And you also err on the side of misleading sinners they will get another chance if they die in their sin.
First note that Scripture doesn't say that once a person dies all chances for repentance have ceased. In fact, scripture alludes to change and repentance in the afterlife. Peter spoke of Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison and what was Jesus anoited to preach? Good news, Deliverance for the prisoners! Paul also spoke in an affirmative manner of the "baptism for the dead" which referenced the Jewish practice of praying, making offerings, and being baptized for the dead as a means of comfort and encouragement to those who had died but were going through the purifying fire of God. The phrase "weeping and gnashing of teeth" also speaks of "terrible repentance and remorse" that is experienced when we face the truth about ourselves and the truth of the love of God.
The Good News is that God is not angry with us but that God loves us, that Jesus died for us so that we will live again, and that God forgives us of all of our sins, that though in Adam we shall all die in Christ we shall all live.
It is Christ's love that compells us. It is grace that sets us free to love God, one another, and what's right. God gives us many chances to repent, and one day we will. Of course, the longer we resist the love and grace of God, the more we experience the fruit of our choices, until one day we finally do come to our senses, repent and turn to our Father. Let's not be like the older son who was upset with the Father because of fully embracing the son that had rebelled and waisted his inheritance and life! Rather, let's rejoice that we have such an awesome Father!
timlamb said:
What every Christian should believe:
1) God told us the requirements for eternal life, repentance through Fatih
Correct, and some day "every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord - to the Glory of God!" Every person will eventually repent from their sin and turn to faith in Christ. Jesus even said that if He was crucified, He'd draw all of humanity to himself!
2) God gave us free choice from a free will
Actually, in the scope of decisions concerning our lives, we have very little free will. We don't choose when, where, how, or to whom we're born. We don't choose our personality type, hair color, skin color, whether we'll be accademic, athletic, or both. We don't choose if our family will be Christians, Athiests, Buhdists, or Agnostics. We don't choose when or even if we'll hear the Gospel. We don't choose...... In fact, we are very much predisposed to think a certain way and believe specific information based upon both our DNA and our environment.
God does give us a "free-will", but it is very "limited". Free-will is very much like a talent or commodity; some are given more opportunities and choices than others are. Those who make wise choices are typically given more; but those who make bad choices increasingly loose options and are forced in specific directions.
3) God gave us a commission to go unto the world and preach the Gospel
Note - the word "Gospel" means "good news" not "bad news"! And yet the traditional doctrine of the certainty of damnation for most of humanity, even most of one's loved ones is certainly Not Good News, but is Bad News.
If one is going to preach the "Certainty of Damnation for anyone" then it should not be called "Gospel"!
God did not promise:
1) you could pay your own price for sin
The Good News is that Jesus paid for our sins! But of course, a loving father will allow reality discipline to work in his child for the good of the child. Doesn't God chastize those whom He loves! Who does God love? All of humanity!
2) The Lake of Fire was temporary
As noted in previous posts, the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, to the Greek, would have implied purification and healing. Paul also speaks of our works that are done in the flesh being burnt up. And God Himself is understood as a consuming fire! And in fact, the lake of fire is said to be "in the presence of the Lamb and the presence of the angels"; so the lake of fire is certainly not temporary, but what is burns up is temporary. Fire has no effect on pure gold, but burns the impurities out of gold. In like manner, the fire of God will burn the impurities out of us, especially the revelation of God's love in the Sacrifice of Christ (the Lamb) and the blessing and provision of God in our daily lives (the angels)!
3) ANY recempption after death (first or second)
As noted earlier, scripture speaks of Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison (assuming repentance and freedom after death, first). And Paul even speaks affirmatively of "baptism for the dead". And scripture does not say that there is no repentance after death; rather, that is something assumed. Concerning the "second death", Revelation notes that the second death is when "death and hades are cast into the lake of fire", signifying an end altogether to death and the realm of the dead, because all will be alive unto Christ. There will be no more death!
You see, if the Lake of Fire is a purifying fire, we can expect to spend eternity with Satan and his demons. Why would God give Satan so much power to decieve, even at the end of the thousand years? He's weeding out the goats from the sheep and no man will be without excuse because they made their own choice.
Have you ever considered that God loves satan and the other fallen angels too, and that God is working to reclaim them too! Why does God allow satan to do so much evil? Could it be that it's all part of His plan to reconcile everything to himself! That Christ will be victorious over everything, and that eventually even The Rebel, old satan himself, finally repents and turns to God. Why not! Is not God able to fulfill His every will! Will not God fulfill his word to reconcile all things unto himself!
More people walk away from Christian faith not because of a God who punishes but because they do not want to accept the requiresments for salvation. The do not want to give up being god to themselves.
But one day they will come to the end of themselves and turn to God. In fact, most of us Christians did so because we came to the end of ourselves. One day, all people will come to the end of themselves and realize that they need Jesus, repent and confess Him as Lord, and He is faithful to save. Jesus did not come to condemn the lost, but to save them. Jesus really is the Savior of all of humanity, especially those who believe!
I've seen many "on the street" interviews and bay in large most people believe:
1) the decption they are going to heaven, they think they are good
enough.
2) that they are going to hell, but they are OK with that.
3) that there is no hell
When you talk to people on the street the narrow road becomes narrower in reality because so few confess the truth of salvation, that they are saved by the blood of Jesus.
There are a wide range of beliefs on the streets and in the church. What's important is to realize the Good News that Jesus died for our sins, thereby giving us life, and that through faith in Him and repentance from selfishness we can even embrace eternal (heavenly) life now! Few believe this Good News, even in the church. In the church, many people believe that they somehow earn salvation through their good life, and that if they don't live good enough, they too might not make it. Very sad!
The truth is that God loves us, Jesus died for us, therefor we can live in Christ - even today! Or we can continue to rebel, sow seeds of destruction and reap a harvest of destruction, and in the end realize just how much evil we've caused ourselves - bringing us to a place of terrible repentance (weeping) and remorse (gnashing of teeth), though we escape ultimate destruction as through fire! Also, doesn't even Paul speak of turning a brother over to satan - for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit might be saved. If such works for salvation in this life, how much more in the life to come!
