Removing the "Free Will" Smokescreen

According to one of the modern “gospels” (which is really not good news at all), In spite of a considerable amount of Biblical claims to the contrary, God either cannot or will not save all. Free will is given as the reason for this impotence. Since God doesn’t want forced worship from a bunch of robots, he has given everyone the freedom to choose to go to Hell forever. Added to this, for good measure is the caveat, that if you pass this lifetime without choosing Jesus, the doors close forever leaving the damned in a fiery alternative with no exit…ever! For many “Christians” this sums up their understanding of the gospel: All you have to do is pray a “sinners prayer and mean it in your heart” and “voila” you have escaped from the bad ending.

I wonder how many even consider that this concept casts God in a very poor light. To justify this scenario, if one even ponders it at all, one has to accept that God is either unable to save all of creation, or He just doesn’t want to, and if either of these is true, then God either isn’t Love, or He isn’t all powerful. Those who maintain that He is Love have to concede that He isn’t powerful enough to save those who don’t want to accept His gift. Of course they will tell you that He is all powerful, omnipotent even. “Then why doesn’t He save everyone?” I ask.

“Because they refuse to accept Him.” They reply. “God is a gentleman and He won’t force His will on anyone.” They say.

And that is it! Because man must have free will, God is not responsible for sending them to “eternal “ damnation in Hell fire. He merely allows them the freedom to reject Him.

Really?!

Let me think this through. We have an all powerful, God of Love who is also all wise, and more than exceedingly smart, yet He can’t figure out a way to deliver all the beings He made. He couldn’t have chosen not to make the ones who were going to choose Hell over Himself? Is it because He didn’t know what choices were going to be made by each, or He didn’t want to deliver all. In the first case He isn’t really all knowing, in the second He isn’t really Love.

Does anyone see a problem here? A further problem with this belief is that the Bible clearly teaches that God IS Love and that Love works no ill to his neighbor and it also teaches that God wants everyone to be saved. Hmmm. So how do we account for this?

I don’t pretend to be even as clever as the perceived God of Christianity today, but I could come up with a few scenarios that would seem to work out better than the common belief and still leave “free will” intact. For instance, just make everyone rational and give them a clear understanding of the choices.

Choice A: Subject your will to Jesus and enjoy eternal bliss enveloped in perfect love and free from all pain, suffering, sorrow, weakness and darkness.

Choice B: Subject your will to no one and by default it becomes subjected to Satan and now you get eternal pain and suffering sorrow weeping agony and darkness.

Unless one was deluded, the choice would be simple and I am confident that given the choice everyone who was not ignorant, or deluded would choose option A.

So free will is absolutely no impediment to everyone being saved. The impediment comes in the form of blindness, delusion, ignorance, deafness and any other defect that God is free to heal, without affecting the freewill of His creatures. What law binds God from healing these defects? Certainly not the law of love. Scripture is explicit regarding this. Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The “free will” argument, excusing God for sending people to “eternal” damnation is no more than a thin smoke screen, obscuring an inconsistency in the modern Christian belief. Namely, an all powerful, all wise and benevolent God of love who is willingly sending most of His created ones to never ending torment and misery.

The main problem with “eternal damnation” is that it has no benefit to anyone. Not to God, nor to those who are saved by Him, and especially none to those who are the victims of it! It is a cruel and heartless concept depicting hateful vengeance without mercy and is purportedly inflicted on men for simply not making the right choice, whether it was in total ignorance, or drunken delusion it matters not. The mercy that endures forever is no longer enduring here, while the flames that endure forever prevail over the mercy that was hailed to prevail forever. Isn’t it strange that it’s okay for the Bible to be wrong about His mercy enduring forever, but it is heresy for the Bible to be wrong about Hell lasting forever?

So exactly what purpose would Love have in creating a place of unending, inescapable fiery torture that has no exit plan anyway? There is NO viable answer to this question nor does there need to be! Why? Because He didn’t ever create such a place. The place He created that is described in Scripture, is a place for which He holds the key. It is a place to be avoided if at all possible by those who understand, yet Scripture says all shall have their part in it. Jesus himself tasted death and Hell and He was made better for it. (Rev 21:8; Mark 9:49; Heb 5:8,9)

All the judgments of this life and the life to come are perfectly designed to bring about the changes that will make us all, just like Jesus. Does that mean I want to go through them? The answer to that should be plain. You don’t see me touching the burners on the stove when they are hot, nor do I intentionally touch the wires in the electrical panels I service until I know they are de-energized. Furthermore, I go to great lengths to warn others about the two potential sources of pain, discomfort and even possible death. The penalty does not have to be fatal, in order to have a corrective effect, nor to inspire me to warn others against the consequences of careless behavior. When my children (or apprentices) don’t heed the warnings, and touch the hot burners or energized wires, they get judged, but the judgment serves to deter such foolish behavior, thus it is merciful judgment, for it makes them wiser and more disciplined in the future. Our loving God has established these loving judgments. They are written into the very laws of nature.

