ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED—IF..?
By Charles Slagle
Does the "once saved always saved" doctrine
bring security to struggling Christians? For me, it did. For a few months
after I first embraced it, it seemed to give me a sense of security in God’s
love I had never known before. I first invited Jesus into my heart when I
was six years old. However, I had struggled with debilitating addictions
that caused me to live in chronic despair and paranoia since I was
molested at age twelve. I spent many years of wrestling and searching for
healing and understanding. Then, at age thirty-eight I came to believe in
the doctrine of "Once saved always saved."
Wow..! What a relief, and what a discovery! Or so it
seemed. I felt that God REALLY did love me and was guarding all my
tomorrows. So for awhile I experienced a love for Him I had never known.
Of course I also discovered some measurable degrees of freedom from my
bondages, which I had never experienced. That was because—-for a season—-believing
in "once saved always saved" helped me to cease focusing on MY
performance. For awhile I could focus instead on resting and rejoicing in
God’s grace.
I will admit that to embrace the doctrine of eternal
security I had to blur my eyes a bit when I fell across certain passages
of Scripture and skim quickly over them. (For example, see Col.1:21-22, 2
Pet.2, Rev. 3:5) However, blurring my eyes seemed a worthwhile trade off.
Why? Clinging to "once saved always saved" helped me to feel
that God (Who is called Unfailing Holy Love) was COMMITTED. At least He
was committed to a few people, and it encouraged me to think I was one of
them.
I had been brought up in a tradition of harsh,
legalistic Pentecostalism. In that tradition I had been taught, in so many
words, "once saved hardly saved". In short, I was taught,
"God loves you, but unless you find Christ in this lifetime AND
remain consistently obedient, He will send you to hell--forever!"
That legalistic ideology had become deeply entrenched
in my brain. But would you believe it had had softened to a large degree
over the years? Yep. I had actually reached the place where I knew God's
grace somehow HAD TO BE the governing factor in our relationship with Him.
By the time I had reached my late thirties I was inclined to believe it
was "next to impossible" to be lost forever if one had been born
again.
Problem was, I could find NO BIBLICAL BASIS for my more
mellowed out version of "God loves you, but, bottom line, it's up to
you." I was caught in a quagmire of contradictions.
Have a look--
"He saved us, not by works of righteousness which
we have done, but according to His mercy...that having been justified by
His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal
life." (Titus 3:5-7) And again, "But as many as received Him, to
them He gave the authority to become the children of God…who were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God." (Jn.1:12-13)
And again, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and THAT not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast." (Eph.2:8-9) And again, "So then, it is not of him who
wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. …And if by
grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.
But if it is of works, it is no longer grace…" (Rom.9:16; 11:5-6)
On the other hand, THESE Scriptures would not go away—-
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever
a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of
the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the
Spirit reap everlasting life." (Gal. 6:7-8) And again,
"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have
heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved
steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just
recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation..?" (Heb.2:1-3) And again, "…But do you want to
know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ...You see then,
that a man is justified by works and not by faith only." (Jas.
2:14-26) Then again, hear our Lord’s own words, "If anyone does not
abide in Me, he is CAST OUT as a branch… into the fire… and…
BURNED." (Jn.15:6) Yet again, in a similar fig tree and branches
analogy Paul warns, "…do not be haughty, but fear! For if God did
not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore
consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity;
but toward you, goodness, IF YOU CONTINUE in His goodness. Otherwise YOU
ALSO will be cut off!" (Rom.11:20-22)
Sheeesh!
So at last I made a big leap of "faith"
(actually, desperation) and just CHOSE to believe that once a person has
been born again he or she is secure for ALL ETERNITY--period!
What did I do about all of the Scriptures that seemed
to contradict my position? All I could do was try to lock the
"salvation by works" passages into my mental back-files and try
to keep focusing on the "salvation by grace" ones. I never could
explain that one about the branch being cast out from the Vine and burned.
In fact, I have yet to hear ANY Calvinist offer a plausible explanation of
it. There were many more Scriptures that made my "once saved always
saved" security blanket feel like a moth eaten garment. For a few
examples, check out these passages written to CHRISTIANS: 1 Cor. 6: 9-10,
Rom.2:5-16, Heb.6:4-8, 10:26-29!
However, despite all of these Scriptures that scrambled
my Calvinism, I STILL had no choice but to cling desperately to the
doctrine of "once saved always saved". Why? If I could not trust
God with my tomorrows, I had no way of trusting Him with my todays--or
even with my yesterdays. Yet that comforting doctrine of eternal security
packs one big "IF" in it that was seldom talked about, but which
all of us Calvinists believed. Over the years that big "if" kept
looming larger and larger, and here it is--
Yes, once you are saved, you are always saved--IF--you have been TRULY
saved…
"Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this
seal: ‘The LORD knows those who are His,’ and, "let everyone who
names the name of Christ DEPART from iniquity!" (2 Tim. 2:19)
Not a comforting thought, that one. Not if you have
struggled for decades UNSUCCESSFULLY as I did with mind-binding and highly
stigmatized iniquity patterns!
Then there were two more passages that constantly
tormented me, and they were these: "Many (Jesus warns us) will say to
Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, you who practice
lawlessness!' (Matt. 7:22-23)
Horrors… Apparently there will be not a few, but
many, who will THINK they belong to Christ (perhaps for most of their
years on earth!) only to find out in the end that HE has never thought so.
Also, there was that haunting passage in 2 Peter 1:5-11 that lists many
virtues we must add to our lives. Moreover, it tells us we must abound in
those virtues! Then it concludes by saying, "Therefore, brethren, be
even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do
these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied
to you abundantly into the everlasting (aionian) kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ."
Uh oh…
Here Peter makes it clear that even if we ARE elected
and we ARE (perhaps!) once saved always saved, even so, we must make our
election--sure. But how could a basketcase and miserable failure like
yours truly KNOW if I was doing ENOUGH so as to eventually prove out as
being one who had been truly elected? One who had been truly saved and
born again? How much resting in God’s grace was enough? How much was too
much? How much adding virtue to virtue was enough? How much was too
little? How much obedience to add virtue upon virtue was too much, so that
it became legalism that nullified the work of the cross? Hadn’t Paul
expressed fear that he might have labored FOR NAUGHT among the Galatians
who were nullifying the cross by legalistic self-effort? (Gal.4:11) That
would mean, according to Calvinism, that they might not have ever been
truly saved. Would it not?
(In passing, I now realize that the truth is, apart
from the assurance that Christ eventually will--literally draw--ALL men to
Himself there is NO ADEQUATE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION for any coherent teaching
on resting in God’s grace. Jn. 12:23-32; Rom.11:10-16,25-27, 32-26, 1
Cor.15:20-22, 1 Tim.4:9-11. If there is no solid hope that Christ’s
salvation is literally a free gift that has come to everyone, how can
there be any solid hope for anyone? That is if one takes his or her sinful
condition—-seriously? Rom.3:11-18; 5:17-21)
Tracking with me in all of this you can see how, for
me, Calvinism's eternal security doctrine frayed around the edges more and
more, as time wore on. It just had no practical bearing on MY life. The
time finally came when I wound up in a psychiatric hospital because
(though I believed it had to be true for some people) once saved always
saved had ceased to bring me any comfort whatever.
The often hidden, yet huge "if" proviso had
pulled the plug on my hope. How could I possibly be certain I had truly
been saved? In my earlier days of believing "once saved hardly
saved" I'd had at least 200 born again experiences. Which one was the
authentic one? Given all of the deeply entrenched sin-patterns that
persisted in my life (both internally and externally)--what stupidity,
what ARROGANCE to imagine that my election was valid!
