blow my dad off a donkey, and then speak audibly from heaven. Had He done so, I know my dad would have chimed in with Paul saying
"Who are you LORD....what wilt thou have me to do?"
for He is a just and loving God, but at some point, people are responsible for themselves as well, no?
We're back to that '
predestination' thing I believe.
I credit God for my spirit's birth into the family of God. I give him the glory for "
drawing, calling, choosing, electing, predestining" AND
'ordaining me to believe unto his aionian life' in this age. I give him credit for my faith being given the instant he spoke to my heart even as he spoke audibly with Paul.
So now, I give glory to God, for my '
calling' and my '
faith' and even my ability to '
repent'; since I never sought the shepherd first, he sought me first.
ISA 55:11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
MAT 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
ROM 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing (my calling), and hearing by the word (spoken) of God.
2TI 2:25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
I don't claim to fully understand it all, but I do believe what these scriptures say to me. Which is; TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
[/quote]This "final judgment/punishment" is the definitive end of evil and all that is wrong including lies, sin, death and suffering and those who willingly and stubbornly partake in it.
As far as my knowledge and understanding go today, that's my view.[/QUOTE] And mine. Only I believe that the death of death is the second death. And in the economy of God death precedes life. Even the devil dying will restore Lucifer I believe. That God may be all IN all to the glory
1CO 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
If even Lucifer was not reconciled then what 'in heaven' needed reconciliation, according to scripture?
COL 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.