Enlightened Reasoning

People face many hurdles when trying to see that universal reconciliation (UR) is the plan and purpose of God.
Some are caused by translation issues in modern English Bibles. 

One of these describes salvation as being dependent on one's faith IN Jesus rather than salvation having been provided, without any input from us, by the faithfulness OF Jesus (in playing his part in his Father's plan to save the creation).

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, which brought profoundly beneficial changes in society - intellectual liberation, scientific advancement, political reform and economic development among them. 

However, it also elevated mankind's opinions of himself and his supremacy over his world, reviving the ancient doctrine of man's free will with the capability of even outsmarting God's will and sovereignty.
Notice the outworking of this in Galatians 2:16 from a modern translation (NIV, first published in 1973) with those of older (KJV, published 1611) and more literal (DBH) translations.

know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. [NIV]

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [KJV]

and who know that a human being is vindicated not by observances of Law but by the faithfulness of the Anointed One Jesus - even we have placed our faith in the Anointed One Jesus, so that we might be vindicated from the faithfulness of the Anointed and not from observances of the Law. [DBH]

The result of the Enlightenment, and popular English translations produced in its wake, was the transferring of responsibility for man's salvation from God's sovereign choice to man's free will choice.
What a shame. Because God's choice is for us all to be reconciled to God, which sounds much better than leaving the choice to us rebellious souls.

Yet the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, has not enabled many of us to steer clear of some very illogical reasoning regarding God's UR plan for his creation. Let's think about this example.

If God knows all things and therefore knew from the beginning that the final fate of people who make the wrong choice about Jesus, or of people who have never been exposed to the good news about Jesus, would be to suffer everlasting punishment, then God's choice to create those people would surely be an act of extreme cruelty.

The millions of church-goers who believe this end result for unbelievers will usually also declare God to be a God of love (and mercy and forgiveness) who sent his Son to die for the sins of the world.

I happen to believe that God is a God of love and that God gets his way (will reconcile all of his creation in the end).

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[Ephesians 1 : 9, 10  NKJV]

Blessings, Barry

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

The Doctrine of Reserve

In my research on the views held by the ancient Church Fathers on the subject of universal salvation of all (USOA), I found something I wasn't even looking for.

Before I disclose my surprise discovery, let me share three related personal experiences as a believer in, and teacher of, USOA.

1. I had a very close friend with whom I enjoyed regular fruitful discussions about the Bible and church life generally.
He would always agree that the Bible did indeed seem to teach USOA, and that he would like to believe it, but it just seemed too far of a stretch and, in any case, contradicted what his church leadership had taught over his lifetime in the church.
He always confessed that he could not fault my exegesis of the Scriptures on this matter, but was unable to dismiss his longstanding position that was formed and frequently reinforced by decades of prior teaching.

2. Interestingly, in one of the churches he belonged to, I was told that I would be welcome to become a member provided I didn't share my views on USOA with other members of the congregation.

3. For over 20 years, my circle of friends included several church ministers of various denominations. One of them confided that he would like to believe in USOA, but even if he did, he would not be able to publicly support or preach it. Why?
Firstly, he would probably lose his denominational ministry position, and consequently his livelihood.
Secondly, he believed preaching USOA could easily lead some of his congregants to careless living and even gross sinning, because they might assume there were no longer any consequences for personal sin.

All three personal experiences were examples of the outworking of my surprise discovery in the writings of ancient Church Fathers - the doctrine of Reserve.

Although I had personally seen it in action, as described above, I had no idea it was a widely practised doctrine of the Christian Church, beginning right back in the second century AD.

So what is the doctrine of Reserve?
This doctrine teaches that it is right to withhold or disguise, or even deny, any Biblical truth if there is sufficient reason for doing so.

It was thought that it was perfectly alright for Church Fathers to hold or reserve the "deeper truths" for themselves, and to consider the people not ready for them. These were professional secrets, and it was considered not wise to confuse or confound the common people.

One such deeper truth that suffered, and still suffers, under this doctrine was USOA. Many of the Church Fathers reserved their belief in the USOA for themselves, and for other "doctors of divinity", but felt that it was not safe for the multitude, and so they taught them endless torment.

USOA is thought by some to be a recently invented belief used to attract people from our "everyone gets a prize" generation.
Not so! It seems the ancient Church Fathers held this belief, even though they were careful to keep it hidden from the masses.
 
Blessings, Barry

Do Christians Go To Heaven When They Die?

There is often vigorous debate about where Christians go when they die.
I am currently writing an essay on this topic, which may well become a chapter in a future book, so I thought I would share a brief excerpt with you here.

Most Christians believe they go to heaven to be with Jesus the moment they die, although I'm not sure many of them could verify that position from the Scriptures.

Quite a few Bible Scholars use Old Testament passages to show that everyone (including Christians) go to the grave, where they sleep unaware of anything, until the rapture or the second coming of Jesus (depending on the eschatology timetable they subscribe to).