The Lord had never given me a Damascus Road encounter
with Himself as He had done for the apostle Paul. I had never even seen
Him in a vision! Despite all efforts and prayers, I could see NO
indication that I was adding virtue upon virtue so as to make my calling
and election sure. (Calling and election to escape endless hell fire, as I
then supposed.)
Further, bear in mind with me that Calvinism teaches
that our Heavenly Father whose tender mercies are over all (!?) His works
has "foreordained" from eternity past to save only a few people.
Calvinism assures us that most of His beloved (?) offspring whom He
mysteriously "desires" to save, He actually hates! (Ps.145:8-10,
Acts 17:28, 1 Tim.2:4; Rom. 9:13) Therefore He has chosen to consign most
of earth's innumerable human populations to imprisonment in the grip of
demonic forces and fiery agony for all eternity. That is because God is
NOT just "love.’’ He is also HOLY! (To quote many a Calvinistic
preacher.) In other words, God’s holiness requires that He foreordain
that most of His own offspring (Gen.1:26, Mal.2:10, Acts 17:28) shall be
UNHOLY and miserable—-forever.
(What!? See Gen.1:26, Rev. 4:11, 1Tim.2:4, Eph.1:9-11;
3:14, Acts 15:14-18 )
By the way, Calvinism had caused my mind to become
schizophrenic. But can you see why? According to my doctrinal
understanding, GOD was schizoid! His holiness was a quality in His nature
that was entirely different—-and foreign—-to His love. But compare
this warped ideology with what Paul says in Eph. 4:17-32; 5:1 about
putting on the new man created in "true holiness" so that as
dear children we thus can emulate our Holy Father.
Therefore, in light of all of the aforementioned
truths, so-called, how was I to know that my born again experience and all
seeming confirmations thereof were not actually demonic delusions? Again,
let's bear in mind that God has allegedly foreordained that evil will
exercise dominion over most hearts "forever and ever." Don’t
forget that Calvinism interprets our Lord as saying, "Many are
called, but few EVER WILL BE chosen!" Furthermore, John Calvin taught
that (logically, most) infants will burn in hell.
Think about it. If all of this is true, and if you are
a Calvinist, how can you know your experiences of God have not been
satanic deceptions? How can you be certain that there is sufficient fruit
of virtue manifesting in your life to indicate that your own salvation
experience was authentic? I know many good people who say they are not
Christians, but they have overcome many bad habits through various
behavioral modification programs. One certainly can embrace religion—-even
religion that hypes Jesus Christ—-and experience notable lifestyle
improvements and still not be truly born again. Right? So how can one know
with absolute certainty that one is in the elect? Especially, if one takes
his or her own wretched sinfulness seriously? The heart is desperately
wicked, and who (but God) can know it? (Jer.17:9) Furthermore, only a fool
trusts in his own heart. (Pr. 28:26) I know of a famous evangelical
preacher (who was noted for his grace and spiritual sensitivity) who
died--cursing God! This happened only recently.
How can you know you may not die the same way? How can
you be certain that YOU will prove out to be in the elect?
If one is a Calvinist Christian, there are only two
ways he can THINK he knows his election is valid beyond question. Some
people imagine they know because it just has not ever occurred to them to
think the issue through. Others think they know because self-righteousness
has blinded them. I know some wonderful, self-sacrificing and
down-to-earth people who fall under the first category. However, I have
known the other kind too. These folks have no problem with thinking that
God is forgiving and kind toward THEMSELVES. However, they can hotly argue
and furiously justify the idea that He plans to write off most of the
human race--and five minutes later--these same "born again"
Christians can be talking about the new computer they are planning to buy!
Hmmm… These folks don’t indicate having any memory
of the warning: "Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he
fall." (1 Cor.10:12)
Even Paul knew he could be disqualified. (1
Cor.9:26-27) It isn’t everyone who says "Lord, Lord," who will
enter into the kingdom, but those who DO the will of the Father. (Matt.
7:21) (Incidentally, if entering into the kingdom is talking about finally
being saved, or as some put it, "going to heaven"—-then, one
cannot be too careful, can one? Don’t forget! Even those who COVET to
disobey the Lord will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:10)
Then, the self-centered appeal of John Calvin's grim
tidings increasingly revolted me. How was I supposed to look forward to
going to heaven? The doctrine I held to informs us that in heaven the
elect will either no longer know---or worse---they will know, but they
will no longer care about their friends and loved ones who are agonizing
in a raging hell. Many Calvinist theologians tell us that the redeemed
will actually DELIGHT in beholding the agonies of the (so-called)
eternally dammed!
So why should I want to go to heaven? Why be turned
into a heartless religious zombie that worships blissfully on streets of
gold while billions of people suffer never-ending horrors that defy the
power of words to describe?
So a big part of me DID NOT WANT to be saved. That was
simply because I felt no attraction to becoming one of Calvinism's
zombiefied saints who would supposedly inherit "pie in the sky"
while most of earth’s families would eternally fry. (What!? Gen.12:3,
Rom.4:13, Gal.3:8, Eph.3:14; 1:9-11, Ps.22:27-28) I was already corrupt
and selfish enough as it was. It seemed unbearable to imagine myself
becoming THAT hardened and callused. Yet that is exactly the kind of
heartless zombies Jonathan Edwards and others have thundered that the
saints are destined to become, is it not? No matter how foolish or wicked
the (so-called) "non-elect" may have been, I shuddered to
contemplate such a horror as being eternally hardened to the agonies of
other human beings—-some of my own loved ones included.
Something dawns on me, even as I write these words…
Small wonder I had become reduced to a quivering basketcase! Small wonder
my personality had become a hopeless hodgepodge of contradictions! Think
about it… I wanted to be saved, (restored and healed) yet I didn’t. I
wanted to see the fruit of holiness in my life, yet I didn’t. I couldn’t!
Part of me just could not bear the thought of becoming "holy."
Why? My Calvinistic programming. It had rendered the prospect of my being
conformed to Christ’s HOLY likeness--horrifying.
My God-given conscience was caught between the devil
and the deep blue sea. To yield to the flesh was to become a monster. To
pursue holiness was to become worse than a monster. Such is the damage
that Calvinism (when it is seriously believed!) inflicts on Christians who
wrestle with debilitating addictions. They cannot deeply contemplate the
"beauty" of the Lord’s holiness and desire it. (Ps.96:9) That
is what happens when the dark veil of Calvinism covers the eyes of our
heart. That veil renders it impossible to behold God’s true glory! The
result? It becomes impossible for us experience healing and
transformation, for it is in beholding His glory that we are changed. (2
Cor.3:18)
So I eventually found it impossible to love or admire
or worship this "God" of Calvinism—-even a little. The more I
thought about him the more I despised him. Trusting him was out of the
question! How could I trust him? Calvinism’s god-caricature (which I
later discovered this dark phantom deity to be) was NOT trustworthy.
Calvinism’s god was worse—-far worse--than the stereotypical windbag
of a used car salesman we hear about. He talked in grandiose terms of
loving the "world." Worse yet, he even called himself
"love." He called himself "the savior of the world"
out of one side of his mouth. Then, out of the other, he declared he had
never had any intention of saving the world! He promised unconditional
love and security. He assured us that we are kept by HIS power. Then he
listed all the conditions by which we could expect his power to keep
us--FROM AN ENDLESS, BURNING HELL.
