The Salvation Journey

Many people believe salvation is the result of the freewill choice of each individual as they repent of their sins and accept Jesus into their hearts - it is the responsibility of each individual to obtain their own salvation if/when given the opportunity.
I don't see how that fits what I see in the Bible. For me ...

1. Salvation is the purpose and provision of God

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10  ESV]

which was transacted by Jesus about 2000 years ago

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 2  NIV]

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 
[2 Corinthians 5 : 18, 19  NIV]

Everyone has already been saved - whether they know it or not, believe it of not.
This is a universal, unalterable fact - God's sovereign decision faithfully put into effect by His Son, Jesus Christ.

2. All people will eventually hear this gospel, the good news described in step 1.
Maybe once or many times, in this lifetime or the next.
(Millions may never hear the gospel in their time on this planet, but will do so eventually, maybe at the Great White Throne judgement.)

Jesus said, " ... And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[John 12 : 30 ... 32  NIV]

God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 
This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.
[Ephesians 1 : 9, 10  GNT]

3. After hearing the gospel, God gives faith to believe the truth of the message.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 
[Romans 10 : 17  NIV]

4. This awareness and appreciation of the good news creates change in the hearer which has two aspects: repentance - change from ignorance or rebellion in the heart, and conversion - change towards grateful submission to God in lifestyle.

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 
[1 John 2 : 3  NIV]

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth.
[John 14 : 15 - 17  UASV]

It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
[Philippians 2 : 13  GW]

It's a God plan through and through. We can take no credit for it, not even for any good things we might do after our conversion.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 
For from him and through him and to him are all things. 
To him be glory forever. Amen.
[Romans 11 :33 - 36  ESV]

Blessings, Barry 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Universalism is Christian

I am often labelled a "universalist" because of my belief that God will eventually save or reconcile all his creation. I base this belief on verses like Romans 5 : 18 

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [ESV]

However, my universalist position is only possible because of what Jesus has done: I definitely do not belong to the "all roads lead to heaven" variety. I therefore call myself a Christian Universalist because Christ is the foundation of, and reason for, my belief.
 
So I am more like Karl Barth who is quoted as saying, "I don’t believe in universalism, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the reconciler of all."

Although Karl Barth is often quoted as saying this, or something very like it, I have not found it for myself in any of his writings. He may have said it in interviews or other conversations, but I can't find those exact words in any of his published works.

However, he did stress the universal scope of Christ's work and seemed to warn against putting limits on it. He probably can best be described as having a faith-based hope in it, rather than believe it as a logical certainty.

So if  "I don’t believe in universalism, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the reconciler of all" is not Karl Barth's exact quotation, am I then free to claim it as my position?
However, I additionally believe that "the salvation of all" can be logically derived from correct translations of the Scriptures, rather than just be hoped for (by faith).

Many previous posts in this BLOG demonstrate that logic, as do others that refute opposing positions to the Christian universalist view.

Blessings, Barry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Reading All of Scripture

Reading Scripture is one thing. Building a sound Biblical theology is another. 
I enjoy the challenge of forming a sound theological position on many Biblical topics and spend hours and hours in my retirement engaged in the pursuit of a clearer understanding of God, his purpose for his creation, and his dealings with us.

The fact that many different theologies can be derived from the same portions of Scripture surely demonstrates the extent of that challenge. How many books are written debating and contesting different theologies? How many Bible Colleges teach opposing theologies? How many different churches espouse different "statements of faith"?

With regard to the extravagant grace of God theme of this BLOG, and my website, it is disappointing that this particular view of Scripture is not believed by the majority of mainstream churches and theologians.

For example, the mainstream believes the eternal judgement/punishment/torment verses like

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
[Matthew 25 : 46  NIV]

as applying to those who end their time on this planet as unbelievers are foundational, the starting point, and dismiss or explain away the salvation of the world verses like

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19, 20  NIV]

that challenge them.

This BLOG does the opposite. It believes the salvation of the world verses like

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19  NIV]

are consistent with the extravagant grace of a loving, sovereign God and then explains, rather than dismisses or ignores, the judgement/punishment verses like

Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
[Revelation 20 : 15  NIV]

as part of the process God uses to achieve that salvation result.

Clearly your starting point is vital to a correct theology; but so is your willingness to address and explain how other verses, that seem to challenge that theological position, might in fact be part of it.

Most of the posts on this BLOG over the past 15 years or so have promoted and explained the salvation of the world verses in various ways, but posts discussing the verses which might seem to oppose this view are also included. 

Indeed a whole series of 13 posts here titled "Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition", together with Chapter 5 in "The Really Good News About God" and the Judgement and Questions sections on the IBTechservices.com.au website, all address opposing views and seemingly opposing verses rather than ignore or dismiss them.

I am open to any polite dialogue/debate in the Comments section of any post on the BLOG should readers feel there are some opposing verses or ideas that have not be given due consideration or BLOG space.

I might not have answers to all the questions that may be asked, but I have great confidence in the love, grace and sovereignty of the God I serve to achieve his purpose for all of his creation.

This is a good and acceptable thing before our savior God, who intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 3, 4  DBH]

Blessings, Barry 

An Interesting Parallel

When reading both the Old and New Testaments, some interesting parallels come to the surface. I wish to share one of my favourites in this post.
I have been intrigued how many of the features of the story of Joseph closely mirror many in the life of Jesus.

Joseph was so disliked by his brothers that they decided to kill him. After reconsidering their plan, they sold him to a passing caravan of Midianite merchants on their way to Egypt instead.
Having so disposed of Joseph, they thought they would never see him or have to listen to his strange dreams again.

