Paul's side of an early church debate!

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Some Corinthian believers were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead! Just as some believers today say that once you're dead that's it, you can't be saved unless you made prior arrangements. But Paul concludes that if there is no resurrection of the "dead"... then Jesus is'nt raised. He clinches his arguement by saying. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The same amount of people who die shall be made alive. Paul repeats this astounding claim three more times in Romans.

Ro 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. - Here the word many is used both for those who die, followed by "much more" for those who get the free gift. But just in case there is any doubt, Paul goes on...

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. - All!

Ro 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. - How many were made sinners? All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All! How many SHALL be made righteous??? The same many at least for the next verse states:

Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

I believe in the resurrection of the dead as well as the living.

Ro 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

That they may be one...

"It is a tragedy that Christians unite on doctrinal or creedal bases when there can be no absolute certainty about them. The basis for fellowship ought rather to be in the realm of love, commitment, and trust than in systematized doctrines, codified beliefs and intellectual thought. Should any grounds for fellowship be more important than faith and love in relation to our Lord Jesus Christ and a patient on-going quest for truth? Love, prayer, worship, praise, study, questioning, and discussion can all be part of fellowship one with another. Believers should be encouraged to question and discuss among themselves the most profound topics of the Scriptures as freely as they talk about the weather or the World Series in sports. there should be no strife, contentions, factions, no fear of recrimination or embarrassment or of being branded a heretic." (Daniel Andersen. Bible Study - A personal quest, page 22

the righteous purpose of God's judgment
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"In essentials, Unity;
in non-essentials, Liberty;
in all things, Love."
A Call To Unity
By Gerry Beauchemin
"[Be] diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ep. 4:3

Our tradition has indoctrinated us to reject anything outside our theological "boxes." Everything outside is labeled heresy. It’s the same with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christian denominations (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc.). We are all locked into systems, and only when we question and investigate our beliefs, do we find truth and even life beyond them. The Lord commanded us to judge for ourselves what is right. (Lu. 12: 57) And the Apostle Paul exhorts us to test all things ( 1Th. 5:21). Will we obey the Lord and not allow the fear of man to influence or control our convictions? (See Ga 1:10) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

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God Presents Himself To Us According To Our Disposition

2Sa 22:26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

As we develop to me more like Christ, God reveals Himself to us more as He is. This could be why most "christians" think God will carry out the execution and permanent torture of most of His creation. This also would explain why those who cannot see God as successfully reconciling every last person to Himself, are not phased by the abundant scriptural and linguistic evidence plainly saying so.

If 2Samuel 22:26 and 27 mean what they plainly say, an open minded Bible believer who believes God is going to some day involve Himself in eternal cruelty, should examine himself to see if he is lacking in mercy, uprightness and purity in Christ.

The phrase "with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury." uses "froward" to translate <`iqqesh> which according to Strongs means, "distorted". One who is distorted has less than a clear understanding, which is why they cannot decide if God is Sovereign or if He is controlled by our Will. The debate rages on for them because in this distorted understanding, Sovereign God who is Love, created most of the human race to be in His image, but also to be tortured forever... well, this seems wrong, so introduce free will, dumping the responsibility on man... but of course, that doesn't really work either. Distortion. God claims He works all things after the counsel of His will. Free will claims God's will that none should perish is thwarted by man's will to reject Jesus even though many die without hearing about Jesus. Contradiction/distortion.

To the distorted, thou wilt shew thyself to be unsavoury, which is morally tortuous, (twisted).

If your image of God is that of a being who is twisted, (a loving Father who is going to torture and torment his children forever and ever...while telling us to love our enemies...) then I recommend you check your own mercy level. When we are merciful, God will present Himself to us as merciful. You will then be able to see a more accurate image of who God really is.

Hi Tony! ;)