So at last--
I simply found myself unable to rely on a so-called
"Heavenly Father" who was a double-talker that hated almost
everyone and loved almost no one. Nor did I desire to relate to a heavenly
father that "loved" me and had chosen to hate most other people—-including
at least some of my (now deceased) family and friends.
Nope. And I still don't. And I don't even have to try
to relate to such a being, for he (it!) does not exist. Praise the Lord!
Overnight on April 30, 1996 the Holy Spirit filled my exhausted and
religion-abused heart with the revelation that God is Holy Love, and Holy
Love means COMMITMENT. I woke up singing the chorus from Rev. 4:11,
"Thou art worthy to receive glory, honor and power, for Thou hast
created ALL things for Thy pleasure…" Immediately, my life turned
around 180 degrees. My heart began exploding with love for my Heavenly
Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Chronic suicidal depression disappeared.
Alcoholism vanished. My marriage was healed.
Desire to follow the Lord in obedience increased one
hundred-fold. How could that be? Here is how: Our Heavenly Father is not
giving up on you or myself or on anyone else. So that REALLY gives me
incentive to hang in there and trust and obey Him. If He is not giving up,
then why should I? He has already hauled me out of the ditch countless
times. Why dive into it again, when I will only have to come out again?
Walking with My Heavenly Father, with all of its challenges, is far better
than being repeatedly hauled out of the ditch, cleaned up, stitched up and
bandaged, and then starting all over again. Whaddayathink? I am by no
means perfected, of course. But I have experienced healing that is beyond
anything I ever imagined would happen in my life.
Healing is still happening, too! It is happening
because I now know My Heavenly Father is a Restorer at heart, and He is
NOT a rubbisher of people. That deep and settled knowledge has freed me to
focus on Him, to focus on learning how to hear His still, small voice and
on learning what pleases Him. My focus is no longer fixed on whether or
not I am "truly" in the elect—-or if my loved ones are truly
in the elect. Like David of old, I now can sing of God’s judgments, and
I can hope in them, too. I KNOW His judgments are rooted in His mercy, and
that His tender mercies are over ALL of His works, and all of His works
shall praise Him. (Ps.119:43; 96; 101:1; 62:12; 145:9-10) Paul is right.
It is in "this" hope of universal salvation that I definitely am
being saved, restored and healed. (Rom.8:19-24)
I realize that some people have experienced powerful
healing in their personalities without having (yet) received the
revelation of the restoration of all things, spoken of by all God’s holy
prophets. (Acts 3:21) But I have yet to meet any Christian who has
experienced such miracles while he or she was living under the constant
fear of God’s hopeless abandonment to hell. I’ve spent over
twenty-five years ministering in "grace-oriented" churches that
supposedly believe that most of humanity is destined for eternal
punishment. But do they ACTUALLY believe it? Nope. Not in real life and
practice, they don’t. In fact, if people come into their midst who
emphasize the subject of hell, these grace-oriented Christians label such
ones as "legalists" or "spiritual flakes." Why is
this? If there IS an eternal hell in which most human beings are destined
to perish, how could these grace-oriented churches be so heartless as to
say ALMOST NOTHING about it? Why do they emphasize anything and everything
except the most important issue that supposedly confronts the human race?
I’m convinced that--
A DEEPLY ENTRENCHED HABIT OF MENTAL
"BACK-FILING" IS THE CULPRIT.
Experience, talking here! Under Calvinism, how can one
maintain any semblance of a grace message—-and at the same time—-retain
a belief in endless hell? The ONLY way to do that is to emphasize the
grace and love passages of Scripture and to de-emphasize the judgment and
"everlasting" fire passages. This is what I mean by mental
back-filing. Many people have somehow learned to give mental assent to the
doctrine of eternal punishment so that they "believe" in it--but
only as a point of "orthodoxy." When I believed in eternal
punishment, the only way I ever found any measure of peace was to mentally
back-file the negatives of my belief system. At least I TRIED to do so, as
much as was possible. Problem is, I don’t have the kind of personality
that easily performs that mental gymnastic. So I was not able to keep the
data in my mental back-files from seeping through into my front-files for
very long.
Are you good at mental back-filing? If you are, and you
are a Calvinist (or even a free-willist) Christian, the following quiz may
deeply disturb you—-or even anger you. If you are NOT a good mental
back-filer, you’ll probably feel greatly relieved that you are not
alone!
Before we start the quiz, first remember that the Bible
commands to "give thanks in ALL things." In fact, this is God’s
will concerning you! (1Thess.5:18) Also bear in mind that the Bible tells
us to MEDITATE on whatever things are noble, true, just, pure, lovely,
good, virtuous, praiseworthy, and of good report. (Phil.4:7-8) That surely
includes all of the foundational truths of the good news of the gospel,
does it not? Remember too that Christ tells us that His words are
"spirit (breath!) and life." (Jn.6:63) Bear in mind also that
"the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart."
(Ps.19:8) Furthermore, the command is that we are not to live by bread
only, but by "every word" that proceeds from God’s mouth.
(Duet.8:3, Matt.4:4)
Now here is the quiz—-
Meditate on and rejoice in the truth that Christ
loves you with all of His heart, and He laid down His life for you. At
the same time, keep
"looking unto Jesus" (Heb. 12:2) and meditate on and give
heartfelt thanks for the truth, so-called, "as it is in Jesus"
(?--Eph.4:21) that eternity MAY prove that you were never truly saved.
Meditate on and rejoice in the truth that you are
saved by grace through faith, and that (faith) is not of yourself. At
the same time meditate on and give sincere thanks for the truth
(so-called) that God plans (in His infinite wisdom and sterling justice)
to consign billions of people to never-ending fiery torture. And why? He
plans to do so BECAUSE they did not exercise the faith, which He Himself
had never chosen to give them. (That is, according to Calvinism’s glad
tidings. Don’t forget to give thanks that this may well include some
of your loved ones.)
Meditate on and offer highest praise for the truth
that the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. At the
same time meditate on and give deepest thanks for the truth (so-called
by PURE Calvinists) that one of His PRIMARY statutes is never-ending
punishment for babies and children. If not for babies, it is certainly
true for children who have reached the (so-called) "age of
accountability." (So our "milder" Calvinist theologians
assure us, despite the fact that the teaching of a so-called "age
of accountability" is found nowhere in Scripture!)
Meditate on the truth that millions of infants are
being aborted and how this tragedy grieves the heart of God, and repent
if you have been too passive as regards taking a stand on this issue.
Give thanks for His forgiveness, and rejoice that He will enable you by
His grace to combat this evil more effectively. At the same time bear in
mind and give sincere thanks for the truth, so-called, that God (Who is
Unfailing Holy Love) wants most babies preserved alive so that as adults
they will burn in agony "forever and ever." (I know it sounds
blasphemous, but don’t forget that Calvinism tells us that God HATES
the non-elect, so THAT is the source of the blasphemy.)
Rejoice in and meditate on the truth that, as one of
the saints, your destiny is to judge the world. (1 Cor.6:2) At the same
time meditate on and rejoice in the truth, so-called, that in some way
you will probably be helping your "Good Shepherd" consign most
of the world’s myriad human populations to hell for all eternity. This
may well include some of your family, neighbors and friends.
Meditate on and rejoice in the truth that Christ came
to fulfill the law and the prophets. (Matt.5:17) The law and the
prophets are summed up in, "Whatever you would have others do to
you, you do also to them." (Matt.7:11-12) At the same time meditate
on and rejoice in the so-called truth that Christ will fail to fulfill
the law and the prophets. Actually, He has never intended to fulfill the
law and the prophets! Nevertheless, He sure expects YOU to fulfill them.