To me, having received eternal life (Greek - life of the Age) MUST make a difference between the immediate destination after death of those who are followers of Christ and those who are still un-reconciled to God.
And Paul hints at this in various places .....

But I find an interesting hint in Paul's description of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:14.

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God WILL BRING WITH JESUS THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN HIM. [NIV]

Jesus can only bring with him those who are already with him when he is about to come.
These are they who have been separated from their bodies at death - their souls/spirits going to be with Jesus in heaven and their bodies remaining on earth to be buried or cremated.

When Jesus comes, he brings these departed souls/spirits with him, raises their bodies, and re-unites their body, soul and spirit. Being "complete" again, as are the living saints waiting for this event, Jesus gathers both the departed and the living to be together with him in the air.

He then transforms the bodies of all those being raptured into their resurrection bodies, as 1 Corinthians 15 tells us. These bodies, we are told in several places, will bear the divine image of Jesus.

And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 49  NIV]

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son
[Romans 8 : 29  NIV]

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
[1 John 3 : 2  NIV]

I wonder if Peter, James and John were given a preview of what this body would be like when they saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain.
After they had seen this, Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after He was resurrected. (Matt 17 : 1 - 9)
Why?
My guess: because Jesus' mission was to introduce Jews to their anticipated, earthly Messianic Kingdom, and himself as their Messiah, they would not understand anything about a transfigured, heavenly body until He had led the way into that realm on resurrection morning.

However, I have digressed.
The point of this excerpt is to demonstrate that St.Paul gives a clue that those in the Body of Christ were in heaven with Christ before the Rapture, and therefore must have been previously, spiritually translated to heaven on the occasion of their earthly death.

Blessings, Barry

Churches Diminish Jesus' Work on the Cross

Hello again! I haven't posted for a while - too busy travelling around the country. We've been in Queensland to visit family after entry restrictions were lifted. 10 of our 15 grandchildren and all our 14 great grandchildren live there, so we spent several weeks getting to know them all over again.

On return, each of us copped a good dose of COVID - so no activity on the BLOG for a further couple of weeks.

While away we visited a vibrant church and enjoyed worshipping with them on several occasions. However on the last Sunday we attended, the sermon reminded us of what many churches seem to teach - to be saved and avoid eternity in a cruel hell each person needs to make the choice to believe and accept "the gospel" during their lifetime on this planet.

No mention of what God did for all of us 2000 years ago - reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. (2 Cor 5: 19)

No mention that all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3 : 24)

No mention that all in Adam's line of descent are now in Christ's. (1 Cor 15 : 22)

Quoted was one of the best known verses in the Bible - John 3 : 16.
But most who quote it (and use it to prove their view that Jesus only died for those who believe the gospel in their lifetime) don't continue reading to the next verse.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (Greek: life of the Age).

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
[John 3 : 16 - 17 NIV]

So what was "the gospel" preached there that day?
Basically, your salvation is actually in your hands. You need to be born in the right place at the right time to hear the gospel and then you need to produce the faith to believe and accept this gospel while you're still alive.

The gospel of grace was completely missed; the gospel of (personal) decision and action was the one being preached.

So sad really.
This vibrant church, while enthusiastically enjoying lively worship and warm and inclusive fellowship, were celebrating their good luck in hearing the gospel and deciding to accept it while still here, and were then being encouraged to pray for friends and family with urgency because their salvation depends solely on them hearing the gospel and their subsequent action.

God is not a god of good luck; God's plan to reconcile the world through Christ was devised before the world was even created.

He (Christ) was chosen before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
[1 Peter 1 : 20  TLV]

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 fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 - 10  NIV]

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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]

For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved,
[1Tim 2 : 5 - 6  GNB]

Yes, we do need to share the gospel in words and actions with others so that if now is their appointed time they will be given the faith to believe what they have heard and seen.
Understanding and celebrating the truth of what Jesus has done for them, and commitment to Christ, will automatically follow.

Clearly, salvation is God's responsibility, and God's alone.
God sent Jesus to deal with our sin.

He (Christ) 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]

God draws us to Jesus.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
[John 6 : 44 NIV ]

God gives us the faith to believe this good news.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
[Ephesians 2 : 8 - 9  NIV]

It's ALL God's doing. When it's your turn you will be awakened, irresistibly drawn by God's love and action, and given faith to believe the gospel and the Holy Spirit to empower you in your commitment to follow Jesus.

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

It was for me, and for every genuine, committed, faithful child of God I have known - for all in the Body of Christ, the firstfruits of the harvest, those who serve with Christ in the kingdom age.

But there's more, as shown in the Scripture quotations above.
No-one will be left out. Eventually everyone will be reconciled to God and enjoy eternity with Him. Everyone will have their turn to understand and enjoy what Jesus has done for them so long ago.

So I visited a terrific, vibrant church, but their preaching sometimes denied the love and grace of God for His creation and severely diminished the full payment of Christ on the cross for the sins of the world.

