Universal Reconciliation is the understanding that the entire creation will eventually be reconciled to God.
This understanding is clearly wrong ...
IF Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world.
But the Bible says that he did.
And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone.
[1 John 2 : 2 GNB]
IF God is still planning to make us pay for our sins.
But the Bible says God no longer keeps account of our sins.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19 NIV]
IF Jesus was always addressing eternity in his teachings.
But the Bible says he was solely focused on the kingdom.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
{Matthew 4 : 23 NIV]
IF the disciples and the Jewish crowds were also into eternity-thinking.
But the Bible says they were also totally kingdom-focused.
He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
[Luke 9 : 2 NIV]
Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
[Acts 1 : 6 NIV]
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
[Mark 11 : 10 NIV]
IF our English translations of the Bible really forecast eternal punishment.
But more accurate, literal translations of the Bible correctly speak of conditions in relation to the kingdom Age.
And these will go to the chastening of that Age, but the just to the life of that Age.
[Matthew 25 : 46 DBH]
And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.
[Matthew 25 : 46 YLT]
I'd rather believe the Bible, and especially an accurately translated one, which teaches that God's love motivated him to send Jesus to save us, not judge us.
For God did so love the world, that His Son—the only begotten—He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.
For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him;
[John 3 : 16 - 17 YLT]
And since belief (or faith) is required, it will need to be given to everyone for God to achieve his revealed purpose - just as it has been given to many of us already.
(Believers in the current age are the firstfruits of the great harvest to come.)
How could God, who is love, which was demonstrated so clearly on the cross, want anything less for his creation than reconciliation of all?
In a nutshell:
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]
Blessings, Barry
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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au
Jesus does talk about dying in your sins and ‘their worm does not die’ etc. seems people choose to reject Christ rather than God sending them to eternal separation. Lazarus and rich man etc. so not all enjoy God’s fellowship in eternity
ReplyDeleteHi Adam
DeleteGreat to make contact with you and to have someone I already know discussing these things with me.
What appears to underpin the difference between my opinions and yours is that I consider Jesus' comments to be focused on the kingdom and your consideration of Jesus speaking on eternity.
Jesus' teaching and parables were always directed towards participation in the Messianic Kingdom, the focus of the Jewish nation. The only time it looked like Jesus may have been addressing eternity is when our English translators wrongly introduced "eternal" into the text instead of the correct "age-abiding" or some other age-related word.
I have discussed "dying in sins" and "Lazarus and rich man" in previous posts here and on my website. Indeed my comments are summarised in a pdf document you can download from the website https://www.ibtechservices.com.au/ObjectionResponseDraft.pdf. Look at pages 14 - 15 for Lazarus and 16 - 17 for dying in sins.
I will discuss the worm in another Comment shortly.
Blessings, Barry
Hi again Adam
DeleteBefore we begin discussing "their worm" we need to realise that in verses 44, 46, 48 of Mark 9 the word translated "hell" is really "Gehenna" and refers to the Valley of Hinnom outside the south-west wall of Jerusalem, a place where the city garbage was burned and was continually alight to receive the daily refuse from the city. Apparently, bodies of convicted criminals were also "cremated" there, as were the poorer people of Jerusalem.
Jesus was here quoting this phrase from Isaiah 66:24 that was written on the background of heaps of the dead slain in battle, and the number being so great that their worm - the worm feeding on the dead - would not die as long as there were carcasses to be devoured, and the fire would not be extinguished until they were totally consumed.
As mentioned in the previous comment, the Messianic Kingdom was the obvious focus of the Jewish nation (e.g. Matthew 9 parables, Acts 1:6).
Jesus is talking to Jewish leaders and forecasting their destruction and of Jerusalem in AD70, including the burning of the temple by the Romans. He was using a very familiar local rubbish dump as an illustration of the coming fate of those who would not believe he was the Messiah and therefore not follow him and therefore not be part of the Messianic kingdom; and hence end up in Gehenna.
Indeed, Jesus did much of his teaching, both directly and in parables, to his Jewish audience whose one big hope was the upcoming kingdom and their expectation to be part of it. Jesus made clear that he was the Messiah; it was his kingdom, and they would need to recognise and follow him if they were to be part of it.
Unfortunately, church leaders who don't believe in the sovereignty of God and therefore his ability to fulfil his will of saving the world, as promised throughout the NT , have conflated this first century description with the final destination of unbelieving humankind at the consummation of the ages - and have given it an eternal framework.
And, as we know, if a point of view is expressed often enough, and repeated by those we love and trust, and supported by "helpful" translations, it is believed and becomes a Christian truth.
There's lots more to read of my views on this BLOG, but I am perfectly happy to discuss these things further with you if you want to short-circuit the process. I don't have all the answers so I am always keen to explore the questions with someone who's as interested in them as I am.
Blessings, Barry