How so? Your Loving Savior has already planned to treat most of His
fellow human beings as He will NOT EVER be treated—-He will consign
them to be burned alive "in hell forever and ever."
Meditate on the beauty of God’s holiness. Rejoice
that you are destined to be conformed to His holy likeness. At the same
time meditate on the (so-called) truth that your Heavenly Father’s
holiness has caused Him to "foreordain" from eternity past
that most of His own offspring will be UNHOLY and miserable
"forever." In other words, He Who is Holiness Personified
WANTS most people to remain helpless and "dead in trespasses and
sins" for all eternity. (Rom.3:10-11, Eph.2:1) So that means the
"holier" YOU become, the more YOU will delight in the
un-holiness and misery of most of your fellow human beings—-and—-the
more just and fair it will seem to you that people should suffer harsh
and prolonged punishment for infirmities they cannot help. (Rom.5:6) Don’t
forget to offer sincere praise to God for this inescapable destiny of
holiness for which He is shaping you, even now! (So PURE Calvinists
teach, even until this very day. But they are logical in this! For how
should God’s "holy" children NOT be less than utterly
delighted with their Good Father’s judgments?)
Meditate on and rejoice in the fact that God is Love,
and Love never fails, and authentic love must reveal itself, not in
words only, but in DEEDS done in truth--reality. (1 Jn.3:18; 4:16, 1
Cor.13:8) At the same time, meditate on and give thanks for the
(so-called) truth that God is NOT just "Love." He is also
HOLY. So that means YOUR love must never fail, and YOU must do to others
as you would be done by, and YOUR love must—-always—-reveal itself
in deeds done in reality. But not so with God! When it comes to the
virtue of "love" He expects you to be more faithful than He
is. (Or so religious tradition would "gently" urge us to
believe.)
Meditate on and give thanks for the fact that our
Lord’s commands are not burdensome. (1 Jn.5:3) Therefore He bids you
not to worry about tomorrow, and He assures you that His yoke is easy
and His burden is light and that He will give you rest for your soul.
(Matt.6:34; 11:28-29) At the same time meditate on the so-called truth
that many of those God has foreordained to be "eternally
damned" will THINK they have come to Christ and have found rest for
their soul. However, time will eventually prove that their turning to
Christ was not authentic, and they had entered into a false
"rest." Therefore He will say to such ones, "Depart from
Me! (‘Forever!’, according to Calvinism.) I never knew you."
While you’re at it, don’t forget to meditate on Judas…
Meditate on and rejoice in the truth that the
greatest command is that you love the Lord with all of your heart, mind,
soul and strength—-in other words, with TOTAL COMMITMENT. (Duet.6:5,
Matt.22:37) At the same time bear in mind and give thanks to God with
deepest gratitude for this so-called truth: His commitment to you is
CONDITIONAL on whether or not you show all diligence to make your
calling and election--sure. Also meditate deeply and give thanks for the
so-called truth that He may have chosen NOT to save some of your dearest
friends and loved ones. Not ever!
If this little quiz has deeply disturbed or angered
you, then it is quite possible you are an expert at mental back-filing. If
that is so, the way you survive spiritually and emotionally is by keeping
all the data you have been taught to believe--compartmentalized. I’m not
at all condemning you for this. That is only the natural response of a
sensitive human conscience that cannot cope on a daily basis with all it
has been programmed to retain as "truth." But the point is that
if you are a good back-filer, you never meditate on or give thanks for the
"austere" aspects of your belief system. Yet the Scriptures DO
command that you do so. Paul did so and we are commanded to follow Paul as
he follows our Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we are to give thanks FOR
"all things." (Rom.11:33-35, Phil.3:17, Eph.5:20)
For example, if you never meditate on and rejoice in
the beauty of the Lord’s holiness, how can you expect to see it
manifested in your own character? If you feel disturbed by this quiz,
could it be because having all of your beliefs suddenly brought forward to
your mental front-files has threatened your emotional survival system?
Perhaps it has threatened a coping device, which has evolved inside you
over many years. If so, that device is what has enabled you to maintain a
fair level of serenity and "balance" in your life.
I promise, it is not my intention to cause you
emotional stress. However, I must also tell you the Lord loves you too
much to leave you in your comfort zone. (Join the club! He is constantly
challenging my comfort zones, too.) What you believe about God—-sooner
or later—-WILL affect your life and all of your relationships. I’m
praying our Heavenly Father will quickly replace that old coping device of
mental back-filing with something far better: a profound revelation of His
UNFAILING AND UNCONDITIONALLY COMMITTED LOVE. It’s time that you savor
REAL serenity. Your mental back-filing mechanism has trained you to focus
away from your own needs and pain--but to an unhealthy extreme. Yet there
is an "upside" to that cruel syndrome in the cases of many
people. Our Heavenly Father shapes all of us in various furnaces of
affliction, doesn’t He? So by now you may well have become and excellent
organizer and nurturer and caregiver. I believe you’ll be amazed by how
much more strength and stamina you’ll have in your ministry in days to
come, the more you open your heart to embrace the fullness of Your
Heavenly Father’s love.
If this quiz has not deeply disturbed or angered you,
that is probably because you are NOT a very good mental back-filer. You
could well be laughing and saying, to yourself, "Wow! I didn’t know
there were others who have struggled as I have." Yep. Join the club!
You have been cursed/blessed (?) with a mind that simply DOES NOT KNOW HOW
to "believe" in something while not actually believing it. Your
personality is such that you cannot help constantly mulling over and
living out ALL that you believe on a fairly regular basis. Or at least,
you try to live it all out. Oops! That means that as a Christian you
probably oscillate back and forth between total paganism and harsh
religious legalism. (At least inside of yourself you do.) I’m praying
that God will reveal His UNFAILING AND UNCONDITIONALLY COMMITTED love to
you, if He has not already. It’s time that you savor serenity without
having to be asleep, drunk, or knocked out cold to do it! Meditate deeply
on Matt.11:27-30 and John 6:37-39; 12:23-32,47, Psalm 22 and Eph.1:9-11
and enter into—-rest! The Father has delivered "all things"
(all creation) into your Good Shepherd’s hands, and YOU have not been
excluded.
My prayer is that God will stir up an even greater
passion and thirst for truth in all who read this message. Our Lord has
promised, "You SHALL know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free." (Jn. 8:32,36) I can’t think of any greater freedom than that
which comes from knowing the heart of our wonderful God, and as a result,
loving Him with all of our MIND—-as well as with all of our
heart, soul and strength.
Now for some thoughts about election…
I do believe God calls out an elect people. However, He
doesn’t elect them so they can be a silly and exclusive "Us Four
and No More Going to Heaven Club." He does not call them out so they
alone will be eternally blessed and all others will be trashed and burned
forever. No, our Good Father has called out a holy nation, a royal
priesthood people for a far higher purpose than that. He has called them
to help fulfill the role of the firstborn kinsman redeemer son we read
about in Gen. 27:28-29;38, Duet. 21:17; 19:4-12; 25:5-10, Numbers 3, and
all that is taught in the book of Ruth.
Heb. 12:23 tells us of "the general assembly of
the firstborn whose names are written in Heaven." And we read in Col.
1:15-18 that Christ is not only called "the Firstborn from among the
dead." He is called the "Firstborn of every creature." What
does all of this mean? In Old Testament times the firstborn son of a
Hebrew family was to--
receive his father’s blessing and be given
supremacy (authority) over his other brothers and sisters.
receive a double portion of his father’s
inheritance.
serve the rest of the family as their
"domestic priest."