Will I attend again?
I'm sure I will - they welcome warmly, celebrate using God-focused worship, encourage their members to live committed and joyful lives, and preach positive messages most of the time.
Indeed, if we only choose to worship and fellowship in churches whose doctrine we 100% agree with, we might find ourselves worshipping alone.

Blessings, Barry

Belief Doesn't Create Truth

Many churches and Bible commentators teach that
if a person believes that Jesus died for their sins,
then they will be forgiven their sins and thus saved.

In other words, personal belief is needed to activate Christ's sacrifice for them, and so obtain their salvation.
Or, more arrogantly, Christ needs our help to save us!

This doesn't seem to harmonise with what the Scriptures say about what God has done through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

First, our sins have been dealt with 2000 years ago - whether we believe it or not.

Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
[1 John 2 : 1 - 2  NLT]

Second, God is reconciled to us and thus is at peace with us - whether we believe it or not.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19  NLT]

Third, God intends everyone to know these truths and live in unity and harmony with him and his creation forever - whether we believe it or not.

... God our Savior, who wants (intends) everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 3 - 4   NLT]
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
[Ephesians 1 : 9 - 10  NLT]

Belief doesn't create these truths.
Creatures like you and me cannot believe the Creator's plans into existence.
All truths need to exist before they can be believed, meaning they are equally true for believers and unbelievers.

So if these truths do exist, why doesn't everyone believe them?

The simple answer is that not all of us come to belief at the same time.
Are you a believer?
Did you become a believer at the same time as other believers you know?
Probably not. 

God draws us to him, gives us the Holy Spirit and the faith to believe his good news at his appointed time for each of us.
And those appointed times will be spread across the eons or ages of time, not just in this present one, for all of creation.

Indeed, in this present age, God is only choosing the advance party of early believers, called the Body of Christ.
They do not have to wait till the end of time to come to know and believe the truth - as all others do.

Early believers are chosen and equipped to serve Christ in announcing these truths to the rest of their generation, so that those others still to be chosen from that generation will hear their call, be given faith and drawn into this advance party.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
[Romans 10 : 17  NLT]

And God is still actively filling and empowering the advance party in 2022 - almost 2000 years after He began.

Blessings, Barry

Really Good News Produces Real Joy

I really enjoy watching YouTube videos of André Rieu and his orchestra and vocalists. Almost as much, I enjoy watching the reactions of his audience - such happiness, even tears of joy.

Audiences leaving the concert are often singing and dancing as they make their way to the street, and always with a huge smile on their faces.
And their topic of conversation? The concert, of course, and the exhilaration and happiness it gave them.  

I can't help thinking how wonderful it would be if we saw people leaving a church service like that.
Singing, dancing, talking about the joy and exhilaration the service gave them, and especially the good news that was preached.

But I haven't seen that too often ... and wonder why.
I wonder if God's true character, his love, grace and mercy, have been celebrated?
I wonder if God's plan to save the world has been mentioned?
I wonder if the audience has been reminded how specially chosen and privileged they are to be in Christ's advance party?
I wonder if the audience has been taught that their "unsaved" loved ones have already had their sin penalty paid for them by Jesus' death on the cross 2000 years ago?
I wonder if the really good news from the Bible has been shared or whether this has been re-jigged in some way?

For which reason God also exalted him on high and graced him with the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee - of beings heavenly and earthly and subterranean - should bend,
and every tongue gladly confess that Jesus the Anointed is Lord, for the glory of God the Father.
[Philippians 2 : 9 - 11  DBH]

If this really good news has been preached and celebrated, genuinely enthusiastic worship would break out spontaneously.
And the conversations after the service might contain expressions of  thankfulness, joy and hope, rather than discussions about the weather, football and politics. 

On a personal note: conversations after the service I have led have ranged from "You sure gave us something to think about this morning!" to
"Why haven't we heard that before?" to
"I don't think you should lead a service here again!"

And in one church, I have been cancelled, never to return to that pulpit again.
I had preached too much good news that made too many people hopeful and joyful and discussing the Biblical truths that were explored as they had morning tea after the service.

Blessings, Barry

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure - a new slant on the story.

I haven't often written about the parables of Jesus, concentrating more on the gospel to the Gentiles as espoused by the Apostle Paul.

But recently, in my personal devotions, I have been allowing the Holy Spirit to expand my thinking beyond the obvious and traditional interpretations and applications of the stories Jesus told in Israel.
And I thought I would share one of these more expansive thoughts today using the parable of the hidden treasure reported by Matthew in Chapter 13 verse 44.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. [NIV]

Jesus was teaching his Jewish audience that the kingdom he was offering was so valuable that it was worth selling all a person had to obtain it.

The obvious and traditional interpretation of the main point of the parable is that for the enormous worth of the Kingdom any sacrifice, including all that one has, is not too great a price to pay.
Rarely are the other details, like hiding the treasure so others won't find it or buying the whole field, mentioned in these interpretations.

