Unexpected Surprises

As you will know from previous posts and articles on the website, there are many direct Biblical references to God's ultimate reconciliation of all mankind to himself.
But there are also hints to be found in some quite surprising places; like in the Beatitudes. 

Although several of the Beatitudes promise rewards to those who seem to deserve them, there are two which give similar rewards to "outsiders".
The first one is

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[Matthew 5 : 3  NIV]

Who are these "poor in spirit"?
Certainly not Christians, as they have the Spirit of God indwelling them that surely disqualifies them from being "poor in spirit".

We might call these "poor in spirit" as the "the lost" or "non-believers" - those who do not yet know and appreciate their salvation has been guaranteed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

And what is to be the eventual outcome for these non-believers?
"Theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
They are promised this great blessing of eventually belonging to the kingdom of heaven.

The second beatitude addresses a similar cohort.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
[Matthew 5 : 4  NIV]

Who are "those who mourn"?
Certainly not Christians, as they experience the joy of salvation and are looking forward to Christ's return.

We might call "those who mourn" as those who do not have this joy, or this hope for the future, or indeed those who see no point at all in their life and its struggles.
Indeed, not only are these mourning in their present condition, but are predicted to mourn when they see Christ at his coming.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
[Revelation 1 : 7  NIV]

And what is the eventual outcome for these non-believers?
"They will be comforted."
They will be comforted or consoled; their anguish and grief will be dispelled by the compassion of God. Sounds a bit like reconciliation to me.

There are no clues in the Beatitudes about how God will handle these groups; only the promise that He will bless current outsiders as well as his followers.
But the how was provided by Jesus a few years later by his death and resurrection.

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]

It's amazing how reading the Bible through the lens of God's master plan helps one to see aspects of this plan in so many unexpected places.

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

Universal Reconciliation is Wrong

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

A Fearful Experience

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
(Hebrews 10 : 31  ESV)

What is the most fearful experience you've had?
Being sent to the Principal's office for the first time, not knowing what you'll face having heard horror stories/fantasies from others?
Being diagnosed with a serious illness, not knowing what can be done about it having heard bad stories from others with a similar diagnosis?

Have you thought about standing at the Great White Throne, not knowing what your fate might be and having heard "destroyer" stories from sermons in churches about eternal torment or annihilation using Hebrews 10:31 (among others)?

Of course it's fearful!
There is no place to hide when you have to honestly face yourself and your life being revealed by the all-knowing God.
And you don't know him ...
So you have no idea that He is loving, forgiving, merciful, and has planned for everyone to be saved.

You don't know Jesus has dealt with your sins, so you don't know God is no longer holding your sins against you.
All the fear you experience is internal because of these unknowns.

But what do you discover at the Great White Throne?
Yes, you deserve punishment as all guilty criminals do before a court judge.
But, you discover that your penalty has already been paid for you.
You are saved !! - saved from punishment and further embarrassment.
    

When you fall into the hands of the living God, you are a sinner who is really falling into the hands of a loving God (who will certainly want to clean you up a bit with a visit to the lake of fire before you move on).

This is the picture that Jesus paints for us about his and our father when he told the parable of the Prodigal Son. The returning son was fearful as he fell into his father's hands, yet there was no better place to be.

He fell fearfully into the hands of the forgiveness, healing and restoration of his loving father, who ordered a radical change in his dress and appearance in preparation for the celebrations about to take place.
   
Rembrandt captured this truth in a beautiful painting called "The Return of the Prodigal Son" - a picture of a sinner in the hands of a loving God.
This painting should be hung prominently in every Christian church in the world.

The anticipated fear of appearing before the living God will be swamped by love and forgiveness - the acceptance and celebration of the God who is love - because of what Jesus has already accomplished on our behalf.

Blessings, Barry

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

 

Not Home: On Assignment

Here's another snippet from my essay research. (see previous post)

Although most of my study time centres on the Bible, I do keep a watch on domestic and international politics.
One of my interests is following how ambassadors represent their country's interests while they are abroad.
I appreciate they have to be careful/diplomatic in the way they speak, but they are never distracted from promoting their home country's policies, programs and interests - they are appointed to be faithful emissaries.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a similar role.
But let's clarify the setting before we discuss that role.

Even though we are currently living here on earth, this earth is not our home - our citizenship is elsewhere.

For our citizenship is in the heavens, from where we also await a Savior—the Lord Jesus Christ—
[Phillipians 3 : 20  LSV]

Those in the Body of Christ are with Christ where He is in heaven.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
[Ephesians 2 : 6  NIV]

Spiritually, our citizenship is with Christ in the heavens.
We are not earthly beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience.

So what are we doing down here? What is our role?
We have been chosen as Christ's ambassadors, representing the kingdom (government) of our home country (the heavens) on the earth.

We are therefore ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 20  TLV]

And what appeal is that?
Now that God has reconciled the world to himself through Christ, and is no longer counting people's sins against them, He is appealing for everyone to be reconciled to Him.

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.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 18 - 20  NIV]

So we are not at home: we're on assignment, making God's appeal for personal reconciliation to God on His behalf.
And when our assignment is completed we will "return" home.

Blessings, Barry