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

COVID-19 Opportunities

While we are gripped in the drama of this worldwide pandemic and thinking frantically about our survival, let's pause and decide to embrace some positive opportunities.

Firstly, let's pray for our leaders.

Our PM and his national cabinet are under great stress as they grapple with very difficult decisions for the nation.
While there are some of us who will always be looking for a chance to criticise our PM, our Premiers and our First Ministers, most of us would not want to be holding their position at a time like this and would much rather value the support and encouragement of the populous if we did.

So let's appreciate the enormity of their task and support them in it.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;
for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.
[1 Timothy 1 : 1, 2  GNB]

Secondly, let's rebuild our families.

Over recent decades, family life has become so fragmented and in some cases, has completely disappeared.
Many homes have become houses - places of residence at best, or unfortunately, postal addresses for overnight accommodation.

With the prospect of community lock-downs staring us in the face comes the opportunity for families to restore family life again.

Parents and children getting to know each other.
Families doing things together.
Relationships inspired by loving and caring.

Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.
[Romans 12 : 10  GW]

Thirdly, let's show love to each other.

Isabel and I are in the so-called vulnerable age bracket and so have decided to stay at home during this time.
We are blessed to have two sons and their families living close by as well as young neighbours who have offered to shop for us (as well as the offer of a beautiful young refugee lady who lives several suburbs away).

To genuinely love others is to want the best for them and, wherever possible, to do that best.
So, in addition to loving family as previously mentioned, we could be looking for ways to love our neighbours - those known and unknown to us.
How?
To shop thoughtfully leaving sufficient on the shelves for others.
To offer to shop for those in lock down or self-isolation.
To use our phones and the internet to check up on and keep in contact with friends.
To show appreciation and courtesy to those on the "front lines" - medical, education, transport and customer service people.

Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
This is the greatest and the most important commandment.
The second most important commandment is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' "
[Matthew 22 : 37 - 39  GNB]

Fourthly, let's restore our relationship with God.

So many people are being terrorised by the situation we are in.
- the health crisis caused by the importing and sharing of a new rogue virus.
- the economic crisis caused by the virtual total shut-down of business activity and subsequent loss of income.

I think the PM is doing a great job in this unchartered environment although he appears to be following the advice of his medical experts at the expense of his economic ones when a middle course of action might be better for the welfare of the nation in the longer term.
However, I won't get into that here - I am only a physics and mathematics man and these are medical and economic challenges.

For me, both these crises seem to have morphed into one - the crisis of fear.
Decades ago, the majority of Australians had the faith to trust God, no matter what the circumstances.
As a nation, we have lost that.
But God is still God, and is the Master of the universe.
Nothing, not even COVID-19, changes that.

Here is an opportunity to restore that relationship and experience the peace that God can give even in the most trying situation.
And, in any case, even if it is our time to leave this planet, there is much better in store for all of us.
We can trust God for that too.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
[Psalm 23  ESV]

Blessings, Barry

Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 11

This is the eleventh 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, (iii) the John texts and (iv)Two texts from 2 Peter were discussed in previous posts - Parts 7, 8, 9 and 10.

(v) Two texts from Jude describing so-called "eternal" dark outcomes for sinners.

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal (Gk. eonian = age-during) fire. [Jude 7  NIV]
They are like the waves of a wild sea. Their sins are like the dirty water along the shore. They look like stars moving here and there. But the darkest place has been kept for them forever (Gk. for an eon = for an age).
[Jude 13  NIV]

Once again, the correct, literal translation of the Greek destroys the "traditional" doctrinal of eternal punishment and darkness.

I have written about this mischievous translation (eonian=eternal) on several occasions; even so, I am considering writing a series of posts concentrating on these wrongly translated texts exposing how they have been used to induce the fear of eternal torment by a loving God for all those who have not been given the faith to become members of the Body of Christ during their lifetime on this planet.

Clearly the correctly translated punishment and darkness verses do not over-ride God's promise of restoring all things and bringing unity and harmony to the universe as the Bible records and I have quoted so often on this BLOG site, but instead show that any loss or correction will be limited to the ages, to the realm of time.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
[Revelation 21 : 5  NIV]
Heaven must receive him (Messiah) until the time comes for God to restore everything.
[Acts 3 : 21  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]

Correct translations make all God's plans clear and unchallenged.
Those not called into Christian service in the Body of Christ in this age only miss out on the kingdom age.
They cannot miss out on eternity if God holds true to his promises - which he always does.

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]

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

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

Opposition to Universal Reconciliation - Explanation

I'm taking a pause in my responses to Dr Arnold's opposition to God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation to explain my motivation in writing these posts.

As regular readers would know, I frequently write posts explaining and advocating God's plan to eventually save all His people.
And I will continue to do so.

But recently I have been reading books and articles written by pastors and theologians who don't believe God will be that successful, so you will also see some responses to those writings from time to time.
Naturally my responses will attempt to expose the weaknesses in the arguments being offered and may sound quite critical of them.

However, I trust my responses will not convey any criticism of the author whose writings I am critiquing - I definitely have no intention of attacking him or her personally.
Indeed, I hope I never fall for the trap of criticising or belittling a fellow believer just because I hold a different point of view on some subject.

In the current mini-series addressing Dr Arnold's article, let me assure my readers that I am not criticising or attacking Dr Arnold.
As I stated in my opening post in this mini-series, here Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) is a brilliant Messianic Jewish theologian living in USA whom I respect and whose expertise in the Scriptures, particularly regarding Israel's past, present and future, is outstanding, and I am learning so much from his written and video publications.
You can access them directly at www.ariel.org.

However, I do not agree with his opposition to God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation, a position I find promised over and over in a correctly translated Bible and discussed in my book "The Really Good News About God" published in 2015.

Although Dr Arnold's opposition to God's plan of universal reconciliation fills only 2 pages of an 18 page study called "The Intermediate State Between Death and Resurrection", my response has become quite extensive (9 posts to date with probably 5 more to go) because his opposition piece contains a large number of (briefly-stated) opinions.

I felt each of these opinions needed a fairly comprehensive response containing Biblical and/or logical and philosophical arguments to demonstrate why I hold a different view to a theologian of such standing,

In summary, most of my posts will be positive and advocate and show Biblical support for God's plan to reconcile and save the world, but some will be negative and critique the writings of those who believe God will not achieve that outcome.
I trust you can enjoy and appreciate both types of posts.

Blessings, Barry

(Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 10 coming soon)