But how about this for a new slant?
Instead of teaching how a Jew ought to response to the good news about the kingdom of God coming near to him, and being prepared to sacrifice all to gain it, maybe Jesus was teaching something about himself.

In that case, Jesus was the man who sacrificed all that he had, not just to have the hidden treasure, the kingdom, but the entire field that contained it - indeed the whole world, as the field is called in a previous parable explanation. (Matt 13 : 38)

Maybe this one verse parable is a description of what Jesus was about to do.
 
Interestingly, after Jesus had been rejected by the Jewish leaders, he hid the kingdom from his public audiences by restricting his teaching to parables, only explaining them to his disciples in private.

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.
... This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
[Matthew 13 : 10 - 14  NIV]

Jesus deliberately hid the kingdom from this generation of the nation who was chosen to rule in it.

And what did Jesus do after hiding the kingdom?
He went and bought the whole field - the whole world - which he promised to do.

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

John also confirmed the Lord's world-wide mission:

 ... we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
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 : 1 -2  NIV]

And so, eventually, Jesus would not only have the kingdom treasure, but the whole field through His purchase.

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
[Revelation 11 : 15  NIV]

Have you heard such a slant on this parable before - Jesus telling a parable about himself and his purpose in coming to our world?

Blessings, Barry

God Predestines Salvation

There are many Christians who believe that God has predestined certain people to be saved and the rest of mankind to be lost - that God chooses beforehand who will be saved and who will be forever lost.

They usually expect the outcome for those saved to be eternal bliss in heaven with God and for the lost to be annihilation or eternal torment in a place they call hell.

Although God's foreknowledge and predestination activities are mentioned or inferred several times in the Scriptures, there are only two passages (in most of our English translations) that specifically use this word in relation to the future of mankind.

And these passages only refer to the predestination of specific people to be saved, and say nothing about anyone being predestined to be lost.

Here's the first:

... To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: ...
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ...
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
[Ephesians 1 : 1 - 12  NIV]

It is interesting that it was only the saints, the holy and faithful ones, the first to benefit from God's plan of salvation, that were predestined. Clearly, God has predetermined who will be his saints, the Body of Christ, in the current age.

And the second:

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[Romans 8 : 29 - 30  ESV]

This passage, written to those loved by God and called to be holy and belong to Jesus Christ, also shows God pre-selecting those who are to be members of Christ's church.

So the only specific predestination I can find in the Scriptures is God deciding beforehand those who would be saved and comprise the Body of Christ during this current age of grace, and participate in the coming millennial kingdom.

But God's plan of salvation does not end there.
Jesus is going to draw all people to himself

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will drag everyone to me.
[John 12 : 32  DBH]

because he died for the sins of all people

And he is an atonement for our sins, and not only for ours, but for those of the whole cosmos.
[1 John 2 : 2  DBH]

and God's plan is for all people to be saved and come to know God's love and provision for them.

... our savior God, who intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of truth.
[1 Tim 2 : 4  DBH]

So although the word predestined is not used in these references, it's clear that God's predetermined plan of salvation is intended to cover all people.
 
Why do I say predetermined or predestined here?

In all his wisdom and insight 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  GNB]

Clearly, salvation for all people has been predestined by God; especially those to be saved as the Body of Christ, the Advance Party, in this age.

We struggle and work hard, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all and especially of those who believe.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10  GNB]

Blessings, Barry

Who Deserves to be Saved?

The answer you give to this question probably depends on your upbringing.
Jews might believe it is them, because they belong to the nation God chose to head up his kingdom.
Others might believe it is those who live good, moral lives, because they follow the Ten Commandments
Still others might believe it is those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, because of the teaching of their church.

However, the Bible suggests that none of these deserves to be saved.

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
[Romans 3 : 22, 23  NIV]

This seems pretty hopeless doesn't it?
Although no one deserves to be saved, God's solution completes the sentence above.

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
[Romans 3 : 24  NIV]

Even though none of us deserves it, Jesus has provided all of us with the solution.
The Bible reveals this in many places and these occurrences have been discussed in many previous posts.

But today this post will focus on the word 'freely' from verse 24.

Other translations use 'as a gift' or 'without charge' or 'by the free gift' or 'gratuitously' for the word 'freely' in the NIV text.

The Greek word under-pinning 'freely' is 'dorean', and it pops up in a few other places. We'll use one of those places to get a fuller understanding of its meaning.

John 15 : 18 - 25 records a training session conducted by Jesus for his disciples.
In preparing his disciples for ministry without him, Jesus warned them that they would be hated as he was.
He finishes with:

"They hated me without reason."
[John 15 : 25  NIV]

Other translations use 'gratuitously' or 'without a cause' or 'undeservedly' for the phrase 'without reason' in this sentence.

This final statement could be paraphrased as:
"I've given them no cause for this."
or
"They've just decided to hate me in spite of what I taught or showed them."
or
"Nothing I did warranted me being hated."
or
"I certainly didn't deserve their hatred."