These are the wonderful privileges of the firstborn
son. But what are his responsibilities, which sadly, much of today’s
church of the firstborn has forgotten?
Here they are—
The firstborn son was to redeem a lost inheritance
within the family. (Meditate on all this involves!)
The firstborn son was to redeem a poor brother who
would otherwise be sold into slavery—-asking NO questions! (That
means that no judgment or even any implied criticisms are allowed!)
The firstborn son was to raise up seed to a brother
who had died without a male child. (Today that would mean providing
healing care to those in the world who are widowed and
orphaned--nurturing them--so, in turn, they will bear spiritual
children.)
The firstborn son was to avenge the blood of a
brother who had been murdered. (That is what Christ did when He
destroyed satan’s death trap and raised us all back to life through
His death and resurrection. He facilitates the actualization of this
by the intercessions of the "church of the firstborn"-—the
body of Christ. (1 Tim.2:1-6, 2 Tim.1:10, Rev.1:18)
So again, let’s remember that Christ, God’s Eternal
Son, is called the Firstborn of "every creature." It is with
that premise in mind that Paul outlines the good news in Col.1:15 that God
is reconciling ALL to Himself through our Lord’s cross. Then Paul warns
us in verses twenty-two and three not to be removed from the HOPE of that
good news. Is it possible to be removed from the hope of the good news
that God is reconciling ALL CREATION to Himself? Absolutely! If we listen
to those who say God only plans to help those who help themselves—-or
only an elect few—-paranoia and despair will dog our tracks. That will
cause us to revert to hoping in OURSELVES to fulfill "touch not,
taste not, handle not" to accomplish our own salvation.
We dare not get on that religious treadmill. If we do,
it will kill us! That is because when we’re huffing and puffing on that
treadmill our hope is no longer rooted in what God has accomplished
through His Firstborn Kinsman Redeemer Son. Our hope is in OUR will power,
which is bound to fail us. As long as we seek to appear holy and blameless
in our own sight (or that of brownie-point religion promoters) we deny our
Good Father the joy of presenting us as pure and blameless before HIMSELF.
(Col.2:18-23)
Now think about it… Christ is the Kinsman Redeemer
Elder Brother Whom our Father has sent to redeem us all from satan’s
captivity. That captivity is the result of his illusions and deceptions.
However, our Elder Brother has come to destroy the devil’s lying works
that have alienated us from God. (Col.1:21, 1 Jn.3:8) So what does our
Lord tell us when He arrives on earth? He tells us He has come to seek and
to save "that" (not merely some of that) which was lost. He
assures us that His Father has given Him "all things" and that
He will lose nothing of all His Father has given Him. (Matt.11:27,
Jn.3:35; 6:37,39; 17:2)
Therefore He tells us His purpose in coming is to save
the WORLD. (Jn. 12:47)
Furthermore He declares that He will take away the
strong man’s (satan’s) armor and will CONFISCATE his booty.
(Lk.11:21-22) That is because our Elder Brother Kinsman Redeemer has come
to set the captives free in fulfillment of Isa. 61. He is a "Covenant
to THE Gentiles" (all of the spiritually unenlightened) according to
Isa. 42. See also Lk. 1:78-79; 2:10-11,32; 3:5-6.
Hmmm… Is Christ a Covenant to only the elect? Have
only the elect AMONG the Gentiles been held captive by satan? If so, that
would lead to the absurd conclusion that the rest of the human race is
already righteous, would it not? What total nonsense! All have sinned!
Christ is God’s covenant with ALL of earth’s families. Wow—-that is
indeed a sure anchor for our soul, isn’t it? (Rom.3:23; 4:13; 11:32;
15:4-13, Gal.3:8, Heb.6:13-20)
However, God does have a good purpose for choosing an
elect people.
Bear in mind that the nation of Israel was originally
elected and called out to be the Lord’s firstborn son company of
co-laborers. (Ex. 4:22) Although as a whole, they have rejected Jesus
Christ, they WILL eventually fulfill their call according to Romans,
chapter eleven.
Our Lord came 2,000 years ago to "His own",
the "lost sheep of the house of Israel". (Matt.15:24) He came to
call them to repentance. Israel had grown corrupt, worldlier than the
world. God’s holy nation had become salt that had lost its savor, to say
nothing of its preserving power. They were not shining as Heaven’s
"light set on a hill" to guide a lost world home to the Father
of us all. As a nation (not necessarily as individuals) they were anything
BUT the "joy of the whole earth," (Ps.48) Even when Israel’s
promised Messiah came among them, working mind-boggling signs and
miracles, they (most of them) did not receive Him. However, to as many as
did receive Him, He gave them the authority to become the sons of God.
(Jn.1:11-12)
But what kind of sons is being talked about? The word
"authority" is a key to understanding here. The Bible
demonstrates that God is now electing FIRST-born sons. These will co-labor
with THE Firstborn Son, Christ, as His "body" through which He
eventually will fill all in all. Everything in everyone in all creation.
Listen to what the Lord says to His earliest firstborn co-heirs: "…You
shall receive AUTHORITY when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
shall be My witnesses…unto the ENDS OF THE EARTH." (Acts 1:8)
Do you remember God’s call, "Look to Me all you
ends of the earth and be saved!"? (Isa. 45:22) THAT is why God calls
out an elect people. They are called out as Christ’s co-laborers in His
world harvest field. (Matt.13:38) Through their labors of love and
intercessions, eventually they are to FACILITATE the desired worldwide
response to God’s call, "Look to Me all you ends of the earth and
be saved!" (I Tim.2:1-6) God’s gifts and "calls" are
without repentance. Therefore, "all Israel" shall be saved.
Moreover, "to the Lord who hears prayer all flesh shall come."
(Rom.11:26-36, Ps.65:2) So Christ teaches us to pray to our Father, "…Thy
will be done in earth, just as it is in Heaven." (Matt.6:10) His will
is universally done among heaven’s inhabitants. Shall His will be done
by only a small portion of earth’s inhabitants?
Now hear God speaking again to His elect in Isa. 49: 6…
"I will give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be My
SALVATION to the ENDS OF THE EARTH." There is that "ends of the
earth" phrase yet again!
Once more, that is because God has issued the call,
"Look to Me all you ends of the earth and be saved!" Again, that
call cannot be revoked. (Rom.11:29, 32) Therefore, He has promised that
every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear to Him an oath of
allegiance. All shall say, "Surely in the Lord, I have righteousness
and strength!" (Isa.45:23-24) How can people be in ALLEGIANCE with
God and be "eternally lost"? We see again in the New Testament
that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess (The Greek says,
"give joyful thanks"!) that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father. (Phil 2:5-11)
Do you remember Paul tells us that no one can confess
Jesus as Lord apart from the Holy Spirit? (1 Cor.12:3) So this will NOT be
a forced bowing and giving thanks as many theologians would have us to
believe. God forbid! Our Heavenly Father is seeking TRUE worshippers! The
Lord lets us know in no uncertain terms that our Father of all compassion
is NOT glorified with mere lip service that is rendered while hearts are
far removed from Him. (Jn.4:23, Matt.15:8 See also Ps.66, 67)
So God has called out His firstborn sons and daughters
to continue Christ’s work in the world. The Lord told His first called
out co-heirs, "As My Father has sent Me, so I also send you."
Further, He told them to teach others all the things He had taught them. (Jn.
20:21, Matt.28:20) Then we read in 1 Jn.4:17 of Christ and our calling to
co-labor with Him, "…as He is, so are we in this world." God
has called out a body of co-world-liberators, and these elected co-heirs
have been called "according to His purpose". (Jn.14:12,
Rom.8:28)
Let’s look a bit further into the purpose for which
we have been called out.