However this was not God's plan and Joseph became "Prime Minister" of Egypt and, in this role, became the saviour of the nation of Israel. 

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
[Genesis 45 : 5  NIV]

One "dead" Israelite "came to life" in a position of authority to save his fellow Israelites.
One became the saviour of them all.

Is this beginning to sound familiar?

Jesus was so disliked by his fellow Rabbis and Pharisees, that they found a way to have him killed. Having so disposed of Jesus, they thought they would never see him or have to listen to his teaching again.
However this was not God's plan and Jesus was resurrected and ascended to His Father, and in this role, became the saviour of the world. 

God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.[1 Timothy 2 : 3 - 4  NIV]

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
[Hebrews 2 : 14  NLT]

One "dead" human "came to life" in a position of authority to save his fellow humans.
One became the saviour of us all.

I appreciate I have described Jesus' role in a very brief and crude way, but I have done so to enable the parallels between Joseph and Jesus to be more easily seen..

Can you share other "parallels" that you have discovered in the Scriptures?
Blessings, Barry 

Will God Really Save the World?

The theme of this BLOG for fifteen years or so has been to promote the really good news that God, in his love and extravagant grace, is eventually going to save the whole world.

Although the mainstream church doesn't seem to believe this magnificent outcome of world history, the Bible clearly promotes this hope. 
Even preachers who extol the grace of God, can't see that God's grace will extend that far.
Instead of pointing to God's promises in the Scriptures, current world events and circumstances are used to deny God's success in achieving his grand purpose for his creation.

Which begs these questions: "Is God *really trying to save the world?" and "Is this the *only day of salvation?" and "Why doesn't everybody who hears the gospel believe it and appreciate what Jesus has done for all of us?"

About six years ago I posted "God is NOT Trying to Save the World Right Now".
You can find it in the BLOG ARCHIVE under 2019/June.
Although it is a simple, clear description of God's plan, it did not answer questions that readers have subsequently raised. So let's explore this topic a bit further with those questions in mind.

It is true that God initially, in this age, only plans to call a select few. 

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
[Matthew 7 : 14  NIV]

I called these few the "milk monitors" in the 2019 post mentioned above. You might like to re-read that post before reading further here.

Jesus was clearly co-operating with His Father's plan by deliberately hiding his identity and message from the masses, so only the chosen few would :
... understand his teachings, 

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 
[Matthew 13 : 10 - 11   NIV]

... see or hear about his miracles, 

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ...
Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
[Mark 5 : 37, 42 - 43  NIV]

... know his identity,

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
[Mark 8 : 29 - 30  NIV]

... see him in his resurrected form.

He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
[Acts 10 : 41  NIV]

Paul also mentioned a limited number of witnesses to Christ's resurrection:

... he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, ...
[1 Corinthians 15 : 4 - 8  NIV]

Why all this secrecy? Why was Jesus hiding the truth about humanity's salvation?

God did not intend for everyone to understand His truth, His plan at this time! If He had, they would have understood! But this was clearly not the time, as Jesus' quote from Isaiah demonstrated:

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
    'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
    otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'”
[Jesus quoting Isaiah as reported in Mark 4 : 10 - 12  NIV]

So when will be the eventual saving of the world?

Answers to that question vary according to how the clues we are given in Scripture are interpreted. We'll explore some broad aspects of the "when" in the next post.

Blessings, Barry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Immortality the End Result for All

Another short post to think about.

Suppose we destroy all even numbers. 
Clearly, only odd numbers will remain.

Paul tells us that at the end of the ages, death will be destroyed. *
Clearly, only life will remain.

The death (mortality) that Adam introduced, and has plagued humanity ever since, will no longer exist. Only life (immortality) will "plague" humanity.

And when will this happen?
When all humanity has been made alive in Christ. **

Blessings, Barry

*   1 Corinthians 15 : 26
** 1 Corinthians 15 : 22

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au 

Two Responses to CURE Opposition

CURE is my acronym for “Christ Ultimately Reconciles Everyone”.

Although CURE is my firm Christian belief, I do not wish to be called a universalist, as this term has connotations that can obscure or ignore the role of Jesus in producing that glorious result.
I'd rather stand with Karl Barth, who is quoted as saying, “I don’t believe in universalism, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the reconciler of all.”.

Firstly, let me reflect on my journey since discovering the 'reconciliation of all' in the Scriptures about 25 - 30 years ago.
I felt scarily alone; a black swan in the global christian community I had belonged to for most of my life. Who was I, a bush theologian in regional Australia without any formal theological training, to be believing the opposite of what I had been taught, indeed what I had previously been teaching myself, and what continues to be preached in evangelical mainstream churches all over the world?

Since then, there have appeared so many books, podcasts, youtube videos and Christian websites that not only hold this view, but rigorously promote it.
I have been one of these with this BLOG, barrysgracespace.blogspot.com, which explains and advocates for God's extravagant grace, my website, https://www.ibtechservices.com.au, which explores the Christian hope of 'reconciliation of all', and the publication of my book, "The Really Good News About God", about 10 years ago.

Because this belief is held by only a small percentage of mainstream Christian community, there is much criticism and many objections to it from the majority, which led me to prepare two essays.
So instead of arguing positively for the CURE position, the first essay will respond to common objections to the CURE position; the second will offer explanations of Biblical passages used by opponents in their endeavour to discredit the ‘reconciliation of all’ position.

A draft of the first essay is completed, called “Response to CURE Objections”, and can be downloaded as a PDF file using the link www.ibtechservices.com.au/responsetoCUREobjections.pdf. I will try to have the second written by the end of the year and available in a similar way. I expect it will be called “Bible Verses Used to Oppose CURE”.

Blessings, Barry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au