If we use these underlying thoughts, we would understand verse 24 to be saying that we are all undeservedly justified by his grace, even though we have given God no cause or reason for him doing so.

So, who deserves to be saved?
Clearly, no one.
We have given God no reason to befriend us, let alone save us.

But he's done it anyway!
The "contract" was signed 2000 years ago.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
[2 Corinthians 9 : 15  NIV]

Blessings, Barry

God's Unconditional Love - a bit more

The previous post discussed the character and eventual result of God's unconditional love for us.
Although the unconditional nature of God's love was mentioned and illustrated by verses like -

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]

- it probably didn't get the attention it deserved. Hence this "a bit more".

Unconditional means with no conditions or no strings attached.
So it is safe to say that God loves His entire creation without imposing any limits or requiring anything in return. It is a choice He has made.

Jesus, in His famous Sermon on the Mount, was teaching His disciples they should treat their enemies as God treats His.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
[Matthew 5 : 44, 45  NIV]

Similarly, St Paul reminds us of Christ's focus in His sacrifice on the cross.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
[Romans 5 : 6 - 8  NIV]

So it was the sin of the ungodly and sinners that Jesus paid for - that's mine and everyone else's that I know.

And, of course, the entire world is also in focus when God's love is mentioned in the most famous verse in the Bible, although you might not easily recognise it from this literal translation.

For God so loved the cosmos as to give the Son, the only one, so that everyone having faith in him might not perish, but have the life of the Age.
For God sent the Son into the cosmos not that he might pass judgement on the cosmos, but that the cosmos might be saved through him.
[John 3 : 16, 17  DBH]

Let's finish with a reminder from St Paul about just how extensive and universal God's love is.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Romans 8 : 38, 39  NIV]

Appreciating God's unconditional love for His creation is the backbone of my understanding of the achievement of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Blessings, Barry

God's Unconditional Love

Yesterday I attended a baby dedication service for the son of a lovely young couple who are Youth Ministers in Melbourne.
It was the first time we have been to a gathering of so many people (suitably spaced and wearing masks) for many months.

The minister leading the service offered some excellent thoughts and prayers.
The first line of his opening prayer thanked God for His unconditional love.
What a great affirmation to start the afternoon!

God's unconditional love is the key to God's involvement with His creation.
God's unconditional love describes who He is. God is fundamentally and essentially love.

God is love.
[1 John 4 : 8b  NIV]

God's unconditional love is described this way:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
[1 Corinthians 13 : 4 - 8  NIV]

God's unconditional love compels Him to be the Saviour of all.

That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10  NIV]

God's unconditional love sent Jesus to earth to take the death penalty for the sins of the world.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
[1 John 4 : 10  NIV]
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]
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
[Hebrews 2 : 9  NIV]

God's unconditional love requires Him to keep no record of our wrongs.

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

God's unconditional love has a plan involving the whole creation.

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 : 9 - 10  NIV]

God's unconditional love, expressed by Jesus, will ensure all people are in this final gathering.

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

Although the phrase "God's unconditional love" just rolls off the tongue of institutionally-trained ministers, I wonder how many really believe it.
Indeed, so many in the Christian religion, and their ministers, not only miss all of these wonderful promises, but are hostile to them.

I just don't understand how people who acknowledge God as having unconditional love can then describe their god as one who will willingly oversee the eternal torture of the majority of His creation.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is really good news for all - because of God's unconditional love which "never fails".

(It is clearly not just for believers, although believers do have a special calling as the advance party.)

Blessings, Barry
 

All English Bibles Agree

Another rabbit hole I have been exploring is the New Testament book of Hebrews. I've read it several times before, but this time I have been engulfed in it. I have only just started Chapter 3 after a few weeks' musing.

Why am I telling you this?
Well, while travelling down this deep rabbit hole I found another smaller one off to the side that I have spent a few hours exploring.
Hebrews 2 : 9 is one of the many verses in Scripture that explicitly informs us of God's plan to save the whole world.

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower that the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. [NIV]

The way that various English versions of the Bible translate passages that state this plan, or infer it, often depends on the doctrinal position of the translation team or its financial backers.

It's quite amazing what a comparison between a literal translation and a popular version sometimes reveals when checking these "reconciliation of all" verses. Truly, some of our popular English versions do their best not to contradict their infernalist* beliefs.

Because the church for centuries has taught this infernalist* view (that it is not God's plan to save the world), and the majority of church-goers therefore believe what they have been taught, I was keen to see how the various versions of the New Testament handle this "risky" verse.

And boy was I surprised.
I have checked all the print versions I own and have researched all the digital versions available online and I have not found a single one that has fiddled with this text.

I just couldn't resist the temptation to again break my commitment to a season of "study only" and write a brief post to celebrate this amazing discovery with you.

So ... there is a chance that no matter which English version is used, whether translation or paraphrase, when Hebrews is read thoughtfully God's fantastic plan for His creation might actually be discovered.