Paul tells us God has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing and has set us in heavenly places with Christ. He has granted us
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, and by His grace,
He has lavished us (the church of the firstborn) with all wisdom and
prudence. (1 Cor.2:16, Col.2:2-3) Furthermore, God has made known to us
the mystery of His will. This is in accordance with his good pleasure,
which He PURPOSED in Himself.
What is God’s good pleasure, which He has purposed?
He has purposed that in the dispensation of the
fullness of the times He will gather into unity ALL THINGS (All creation-—Rev.4:11)
in Christ. Will God perform all of His purpose and accomplish all of His
good pleasure and desire?
(See Dan.4:34-35, Isa.14:24; 46:10-11; 55:11 for
starters. Don’t forget Eph. 1:11.)
Read all of Eph.1 and you will see clearly that the
elect have been called out as Christ’s (extended) body so that He may
FILL "all things." He lived, died and rose again to fill all
creation--to become Lord of both the dead and the living! (Eph.4:10;
Rom.14:9; Jn.12:23-32) In fact, Paul tells us that the called out body of
Christ is the fullness of him that fills all in ALL. (Eph.1:22-23)
So we are not the only born of God’s people. Christ,
Who is the Firstborn of EVERY creature is the Lamb of God Who takes away
the sin of the WORLD. He will save HIS people from their sins by putting
away sin! In fact, He has already done that by the sacrifice of Himself.
(Matt.1:21, Lk.2:11, 2Cor.5:14-21, Heb.9:26, Isa.25:8; 52:10, Rev.5:13,
Ps.24:1) "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord ALL THE EARTH…for we
are His people, the sheep of His pasture…" (Ps.100)
So I repeat--we are not the only born of Our Lord’s
reborn and new creation. We are the FIRST-born. We are also a "kind
of firstfruits" of His creation, according to James 1:18. Moreover,
in accordance with all the teaching of the Old Testament on the subject,
Paul assures us that "if the firstfruit is holy, so is the
lump." (Rom.11:16) That is because we have been given AUTHORITY to
become God’s firstborn sons to co-labor with Christ to bring about the
restoration of ALL THINGS. Our Heavenly Father has promised that all of
earth’s families will be blessed—-IN Christ. Verse twenty-six of Acts,
chapter three says that God has "raised up His Servant Jesus Christ
to BLESS you, in turning EVERY ONE OF YOU AWAY FROM YOUR SINS."
(Gen.12:3, Acts 3:21-26, Gal.3:8)
The nature of the blessing? It is EVERY ONE OF US being
turned from our sins. Hence all of earth’s families will remember and
turn to the Lord and worship Him. (Ps.22:27) Don’t forget that the Greek
language says "every family" in heaven and earth--and thus, the
entire pagan world—-is named after our Heavenly Father. (Eph.3:14)
Again, that is because We are ALL His offspring. (Acts 17:28, Gen. 1:26)
Furthermore, Christ has tasted death for EVERYONE and will inherit us all,
for all was made by our Firstborn Kinsman Redeemer, and ALL was made FOR
Him. So His name will be great among the heathen and in "every
place" incense shall be offered in His Name. His kingdom shall be
great (here comes that phrase again) "to the ends of the earth."
(Heb.2:8-10; 1:2, Col.1:15-20, Mal.1:11, Zech.9:10)
Therefore, God is now electing and "calling out a
people for His name" from both Jews and Gentiles—-so that-—they
will become His healing agents to the rest of the world. "At
present" (NOT for "eternity") there is an election
according to grace. (Rom.11:5)
Listen to James talking at the first general church
council in Jerusalem: "Simon (Peter) has declared how God at the
first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his Name. And
with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
"After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up so
that THE REST OF MANKIND may seek (inquire of) the Lord, even ALL THE
GENTILES who are called by My Name, says the Lord who does all these
things.’" (Rom.11:5; Acts 15:14-17; Amos 9:11-12)
Again, bear in mind that "every family" in
heaven and earth is named after our Heavenly Father. (Eph.3:14)
So Paul tells us in Col.1:15 that the church is
"the beginning"--so that--in ALL THINGS (all creation) Christ
may have the supremacy! The church is a "royal priesthood" and a
"holy nation", called out for His Name. That is, this holy
priesthood is called out to reveal the excellencies of God’s NATURE to a
world, filled with His lost children who grope in spiritual darkness. (I
Pet.2:9) The Firstborns’ names are now WRITTEN in Heaven, yes. But that
does NOT mean God’s elect priesthood people have been called to "go
to heaven" to the everlasting exclusion of billions of their latter
born brothers and sisters.
Christ’s co-restores have NOT been called out to
enjoy non-stop celestial worship services while watching their Father of
tender mercies torch and trash all of His latter born children whom satan
has taken captive to do his will. Isn’t that wonderful to know? Christ
is a COVENANT—-He is Unfailing Holy Love’s Solemn Promise—-to
confiscate the evil one’s booty and set the prisoners free. Praise the
Lord! (2 Tim.2:26, Isa.42, Lk.4:16-19; 11:21-22)
Are you aware that there are only two reasons why
Christ would come and die on the cross, and yet most people would perish
forever? Here they are—
God loves only an exclusive few of His offspring and
hates all the rest. Therefore He WILL NOT save the world. (The good news
of Calvinism)
God loves all of His offspring and has sent His Son
to die on the cross to save them. Yet He has known all along that He
CANNOT save the world. He can only save those who are lucky enough to
hear of Christ in this lifetime. Even among those He can save only a
few: those who are sufficiently clever and diligent to make timely and
wise choices before they die. In other words—-those who are lucky and
astute enough to perform correctly, for "God helps only those who
help themselves." (The glad tidings of Free-willism)
The only thing that could make any of us imagine God
loves us more than He loves most other people is—-pride. Pride is the
only thing that could cause us to imagine we can (and will!) perform
better than most of the human race. Don’t you agree? However, if we don’t
understand that Christ will literally draw all mankind to Himself, here
are the options—-
We can embrace Calvinism’s glad tidings: You can
count on God, IF you can be certain you are part of an elect few.
We can embrace the glad tidings of free-willism: You
can count on God, IF He can count on you.
THESE ARE THE ONLY OPTIONS.
Can you see how pride lurks at the root of both belief
systems? One system demands certainty that God loves us more than He loves
most people. So it appeals to our fleshly tendency toward pride of
exclusivity. The other system demands certainty (or at least a strong
hope) in ourselves. So it appeals to our fleshly tendency toward pride of
performance.
There just is no getting around it. To adopt either
paradigm is to elevate one’s self over the majority of the human race.
(Don’t forget that traditional theology teaches that only a few EVER
WILL find the narrow way. Thus, Calvinism and free-willism confuse Christ’s
call to self-denying discipleship in this church era with His ultimate
plan of salvation in the ages to come.)
Wonder what spirit fostered these dark ideologies in
the name of "Jesus"? Antichrist is his name. The only way that
Christians who embrace these ideologies can survive morally, emotionally,
and spiritually is to mentally back-file the horrors of their belief
system and try to focus on grace and love.
God so loved the world… Beautiful words, aren’t they? We Christians
are no better, and we are no wiser than all our latterborn brothers and
sisters. We just happened to be born—-first. Before God Himself
"brought us forth by His Word of Truth" we also were by nature,
"children of wrath", just as the others. It was God who is rich
in mercy Who made us alive in Christ. It is His unrelenting kindness and
enabling grace that has fostered and nurtured our faith, not we ourselves.