The spiritual application is easy. All sin is harmful to the sinner, it brings consequences. The consequences are designed to curtail the sin, to make the perpetrator wiser and more disciplined. All God’s judgments for sin are designed to eventually lead the sinner to the place where Jesus lived. The place of perfect surrender to His will.

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

It is consistent with Love to discipline and judge to bring about correction. It is not consistent with love to hurt with no hope of benefit. If an all wise and loving being saw fit to create those who would never be fit to be in His company forever, He could simply make a place of isolation in which He cared for them in the best way they could receive. There is no point in tormenting them if they cannot benefit.Even the judgment of death has a remedy and benefit. (Ecc 7:1;Rom 6:7)

What would you think of a dog lover who had a pack of dogs, some that were loyal and disciplined and loving, and some that were vicious and untrainable. Suppose He gathered up all the untrainable dogs and placed them in a pit where they could bite and devour one another, where they were subjected to sub- zero temperatures at night and unbearably hot temperatures in the day, fed just enough putrid meat to keep alive though it made them vomit, which they then ate. What would you think of him if he did everything he could to make them suffer? Infested their pit with fleas, and ticks, taunted them, burned them, harassed them continually?

Could you think of a better way to treat bad dogs? Apparently the SPCA is kinder to vicious dogs than the majority of today’s “Christians” think God is to human beings who simply don’t believe in Him.

Is the “church” today just like the Israel of Jesus day? We have placed “tradition” above the word of God, and as a result, we are preaching a false “Gospel” and we have accused those few who are preaching the true gospel of heresy. Are we also exclusivists. Just like Jonah, who didn’t really want Nineveh to repent and be saved? Like the Pharisees who went wild when Paul informed them He was sent to show that salvation is for the Gentiles as well as the Jews? (Acts 26:20,21) Do we reject and persecute those who teach God is the savior of all? (1Ti 4:10) Like the Pharisees persecuted the disciples of Jesus.

Today, God is still working His salvation for the entire world, but the traditional churches have clung to the tactics of fear which guarantee power and control for them, regardless of the logical fallacies, regardless of the blot it puts on God. Logical fallacies like Love that isn’t loving. Like power that can’t deliver. Like an all powerful being who wants to save all but chooses to create a world in which He can’t get what He wants.

Fear of God may be the beginning of wisdom, but perfect love casts out fear. The kingdom of God is about love not fear. Listed among those who are going into the Lake of Fire is the fearful. (Rev 21:8)

The only true indication of being delivered is love. (1John 2:5 and 1John 3:14) Love is the first fruit of the Spirit. Ro 13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Surely God is Good enough, powerful enough,(Mark 10:27) loving enough,(Jn 3:16) merciful enough,(2Cor 1:3) willing enough,(2Pet 3:9) smart enoughand wise enough,(Rom 11:33) to save all those whom He has created.(2Cor 5:19) He will use the laws He has created to teach us to be like Jesus. (1Co 15:22-27)

What I Believe About God

I believe God is Love. I believe Love is His essence. Nothing He does or is can contradict Love.
1Jo 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. ;1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

I believe God is almighty, omnipotent, unlimited in power.
Ge 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD?; Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?; Mt 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ; Lu 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible." Re 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

I believe God is good… all the time.
Ps 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. ;Ps 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. ; Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. ; Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ; Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

I believe God is all knowing, omniscient, unlimited in knowledge.
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, ; Ps 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. ; 1Jo 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.; Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ; Ps 33:13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

I believe God is merciful and that His mercy endures till there is no more need for mercy.
1Ch 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. ;Ps 106:1;107:1; 118:1,2,3,4,29;136:1,2,3,4,…all the way to verse 26 every verse mentions His mercy endureth for ever. :Jer 33:11 ;

I believe that God loves every single creature He has created.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.; 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ; Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ; Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ; Ro 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ; Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

I believe that God causes everything to work together for good for those He loves.
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ; 1Jo 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. ; 1Co 13:8 Love never fails. (Therefore all will eventually love Him in return.)