Blessings, Barry

* infernalist is a word used by David Bentley Hart (a literal New Testament translator) to describe defenders of the idea of a real hell of eternal torment.

Reconciliation of All

I am sometimes asked if I am a universalist. I don't like this word because it has so many different meanings.
Saying "yes" might mean I am agreeing to a meaning that is in the mind of the questioner, with which I might not agree.
So I try not to give a straight "yes" or "no" answer without sounding evasive.
Instead I say something like:

I believe God is the Saviour of the world (1 Timothy 4 : 10)
    through Jesus,
who died for the sins of the world (1 John 2 : 2)
    meaning that
God is no longer holding our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5 : 19)

Jesus will return when it is time to restore everything (Acts 3 : 21)
    by
drawing everyone to himself (John 12 : 32),
destroying his enemies (1 Corinthians 15 : 25),
including death (1 Corinthians 15 : 26),
so that only life will remain (1 Corinthians 15 : 22).

Everyone will eventually honour King Jesus (Philippians 2 : 9 - 11)
who will then hand his kingdom over to God (1 Corinthians 15 :  24).

God having brought unity to everything in heaven and earth (Ephesians 1 : 9 - 10),
thus having established a new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3 : 13),
becomes everything to everyone (1 Corinthians 15 : 28).

So, am I a universalist?
Only if being a universalist means I believe the Bible teaches the universal reconciliation of all through Jesus. (Colossians 1 : 19 - 20)
And in our current coronavirus-induced climate of uncertainty and fear, that's a comforting position to hold.

Blessings, Barry

Spreading the Gospel

One of the responsibilities we have as members of the Body of Christ is to tell others about God's good news (which we discussed in the previous post).
"Why?" you may be thinking, "I've been doing that for years with so little success."

We should not be disappointed about that slender success rate as God's purpose during this age is solely to build the Body of Christ.

(A previous post "God Is NOT Trying to Save the World Right Now" discusses this and compares members of the Body of Christ to classroom milk monitors.
You can refresh your memory here.)

God has chosen to use our spreading of the gospel in this age to complete the membership of that Body.
As we share the good news, those whom God has chosen to join us are given the faith to believe that good news and commit their lives to Jesus and to his purpose in calling them, as we were.

So faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
[Romans 10 : 17  NCV]
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
[Ephesians 2 : 8  ESV]

This number of people will always be relatively small. So let's not be discouraged - we are God's means of achieving his purpose in this age.
Our view of the "success rate" totally ignores what God is doing at this time. God has pre-determined how many will be in this Advance Party and he'll have 100% success in achieving his purpose.

Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him.
Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose.
[Ephesians 1 : 4 - 5  GNB]

And when the Body is complete. God will turn his attention back to Israel.

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
“and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
[Romans 11 : 25 - 27  ESV]

(A previous post talks about this here.)

So let's be totally focused on God's plan for this time and become enthusiastic about the part he has chosen us to play in it.
Because ... when the Body is complete, and Israel has been saved, and Jesus has ruled in his millennium kingdom, then will come the salvation of the rest of humanity.

As everyone dies because of Adam, so also everyone will be made alive because of Christ.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 22  GW]

Blessings, Barry

The Christian Gospel

The word "gospel" means good news so the Christian gospel is the good news concerning the Christ - the Jewish Messiah, God's Son and the Saviour of the world.

So what is this good news?
A straight quote from Paul's letter to the Corinthians will provide a concise answer to this question.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
He was entombed
He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
[1 Cor 15 : 3 - 5  NIV]

This is really Good News (Gospel) from God to mankind because of its awesome consequences, both personal and corporate.

Personally, God no longer holds our sins against us

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

because

(Jesus) 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]

Corporately, God will remove death and sin from his creation and create a new heaven and earth.

The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil had done.
[1 John 3 : 8b  GNB]
Our dreaded enemy, death, which we inherited from Adam is to be removed from creation.
For he (Jesus) must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[1 Cor 15 : 25 - 26  NIV]

God will have supreme control.

But when all things have been placed under Christ's rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.
[1 Cor 15: 28  GNB]

Heaven and Earth will be in complete harmony

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.
[Eph 1: 9 - 10  GNB]

and squeaky-clean

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
[2 Peter 3 : 13  NIV]

It's amazing how many people, even those belonging to the Christian religion, do not believe this awesome outcome, even though they sing songs that proclaim it most Sundays.

For example, at a funeral I attended last week we sang a well-known hymn whose words included the death of death, the destruction of hell and God's "kingdom stands, and grows for ever, till all your creatures own your sway".
Most of the nearly 300 people present heartily proclaimed these words describing God's promised future for his creation.

Let's truly believe and endorse what the Scriptures teach about our God and his exciting plan for all mankind through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Blessings, Barry

What's Christianity All About?

In days gone by, most people living in Australia would have produced a reasonably good off-the-cuff answer to this question.