(Jas.1:17-18, Eph.2:1-9) If He had not made Himself believable to us, we
would still be living in unbelief and darkness. Love Himself CAUSED us to
trust Him. Our faith now FUNCTIONS by Love. Any parent knows that trust
must be EARNED. The only reason any of us have faith in our Heavenly
Father today is because--
HE HAS NURTURED AND EARNED OUR TRUST.
That is the ONLY reason. (Gal.5:6)
The gospel is not about the Lord calling out a few
people for His name so they alone will "go to heaven’ while
everyone else suffers fiery agony forever. Nor is the gospel about people
being given "a chance" to "make it to heaven" and
avoid endless hell-fire, (or annihilation, as some assert) if they are
diligent to make sufficiently wise and timely choices.
THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT EXCLUSIVISM OR EARNING BROWNIE
POINTS OR THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. IT IS ABOUT THE TOTAL AND UNIVERSAL
TRIUMPH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
I will leave you with something wonderful to think
about. What I’m about to share about the term, "forever" is
born out in the Hebrew and Greek languages. I don’t intend to elaborate
on this, as there are scholars far more qualified than I who have already
done so. Besides, even without reference to the original languages the
truth comes through, as you will soon see.
But for a moment I’ll use this little paragraph to
put a (blessed!) "bug in your ear." In those languages the
adjective and adverb forms of the Hebrew, Olam and the Greek word, Aion
are often translated as "forever" and "eternal." Often
it is MIStranslated, I should add. For example, compare Rev.11:15 and 1
Cor. 15:25 and note the resulting contradiction. For another example, what
is the "eternal" purpose spoken of in our English translations
in Eph.3:11? If you had an eternal purpose to drive to Los Angeles instead
of an "age/time-pertaining" purpose, wouldn’t that mean you
were planning to never arrive? However, in their original and pure usage
neither of those ancient words translated as "forever" and
"eternal" in our Bibles strictly mean "endless." They
simply mean age, and that applies also to their adverb and adjective
forms. However, at the close of this article I’ll leave you with some
references for further study in that regard.
Now for some things to ponder prayerfully… I’ve
already shown that Israel and the church are the "firstborn" and
the "firstfruit." They are—-the prototype—-by which God
shows us His dealings with the rest of the world. Remember also that Paul
tells us all Israel will be saved. Even so, he reminds us of how God
judged Israel for its grumbling spirit in 1 Cor.10. In verse eleven Paul
tells us these things were written as examples for us, upon whom the ends
of the "ages" have come. (In reading 1 Cor.10 about Israel’s
judgment don’t forget this passage that goes with it: Neh.9:19-21)
Sadly, much of todays’ church doesn’t know God has
a GOOD purpose for earth’s ages—-and for His age-lasting judgments.
Many good and sincere people have yet to understand that He doesn’t send
His "fiery" judgments to burn people with literal flames and to
vent endless, vindictive rage. Jeremiah the prophet quotes our Good Father
as saying, "Such a thing has never come to My mind!" The reason
God sends His Divine Fire is to cleanse and purify. He Himself is a
"Consuming Fire." He is also a "Refiner’s Fire."
(For starters have a look at Jer.19:5, Lk.9:54-56,
Ps.62:12; 67:4; 96:11-13; 119:75; 116:17, Mal.3:2-3, Isa.4:4)
In fact, the prophets (whom Christ came to fulfill)
tell us that God DOES NOT cast off or remain angry (punish) forever.
(Ps.103:8-9, Lam.3:31-33, Mic.7:18-20) God Himself says in Isa. 57:16 that
the souls He has made would fail before Him, if He did so! Yet more than
once we find that He did pronounce "forever" judgments on Israel—-and
then--He also promised to restore them.
Would you like to see some examples of that? Remember
these ARE given as examples for us Christians "upon whom the ends
(goals and purposes—-see Strong's Concordance) of the ages have
come." Now here goes--
In Isa.32:15 the Lord pronounced that Israel would
become a wasteland "forever—-UNTIL—-the Spirit is poured out on
us from on high and the desert becomes a fertile field…". Yep. That’s
what He says. God’s judgment on prototype Israel is "forever
until." Look it up and read it for yourself! And note how the same
policy goes for the judgments He brings on the pagan world! Thus, an
Ammonite or a Moabite is forbidden to enter the Lord’s house
"forever." That is—-"UNTIL the tenth generation."
(Duet.23:3) Furthermore, the prophets even declare that Israel and Ammon
and Egypt and Elam will "rise no more"! Now you can’t get any
clearer language than that, can you? Yet God promises to restore them.
Israel’s wound is "incurable", yet… Well, have a look for
yourself--
(Amos 2:6; 9:11-15, Zeph.2:9, Jer.25:27;30:12,17,
49:6,39, Ezk.29:14)
There are several other examples in the Old Testament
which demonstrate that God’s mercy is "forever" and yet his
judgments are "forever until" He brings restoration. Jonah
suffered judgment and was imprisoned in the stomach of a big fish
"forever." That is, he was there for three days—-UNTIL--the
Lord delivered him. (Jonah 2:6,10; 1:17)
Bear in mind that all of these Scriptures are written
by the prophets whom Christ came to fulfill—-and not—-to contradict or
to destroy. (Matt.5:17) Probably the most astonishing "forever
until" judgment we find in the Bible is that pronounced on SODOM and
her wicked daughter cities. (Jude 7, Ezk.16:53-55)
The apostle Paul also believed in the "forever
until" principle of God’s judgments. In Romans 11 while speaking of
God’s wrath on apostate Israel that had rejected Christ he quotes from
the prophet, David in Psalm sixty-nine: "…let their eyes be
darkened so they cannot see and bow down their backs FOREVER."
(Please note that this particular word, which is
translated as "forever", is NOT a modifier of "aion."
Yet it DOES mean, "continued duration, always and ever"
according to Strong’s concordance.)
And Paul’s response? He contradicts the traditions of
those who teach the doctrine of punishment that lasts LITERALLY ever and
always. What theologian who believes in endless hell-fire would dare do
such a thing? But here is Paul’s response to that "forever"
judgment: "So I ask, have they (Israel) stumbled so as to fall beyond
recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation
has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. For if their
transgression means RICHES for the WORLD, and their loss means riches for
THE Gentiles—-how much greater riches (for the world) will their
fullness bring?" (Rom.11:9-12) If you will read the entire chapter of
Romans 11 you will see that Paul establishes this "forever
until" principle in God’s dealings with both the elect AND the
world. Here he also establishes that God’s gifts and callings are
irrevocable. Therefore… all Israel, and eventually, all the world will
be saved. This chapter utterly destroys the religious tradition of
never-ending punishment!
GOD HAS PROVIDED THESE EXAMPLES FOR US. THESE EXAMPLES—-AND
OTHERS--DEMONSTRATE BEYOND REFUTATION THAT THE DOGMA OF ENDLESS HELL IS
WITHOUT ANY FOUNDATION IN SCRIPTURE. SO THOSE WHO TEACH IT ARE NOT
IMPARTING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD. THEY DO NOT REALIZE THAT OUR LOVING
FATHER HAS GIVEN US THESE AS EXAMPLES BY WHICH WE CAN LEARN OF HIS REDEMPTIVE
PURPOSES IN JUDGMENT. BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW THIS THEY ARE TEACHING
THE HOPE-DESTROYING TRADITIONS OF MEN.
Christ paid the price for our sins. Never-ending hell
is NOT the price for our sins. If that were so, Jesus would be suffering
in hell for all eternity, and there could never be salvation for ANYONE.
