Your Probation is CLOSED -- what next?

[payattention]

The default condition is lost...but since everyone gets a chance, it still demands turning away. The point is, once you sin, you are lost and in need of a Savior. There is no way around that. But God extends to each the chance for forgiveness.
I will analyze this in light of Romans 1-3 in a bit ..if I get a chance. Paul more or less takes up this whole argument.

Paul won't correct the internal inconsistency of your statement. First you stated a default condition, then you went on to describe a non-default condition which depends on things we do. The default condition should describe our condition before we do anything. After you have reached accountability, a point that only God knows, you are no longer in the default condition.

As I have been reviewing these ideas it occurs to me that in their theology most Christians have developed doctrines that do not require a fall. If we were created in God's family and were deceived into violating the will of our father, i.e. kidnapped, how can it be that we are no longer members of the family. Even the prodigal son was always a son even while he was in the pig pen.

 

[reddogs]

Interesting ideas on this issue here....

 

[thecountrydoc]

Hi HoneyDew,

May I ask you to consider the following from the standpoint of logic. I say logic because the Creator of the universe who designed the plan of salvation is certainly a being of logic, and always has, and always will, treat every single one of his children equally.

Before God destroyed the earth with the flood, Noah had preached of the impending doom for 120 years. Then God brought the animals to the ark which might be considered a final warning for the inhabitents of the earth. Finally Noah and his family went into the ark and God shut the door. It was another 7 days before the rain started to fall. For those who had rejected the plea to enter the ark, their probation closed when God shut the door, not when the rain started to fall.

There are two things that can close probation for the rest of humanity.
(1) Death, without the acceptance of the grace that is offered through Jesus Christ.
(2) Comitting the unpardonable sin of rejecting and turning away the Holy Spirit after knowing the truth.

Only God can look on the heart of man so it would seem to me that it would be well for none of us to sit in judgement of others as to when their personal probation has closed.


So it will be in the end time. First the gospel must be preached unto all the world. Once that goal is acheved, it is my belief that God will give ample opportunity for each to make a choice about their salvaion just as He did in Noah's time. How long will it be after the last soul has heard the gospel before Christ returns? I would not dare to guess. But it is quite certain that when Christ returns in the clouds, probation will be closed for all.

It is most important that we BE ready for His return, not just getting ready when He returns.

May God put His loving arms around you, the Holy Angels protect you, and the Holy Spirit guide and comfort you as we travel salvations highway to our heavenly home.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[Your Neighbor]

...A family member recently died ... his probation was closed....

Yes. When one dies, he cannot change his state or standing with God. His probation does close.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

...where did the belief in probations being closed come from?...

The Bible. Jesus.

Matt 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up...

Luke 17
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

... As a child, I lived in total fear that at any moment my probation would be closed.

Your probation could close if you died or if Jesus was about to come. Perfect love casts out fear. People who are right with God welcome Jesus' coming. It is sinners who are sinning that are afraid.


Isa 25: 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Rev 6:15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?