But in our present, multi-cultural, increasingly atheistic nation, there are many people for whom this question would draw a blank.
Additionally, as a consequence of the behaviour and commentary of some people who identify as Christian, others who might claim to know the answer could be well off the mark.

So how would we answer?
And if the question was raised in casual conversation, how would we answer in less than the 30 seconds we might be expected to give a response?
 
I would like to give all Christians reading this post a challenge.
Firstly, let's be sure we have a Biblically based idea of what Christianity is all about.
Then try to write an answer to this question that could be spoken, at normal casual conversation speed, in less than 5 minutes.
Then review, edit and re-write the answer so that it could be spoken in less than 2 minutes.
Then review it again and re-write it so that it could be said, conversationally, in less than 30 seconds.
Then memorise and practise it and be ready to use it whenever God produces the opportunity.

If the question is raised in casual conversation keep in mind that our answer, as well as being accurate, needs to be interesting enough to prompt our questioner to keep the conversation going in that direction.

I would love to see some 30 second answers posted in the Comments section below (as an anonymous commenter if you would prefer that).

By the way, I have started my 30 second response with ... "It's all about being a follower of God's Son, Jesus Christ ... "

Blessings, Barry

A Christmas Reflection

It is so easy to forget (neglect) the reason we celebrate Christmas when we become over-consumed with parties, shopping for gifts, arranging travel and accommodation, family dinners, etc.

So we, especially those of us who are disciples of Jesus, need to ensure some time is given to focus ourselves and our families on the One whose birthday we acknowledge at this time of the year.

And although it is easy to start with the baby and the manger, let's not stop there. Let's discuss who the baby was and why he came.

Jesus' visit and ministry were planned by God even before the beginning of time.

God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us.
[2 Timothy 1 : 9  CEV]

His arrival was announced by the Old Testament prophets centuries before he appeared.

So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel [God Is With Us].
[Isaiah 7 : 14  GW]
The LORD said, "Sing for joy, people of Jerusalem! I am coming to live among you!"
[Zechariah 2 : 10  GNB]

His divinity was recognised.

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.
[John 1 : 14  GNB]
For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity,
[Colossians 2 : 9  GNB]

Jesus' purpose in coming to earth was acknowledged.

The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
[John 1 : 29  GNB]
This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
[1 Timothy 1 : 15  GNB]

And Jesus himself said:

I came, not to judge the world, but to save it.
[John 12 : 47b  GNB]

Indeed Jesus, God in an earth-suit, is in the only One who can provide the salvation God has chosen to give us.

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us."
[Acts 4 : 12  GNB]

Clearly, if the Creator of the universe would so confine himself to a human body in order to provide for our salvation and ultimately eternal life in his company, the least we can do is make sure he and his salvation work are acknowledged on the day we celebrate his earth birthday.

I wish you and your loved ones a holy and blessed Christmas as you celebrate and give thanks for our wonderful Saviour.
Barry

The Parable of the Generous Donor (GD)

GD, a wealthy businessman in a small country town, arranged for $1million to be deposited into a bank account for each resident.

GD's son found out about what his father had done and began telling his friends about it.
His friends began enjoying a quite different lifestyle due to their newly-discovered wealth, and, out of gratitude to GD, found ways to support and promote the businesses owned by GD.
As well as living a more affluent lifestyle, when the time came, luxurious aged care for people of such wealth was easily arranged.

But not everyone heard the good news that the son and his friends were telling, and some who did hear the news, didn't believe it and therefore continued to live carefully from week to week from their pay packet - they continued living their modest lifestyles, even though technically they were now wealthy.

As each one aged and needed supported aged care, their assets were assessed to determine the level of care that could be afforded for their remaining years.
It was soon discovered that each person was surprisingly wealthy and so very comfortable and well-resourced accommodation and care was easily arranged.

Indeed, the entire population of the town spent their final years in the best of aged accommodation and care, due to the provision and generosity of GD.

This is how GOD has arranged for the final existence of His entire creation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

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 GNB]

Blessings, Barry

Is Faith Needed for Salvation?

Well, it depends on which salvation and whose faith we are referring to?

Let's sort out the salvation question first.
As you know, one of our theme texts is 1 Timothy 4 : 10, which sits under the search box beside every post on this BLOG.

We have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all, and especially of those who believe. {GNB]

So all humanity will be saved eventually, but there is something special in store for believers.

Previous posts have explored the universality of the world's eventual salvation using texts such as ...

God made known to us the secret of his will according to his good pleasure, which he himself had previously decided, to be put into effect when the times reach their completion - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. [Ephesians 1 : 9 - 10 BV]
After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone. [1 Cor 15 : 28 CEV]

However, not everyone will need to wait for the ages to be completed to receive their salvation. The "especiallies" are those who have become believers - have believed that Jesus died for the sins of the world - during their lifetime on earth, and will enjoy their salvation and inclusion in the Body of Christ during the remaining ages, which includes the Millennium and the New Heavens and Earth.