I believe that God wants everyone to be reconciled to Himself.
2Co 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. ; 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ; 1Jo 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ; 1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ; Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

I believe that God is patient and will wait as long as it takes until all willingly embrace Him as their Lord.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Lu 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

I believe that God will accomplish all His will, including the reconciliation of all His creation.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ; Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. ; Ps 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. ; Isa 45:23 By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.'24 "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed, all who were incensed against him. ; Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. ; Re 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!"14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped. 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ; Ro 5:18 Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. ; 2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. ; Ps 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. ; Ps 103:9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. ; Isa 57:16 For I will not contend for ever, nor will I always be angry; for from me proceeds the spirit, and I have made the breath of life. 17 Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, I smote him, I hid my face and was angry; but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and requite him with comfort, creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips. 19 Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the LORD; and I will heal him

I believe that God’s justice and mercy are identical being defined from the point of reference of the observer.
Le 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. ; 1Ch 16:14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth./ Ps 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: Every act of judgment is an act of mercy for it works to bring correction which when received will bring blessing. Every act of mercy is just because Jesus paid for every sin. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I believe that God, in His sovereign power, has given free will with a limitation, that He never allows any of His creatures to cause harm to themselves or to others that He cannot repair.
Ro 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ; Mt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The Nature of Love

Lu 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Gospel is literally Good News, however can it be good news for some and not for all?

I say no, it cannot.

Why not?

I believe it CANNOT be good news for only some, because of the nature of love and the law of love!

The nature of love is such that those who love become vulnerable to hurt. The more you love, the more vulnerable you become. If a person has no love for his neighbor, then he does not suffer when his neighbor experiences calamity, he may even rejoice in it. If however, the person has great love, say for a cherished daughter, and she is subjected to cruel injury, pain and suffering, the one who loves this girl experiences a high level of suffering, perhaps even higher than if they themselves were the one who had experienced the calamity. In the case of a deep love such as this, if one wanted to be most cruel to another he might, cause injury to his enemy’s loved one rather than directly injure the enemy himself, knowing that this would inflict more suffering than if he were to cause direct injury on the enemy himself.

Yet, God commands all His people to love not only their family and friends, but also their neighbor and even their enemies! If He intends to send many, some, or even one of these now loved by His true followers to the horrors of unending torment, unending agony and suffering, as some teach, then it follows that He intends to cause the cruelest injury to those who love Him and those He loves. To His obedient ones.

The Law of Love is such that love always desires good for those who are loved and never ultimate ill. Injury that brings improvement is acceptable, but there is no place for injury that brings no improvement.

Ro 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

How can Jesus birth be good news of Great Joy which shall be to ALL people, if it involves eternal damnation for anyone? This would be horrid news for anyone who truly loves any who are condemned and all the truest, most obedient followers of Jesus would be hurt the most.
No not the most, for Jesus Himself would be hurt the most, for no one has greater love for sinners.

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...

1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1Jo 4:1Jo 4:11; 3:11,14,18,23; Le 19:18; Mt 22:37-39; Mr 12:29-33; Lu 10:37 Joh 13:34; 15:12; Ro 12:9; 13:9,10; Ga 5:6,14; 1Th 4:9 1Pe 3:8; 4:8

Humans vs. God

Good morning Lord!
s-t-r-e-t-c-h!
Good morning human!
SSS-TTT-RRR-EEE-TTT-CCC-HHH!

(ouch!)

What One Sin Keeps People Out of Heaven?

This would be the sin of unbelief!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Who gives faith?

Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Where else does faith come from?

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes by hearing, can everyone hear?

Mt 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Jesus indicates that some have ears to hear and some don’t. The question arises, if some do have ears to hear, how did they get them and if some don’t, how did this come to be? The answer is given in Ex 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? This is true for physical and spiritual deafness and blindness.)

Speaking to the disciples about the spiritual deafness of the Pharisees Jesus said, Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Who gives it to the disciples? Who does not give it to the Pharisees? In each case God is the one choosing who can hear and who cannot.)

Can we choose to hear if we are deaf? Can we choose to receive if it is not given? Can we enter into the Kingdom of our own choice?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Jesus has to escort us in, we cannot come in on our own.)

