Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 10

This is the tenth in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.

His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the second of which is b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here)

Under the b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead heading Dr Arnold claims that the unbelieving dead are seen in a fixed state that cannot be altered and then quotes numerous texts from the New Testament hoping to illustrate his assertion.

(i) The Matthew texts, (ii) The Rich Man and Lazarus parable and (iii) the John texts were discussed in three previous posts - Parts 7, 8 and 9.

(iv) Two texts from 2 Peter declaring that the unrighteous will need to face judgement.

Dr Arnold states that these texts demonstrate that the unbelievers are committed to pits of darkness to be reserved unto judgement of the Great White Throne and the unrighteous are kept under judgement until the day of judgement.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell [Tartarus] and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; ...
then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
[2 Peter 2 : 4, 9  NASB]

I totally agree with Dr Arnold. That's definitely what these verses say.
But Dr Arnold's inference is that judgement is inherently a bad result and therefore the end of the road for those angels and the unrighteous.

However, judgement is a decision or a verdict - not a sentence or a punishment - which may have a favourable or an unfavourable outcome.

Even in our human courts, we should expect verdicts to be reached fairly and penalties applied appropriately.
If a favourable decision is reached, the accused is not guilty as charged, so goes free.
If an unfavourable decision is reached - the accused is guilty as charged - and expects to be penalised in some appropriate way.

That penalty should be designed to produce a change in behaviour, and when served and the change in behaviour achieved, the accused is then as free as if he/she was not guilty in the first place.
Indeed, going to court, being found guilty and serving the relevant penalty is the only way an offender can be finally free.

So surely, the God of love, mercy and compassion would do at least as well as our human courts.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
[John 3 : 17  NIV]

And, if God claims to be the Saviour of the world, then freedom for all can be confidently expected eventually.

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10  NASB]

The believers are special because they become aware of, and are given the faith to believe in, their salvation early - they are the firstfruits, using Hebrew harvest terminology.
They will live and be co-rulers with Christ in the millennium kingdom age; the remainder serve the penalty of not living and enjoying life in that kingdom age before facing their judgement and rehabilitation.

I have been extremely brief in my comments here, but "The Really Good News About God" has a whole chapter dealing with judgement and might be worth a re-read at this point.

I have just said sufficient to demonstrate that God's judgements are designed to produce good outcomes and are stepping stones on the way to universal salvation and reconciliation as revealed by Paul.

And all people will see God's salvation.
[Luke 3 : 6  NIV]
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 - 10  NIV]

Let me finish this post by quoting a favourite author of mine, Professor Thomas Talbot, from his book "The Inescapable Love of God". 
While discussing God's judgements as being remedial - a means of correction - he says, "It is eternal both in the sense that its causal source lies in the eternal God himself and in the sense that its corrective effects last forever".
 
Isn't it so exciting to know that God loves us all, Jesus died and rose for us all, and God has life in store for us all?
I find this a much more positive gospel (good news) to share than the one I grew up with.

Blessings, Barry