So there are two salvations - one for believers during the ages and continuing  beyond them, and one for the remainder of humanity at the completion of the ages - another illustration of the first fruits and the main harvest in Hebrew agricultural terminology.

What about the faith question?
Long time readers of this BLOG will know that many of our popular English translations of the Bible have translation errors which have been used to mislead people regarding several aspects of God's plan for us.
The ownership of the faith needed for both the salvation of the main harvest and the first fruits is another victim of these errors. 

Because of the age-old tradition in many Church circles that we are saved by making a decision for Christ or by inviting Jesus into our hearts or by some other initiative taken by us, most modern translators have read such a position into the texts.

In those translations, the Greek "faith OF Jesus" is translated as "faith IN Jesus". It was the faith or faithfulness of Jesus, Jesus Christ's faith in his Father's purpose for him, that took him to the cross to secure our salvation.
(I have a fuller discussion of this in the post "The Faithfulness of Jesus" published on May 2nd, 2017 for those interested.)
 
We had (then) and still have (now) absolutely no input into it. Jesus did it all! With no assistance from us everyone will eventually be reconciled to God without lifting a finger. Yes, Jesus was successful in dying on the cross for the sins of the world.

However, to be in the Body of Christ, to be among the first fruits, to have life during the ages, we need to believe in the finished work of Christ for mankind and to be available as a co-worker with Christ in His kingdom work.

We need to have faith in the finished work of Jesus.
And that faith is also a gift from God for those He has selected for that role during the ages.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God [Ephesians 2 : 8 NIV]

Consequently, to be among the first fruits, to be in the Body of Christ, to be saved during the realm of time (the ages), to have age-ian life, we need to have received the faith to believe in the faithfulness of Jesus in dying for our sins.

So, is faith needed for salvation?
For the eventual salvation of the world, the faith of Jesus was needed.
For the prior salvation of those chosen to be in the Body of Christ, the faith to believe in the finished work of Jesus will be given.

(And when the last of these have been been born, and heard the gospel, and been given the faith to believe it, the Body of Christ will be complete and this current age will be completed.)

Blessings, Barry

A Step On The Way

Because this Blog is centred around God's extravagant grace, most of the posts touch on some aspect of the eventual, universal, reconciliation of mankind to God; which fulfills God's role as the Saviour of the world. (1 Tim 4 : 10)
Today's post highlights the salvation of Israel, a step on the way to the salvation of the world.

There are many references to this event in the Old Testament, like Psalm 130 : 8 and Psalm 103 : 2 - 3, together with King David's confidence of his expectation to be "dwelling in the house of the Lord for ever" in Psalm 23.

In the New Testament, the most descriptive mention of this event is in Romans 11, just after Paul illustrates God's faith community using his wonderful Olive Tree allegory.
He tells us that although Israel has stumbled, she will not be rejected, nor has she fallen beyond recovery.
In fact, God has used her stumbling to bring salvation to the Gentile, the non-Jewish, nations in order to make Israel envious or jealous.

Paul then says ...

"Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way, all Israel will be saved."

So Israel will be saved after the full number of Gentiles has come in.

Come in to what?
The context of Romans 11 is the Body of Christ, the disciples or followers of Jesus, part of God's faith community that is illustrated by an olive tree.
So when the Body of Christ is complete, then all Israel will be saved.

(Paul is not talking here about the salvation of the world at the end of time, at the consummation of the ages. 
He is talking about the Body of Christ, the Church, the believers who are chosen as a first group, before the kingdom ages begin, for life and administration responsibilities in those coming ages.)

And we are living in the era or age when the Body of Christ is being filled; so at the end of this age, when this filling is completed, all Israel will be saved.
Looking at the world situation, and the Middle East in particular, it is difficult to imagine how this event might happen.
I certainly don't know *how* it will happen: all I know is that it will - because God's Word has declared it. And even that is a strain for many people.

Let me illustrate.
Suppose a mother says to her child, "You will be in bed by 7.30 pm.".
The child starts thinking, "How does she know that? There's no way that's going to happen. I still haven't finished my homework, I haven't fed the dog yet, or cleaned my teeth."
So how does mother know?
She knows because she has previously made that decision and will make sure that it happens.

So how does God know that all Israel will be saved?
He knows because he has previously made that decision and will make sure that it happens.

We have a role to play in completing the Body of Christ. That's one of the reasons we have been called, chosen early, before the rest of the world who will come to God later.

One aspect of that role is sharing the good news that God loves us and does not count our sins against us - because Jesus has already died for the sins of the world.
When we share God's good news, others who have been chosen to complete the Body of Christ will hear it, be given the faith to believe it, be drawn to Christ and added to his Body - in the same way we were.

Each time that happens the Body of Christ will get that bit nearer to completion and Israel's salvation will be that bit nearer too.

When all Israel are saved, the next part of God's plan for his creation, the kingdom ages, will commence with the Olive Tree having administration responsibilities that we are currently in training for.

Blessings, Barry