In a discussion regarding who could be saved Jesus taught:
Mr 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (Notice the sequence here! No man can come to Jesus! Period! Unless they meet the exception which is to come to Jesus the Father must draw them . . . followed by, “and I WILL raise them up at the last day”. Who did Jesus say He would raise up? Those who the Father draws! No exceptions! Jesus here establishes that He and God the Father are solely responsible for everyone who does or does not come to Him. If anyone could choose not to come to Jesus when the Father draws them, then Jesus couldn’t have declared in truth that He absolutely will raise them up!)

Lu 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

1Co 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then SHALL EVERY MAN have praise of God.
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 For WHO MAKETH THEE TO DIFFER from another? and WHAT hast thou that thou DIDST NOT RECEIVE? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

In the above passages we find that God chooses who to give faith to. We find the Pharisees in a state where it is not given them to understand. We also find that man cannot choose to come to God, but Jesus has to get them. We see that by default, no one can know God or the Son unless God delivers them to the Son and the Son then reveals God to them. Lu 10;22 We observe that faith is given by God and without it, it is impossible to please God. We find that being saved is impossible for man, and that NOTHING is impossible with God. Is it possible for man to choose to be saved? Absolutely not, unless God gives it to him to hear and to believe. Is it possible for God to cause a person to be blind to the obvious, and then to give sight to that blind man. Absolutely, nothing is impossible for God. Is it possible for God to cause every single human He created to be saved? Absolutely! Nothing is impossible with God unless He doesn’t want to. Does God want to save every human sinner? Does He want to save the ungodly?

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Ro 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I think it is interesting that those who claim to know the gospel today, preach a powerless Christ who is unable to save whoever He wants, and preach that people have more power over their own salvation than Jesus does.
This is not the teaching of the Bible. The Christian church today, very closely resembles the religious establishment of Jesus day. Full of divisions, full of meaningless traditions, having a form of godliness but denying the power of Christ, the power of His resurrection and glorifying man instead. The leaders are still collecting tithes and enjoying the exalted positions of spiritual leadership, while many are still making their followers two times the children of hell that they themselves are.

I have good news! Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, has come to set all men free from the burdens that have been laid on them.
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Are you a church leader? This good news is for you too. You don’t need to stay in the bondage of religion. Let God set you free. You know what I’m talking about. In your religion you are not allowed to believe differently than your creed. No doubt you do, in some areas, yet you cannot say so. Do not worry about what you will eat, or what you will wear or where you will sleep for your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. He feeds the birds, He will feed you, oh ye of little faith. Come out from among them. Pr 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

To bring this full circle, I include a few more verses. I encourage you to note the word “all”. You see, in the above verses it is established that God alone controls if and when we are saved. The following verses indicate how many will be saved by the end of time. If God is revealing His mystery to you through this, praise Him.

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto me.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of ALL men, SPECIALLY of those that believe.
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ SHALL ALL be made alive.
Ro 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon ALL MEN UNTO JUSTIFICATION of life.

Since we know that faith is given by God to ALL MEN as God see’s fit, and Jesus will draw all men to himself. We also see that all will come to him and be raised with Him on the last day.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Like was pointed out above: NO man CAN come to Jesus! . . . UNLESS . . . the Father draws him . . .and those whom the Father draws, Jesus WILL raise up at the last day.
Ro 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Ro 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the FULNESS OF THE GENTILES BE COME IN. 26 And so ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
(Both are saved, all Israel, and all the Gentiles. That's everyone.)

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (Who is NOT a sinner?)

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Who did Jesus come to save?)
Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Jesus came into the world to save sinners and He cannot fail! He is the Word and it is prophesied that the Word will accomplish ALL that it was sent to do. Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Ro 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This is the true Good News of Great Joy which shall be to all people! The false tradition of “eternal’ damnation is a demonic affront to the Glory and Power of Jesus’ resurrection.
Lu 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which SHALL BE to ALL PEOPLE.
Eternal hell can only bring anguish to all people for all will be affected. If one person is in eternal hell, since we are all one in Adam, that would be the same as having one of your body parts being in extreme irritation, without hope of healing. Ever had a broken toe? Or finger? Or any ailment such as a headache or stomach ache? The whole body can be incapacitated by a single part in pain. In Adam we are all one, and to have one part in agony we all suffer and are affected. If Christ doesn’t save all of Adam, then we all will forever bear the consequences. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Ro 8:21 Because the creature itself also SHALL BE delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Need Fire Insurance?

Recipe for Faith:
Conviction of Sin
Hope of Eternal Life
Fear of Eternal Hell?

Does this sum up the Christian Life? 

When I tell people that I believe that God will ultimately win every man, woman and child to himself, they often ask, "Then what's the point?"

I know what they mean.  They think that the most prominent ingredient for Christianity is the fear of eternal Hell.  With out the "anti-carrot", the ultimate punishment, the hard line of demarcation--what would move someone to follow Christ?  Of course this presumes several interesting ideas:

1. Membership services are a crucial responsibility of the Believer (How will they hear, etc, if we don't tell them?)
2. Not going to Hell is the most important goal of the Believer.
3. God is love, except when it comes to those who don't follow Him.

I'm going to stop right there.  I learned some time ago that unbelievers, though considered blind to a multitude of spiritual things, have an expert knack in recognizing hypocrisy.  If you've ever talked to a telemarketer or walked the sales tables at a county fair, you know what I'm talking about.  If an unbeliever hears that God loves them, but only if they buy the product, why are we surprised when they treat it as a load of Kansas cow waste?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  I believe this (and every other truth in the Bible).  Genuine judgment, difficulty, pain and despair follow poor choices.  Resisting God, rebelling against His will and fighting His kingdom plans can lead to incredibly complicated lives.  However, the other end of wisdom is that "perfect love casts out fear."  Fear is designed to lead us to God.  An "eternal Hell" is neither necessary nor helpful in leading people to know Jesus.

A few years ago the World Wide Church of God faced a major transition.  The leaders at that time wanted to move away from some of the Church's long held tenants.  One of those tenants was a mandatory 20% tithe.  Immediately following this change the Church faced financial crisis.  It seems that such giving was never "from the heart" in the first place.

It is interesting that many believers in Jesus are afraid to remove the "eternal Hell" clause for the same reason.  Would many find church unnecessary if they knew they didn't need "fire insurance?"  What genuine faith is taking place in such hearts?  Can they really know and enjoy Jesus in this synthetic salesman environment?

I am confident that more, not less, unbelievers would pursue the Lord should the Gospel be accurately preached.  Like many ideas that man handles, they begin to look more like man than God.  Is it not man's control and sense of judgment that this "eternal Hell" reflects most?

Confident that God will win every soul, whether in this age or the next,

Tim

Note:  This post is a challenge to the tradition of eternal Hell.  I personally believe tradition has influenced Christians more than scripture on this topic.  However, you will find plenty of posts here investigating the scriptural foundation for Judgment and Hell as well.

FAITH

God's Word has so much to say on this incredible topic.

God controls the measure of faith that each person receives, and the measure ranges from great or abundant to none.

Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

There is no other source of faith, each person is "dealt THE measure of faith" that he begins life with.

1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

So now, knowing faith comes from God alone, and is given to every person at His discretion, and in the quantity He decides, we can observe:

De 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

As we see here, to some of His children, He gave no faith, that it might "be seen" what their end shall be. . . and next we will see that without faith we can't please God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

For God to deny them faith is to hide His face from them. This is how He demonstrates what the results are to people who have no faith. These become a living example of faithlessness because God chose them to be without faith.

To others He gave great faith:

Mt 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

This man became a living example of the result of God’s blessing one with great faith.

Faith is only received when it is given by God yet, it can be increased and decreased at God’s discretion.

Mt 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

He gives, He increases faith in those He gave it to, and those He gave little to, He takes away even what they had. All this for a higher purpose which we shall see.

In this we find faith to be like a fire in that when it is little, it diminishes and goes out, but when it is big enough, it begins spreading and increasing. The Bible teaches about a fire that will some day increase until it consumes everything including the earth and heaven. (2Pet 3:9-18) I believe this is a picture of faith. Someday those whose faith is great will ignite all those who are around them, even those who had small faith that became extinguished, it will be rekindled in the overwhelming heat generated by those who have been blessed with great faith. We find that the faith of others was all that was needed to heal a paralyzed man. (Mark 2:1-12) We have other indicators in God’s word that the end of the earth will be filled with all believing. Mt 13:31,32; Mt 13:33; Isa 11:9; Hab 2:14; Rev 5:13 to name a few. (But this is another study.)

Speaking of hearing, (He who has ears, let him hear.) we find:

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It is significant that the Greek word translated word in this verse, is rhema. Rhema, as opposed to other words translated word, means "utterance" or “something spoken”. This is more than just reading words on a page, this is hearing the Lord speak to us personally. When we hear Jesus speak to us personally, our faith is increased. Combine this with what Jesus said:

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

These verses are illuminating the concept that God gives faith to the ones He chooses to speak to. The ones He has given ears to hear to.

Ro 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

This concept cannot be received by many. It is not given them to comprehend. Those who would be classified as Calvinist, are able to receive this much, yet, since they believe in eternal damnation, they are forced to conclude that God has created many only to subject them to His wrath endlessly.

Those who believe in eternal damnation, yet cannot accept that God would be so cruel as to create people for eternal torment all on His own, not giving them any escape route have accepted a free will illusion that gives God an excuse for His drastic and immeasurably cruel action, by saying (falsely) that man, by rejecting Jesus, chooses this destination for himself, therefore God is not responsible for their terrible fate.

I believe the truth is found when God opens our eyes to reject the false ideas we have collected through the traditions of men, through Greek mythology and through biased translations, regarding Hell, damnation, and eternal separation, yet I understand that it has to be given us to understand this. If God does not give it to you, you will not, indeed, you cannot see it.

Ro 14:23 . . . for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

If whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and God gave to everyman the measure of faith each possesses, then God takes full responsibility for our sin. He has made us, He can do what He pleases, He can make me with faith, or without faith.

He can tell me sin is NOT good, and yet place me in a situation where I must taste it for myself.

I agree with Him, sin is not good. It is yuck! I don't want to step in it. I trust Him, in His wisdom, to know when to take me out of this world, so that I won't have to step in it anymore! Until then, every time I find myself soiled, I will thank Him (1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.) and trust Him to deliver me when He sees best.(1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification).

I know some who don't believe that sin is yuck. They want to roll in it!

He has not given them the faith to understand yet. In time, they will change their minds, as all sin leads to death, this too, is in God's hand. With man it is impossible to be saved but not with God, with God all things are possible. God can restore every single created being no matter how long they have been dead, no mattter how many bits they have been blown up into, no matter how badly they have been burned or crushed or dismembered. No matter how completely they have destroyed their souls. He has conquered death! He restoreth my soul!

De 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

He purchased the whole world, we were all servants to sin. Slaves! He purchased us all. (1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.) Nobody is able to deliver His purchased possession out of His hand. Slaves cannot choose not to be purchased, and we are powerless to escape from Jesus, our new owner.

We are truly, "fearfully and wonderfully made". While some of us are vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction, and others are objects of mercy, we all fulfill the role He has created us to fulfill. In addition, we are created with the capacity to learn, to change, to think differently. I am convinced that those who are hardened now, will be super strong in Christ when we are gathered to worship Him and to bow our knees professing Him as our Lord. Didn't Jesus tell us?


Mr 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. And . . .

He who has been forgiven much, loves more than he who has been forgiven little. (Luke 7:40-50)

It is my desire to impart faith, hope, and love to the people God places around me. If you have ears to hear, you will no doubt increase in faith, hope and love. Those who have not yet been given, may have their faith ignited by those around them, that's why we are told to proclaim the good news.

As opposed to knowledge, which is imperfect, and which will pass away. May our lives be marked by faith.

Faith is true belief in God. When we truly believe, we always act in harmony with that belief. When we say we believe but we get upset, (like I did when the previous final draft of this post got lost in cyberspace), we prove that our belief is not faith, but theory. God controls everything! God works all things for good for those who love Him. God is building His church. When we fail to love anyone, we prove our belief is not complete, for He has commanded us to love. When we think we have done anything to help Him save us, we demonstrate our pride and belief that He alone is not able to save.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

That He is doing this work according to His plan is evident in that He began it in each of us before we were conceived.

Ps 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Jesus is the Author, (the one who conceived and wrote your faith) and Finisher (The one who brings your faith to the conclusion of perfection in Him. Your salvation is a free gift, and you will be happy to accept it as will every last person He has created, because His love will draw us all into His sinless perfection, and we will all be perfect, sin proofed, educated. It will be impossible for us to choose to go against His will because we won't want to and we will have power to do all our will.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;


It's time that we who think we know the Lord, think differently. If we know Him, let us prove it by loving others more than ourselves. By accepting and forgiving others even as we want to be forgiven.


Mt 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.