Our Lord must fulfill the law and the prophets. These
are summed up in, "Whatever you would have others to to you, you do
also to them." Therefore, to fulfill the law and the prophets He must
treat all His little neighbors as He would and will be treated. (Matt.
7:11-12, Acts 2:27, Ps.16:8-11, 1 Cor.15:20-22) So He tells us that all
judgment has been given to Him that (so that!) "all" may honor
both the Father and the Son. (Jn.5:22-23)
Do you see it? Judgment was not given to Christ so that
only a few people will honor Him and the vast majority of the human race
will hurl blasphemies at Him from hell for all eternity! Nor was all
judgment given to Christ so that most people would dishonor Him by forever
demonstrating that satan’s power to seduce them toward sin is greater
than HIS power to lead them to repentance. (Rev.4:11; 5:13, Isa.25:6-9,
Rev.21:1-5) Christ is a COVENANT to all humanity. So Paul tells us that
any penalties resulting from violated law CANNOT cancel His commitment to
set all of us right with God. It is the law that "works wrath."—-or
judgment. (See Gal.3:8,17; Rom.4:11-13)
Our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. He
changes not. There is no shadow of turning with Him. His judgments are as
"everlasting" as they need to be to accomplish His plan to bring
us into the power of His endless life that is as everlasting as God
Himself.
GOD DOES NOT PLAY FAVORITES. HE DOES NOT JUDGE PEOPLE
‘FOREVER UNTIL’ UNDER THE ERA OF THE LAW—-AND THEN—-SUDDENLY
COMMENCE IN THIS ERA TO CONSIGN PEOPLE TO ‘NEVER-ENDING’, FIERY
TORTURE WHEN HE SENDS HIS SON, ‘FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.’
IF THAT WERE SO, CHRIST WOULD CONTRADICT AND DESTROY
THE PROPHETS. IF HE WERE TO LITERALLY CAST PEOPLE AWAY FOREVER—-WITHOUT
END—-HE WOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT HE CAME TALKING THE PROPHETS’ LANGUAGE
BUT MEANING SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT! FURTHERMORE, HE WOULD FAIL IN
HIS MISSION AS THE KINSMAN REDEEMER FIRSTBORN SON TO RESCUE ALL HIS FATHER’S
CAPTIVE CHILDREN AND LOST INHERITANCE. HE WOULD FAIL TO DESTROY THE DEVIL’S
WORKS AND TO CONFISCATE HIS BOOTY.
MOREOVER, [AND PLEASE PRAYERFULLY MEDITATE ONE THIS] IF
CHRIST DOES NOT PLAN TO RESTORE ALL HUMANITY BACK TO GOD, THEN ALL
THE SCRIPTURES THAT SPEAK OF ‘FIRSTBORN’ AND ‘FIRSTFRUITS’ ARE
MEANINGLESS GOBBLEDYGOOK! HENCE, CHRIST IS NOT THE FIRSTBORN OF ‘EVERY
CREATURE.’ HE IS THE ONLYBORN SON AMONG A FEW OTHER ONLYBORN SONS WHO
ARE ELECTED ONLY TO ENJOY PIE IN THE SKY FOREVERMORE. WHAT
GIBBERING NONSENSE!
The Bible says death will be destroyed. Death and its
"sting" will be "swallowed up" in Christ’s victory.
Don’t forget! The sting of death (or its wrath and judgment) is the LAW,
for it is the (violated) law that works wrath. There shall be NO MORE
death, no more sting, (pain) no more sorrow, no more tears. (1
Cor.15:26,55-56, Rev.21:1-5)
How can the second death (the lake of fire) remain when
the wrath-sting of the law is gone? Nowhere does Scripture say that satan
has come to us in the power of of an "endless death." However it
does tell us that Christ has come to us in the power of an "endless
life", and because He lives we shall live also. Praise the Lord!
(Heb.7:16, Jn.14:9)
Finally—-
I read a book by J.B. Phillips, "Ring of
Truth", and it blessed me—-bigtime. The author said his research
revealed something awe-inspiring about the phrase, "fear and
trembling." He pointed out that the Corinthian believers received,
Titus, Paul’s young apprentice with "fear and trembling." (2
Cor.7:15) Through his research J.B. Phillips discovered that "fear
and trembling" has been much misunderstood.
Are you ready? Brace yourself…
In the first century Greek language that austere
sounding phrase, "fear and trembling" actually meant EXHUBERANT
JOY.
Wow…
With that in mind, lets have a look at Phil.2:5-13-—
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus, Who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God, but made Himself a Servant. And coming in the likeness of
men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. THEREFORE God
has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every name,
that at (the Greek says, ‘in’) the Name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the
earth, and that every tongue should confess (offer joyful thanks!) that
Christ Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my
beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your salvation with EXHUBERANT JOY. (And
why?) BECAUSE if is God Who works in YOU both to will and to do for His
good pleasure." (My emphasis, parenthetical question, etc.,
punctuation.)
Seen with exuberant joy, that passage is awesome, huh?
Our calling as Christians is not to threaten the
world-weary with endless hell-fire because of their unbelief. We are not
called to tell our latterborn brothers and sisters by word or by
IMPLICATION, "I’m elected to be saved, but I’m not so sure about
you!" No, no, a thousand times—-no. That mindset is what provoked
the indignation of our Lord with the "elect" of first century
Israel: "God I thank you that I am not as other men…" Ponder
prayerfully Luke 18:9-14. We have not been elected to abuse or to scorn a
pain wracked world. Our calling is to live so richly in our Heavenly
Father’s nurture and Presence that our lives of self-giving love MAKE
HIM BELIEVABLE.
Our commission is to put on the mind of Christ, the
humility of a guileless, self-emptying, self-giving servant. We are to
love our neighbors, both friends and foes, as we love ourselves. We who
have been privileged (by no merit of our own) to act as firstborn priests
in our Good Father's household must ALSO remember our responsibilities. In
all things we are called to adopt the same mindset as that of our Elder
Brother, Jesus Christ--especially when it comes to loving our lost
brothers and sisters. What is our Lord’s mindset? "He will not fail
or become discouraged until He has established justice (salvation!) in the
EARTH." (Not in bits of the earth! Isa.42) God’s Eternal Son—-God
the Son—-will NEVER give up until He has drawn all mankind to Himself
because--
...’GOD DOES NOT TAKE AWAY LIFE; INSTEAD
HE DEVISES MEANS SO THAT A BANISHED PERSON MAY NOT REMAIN ESTRANGED FROM
HIM.’ FOR ‘HE HAS MADE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL
WHICH HE PURPOSED IN CHRIST, TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT WHEN THE TIMES
WILL HAVE REACHED THEIR FULFILLMENT--TO BRING ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN
AND EARTH UNDER ONE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST.’ (2 Sam.14:14, Eph.1:9-10)
Is it possible to adopt our World Deliverer’s same
mindset of unrelenting commitment to the salvation of all people? It is.
We CAN adopt that mindset when we know--beyond all question--that He is
committed to US. We can do it with exuberant joy! That is because we know
God is working His good pleasure and grand purpose for TOTAL UNIVERSAL
VICTORY in and though us. That is how "all things" are working
together for our good! (Rom.8:28) What could be for our highest good—-and
honor!--other than to be Christ’s healing hands extended until ALL
CREATION adores Him?
Tragedy that it would be, even if we fail to make our
calling and election sure, (to reign with Christ as world-reconcilers) God’s
word gives us assurance that our Good Shepherd and Elder Brother will
restore us again in due season, just as He restored Peter who denied Him.
He is no respecter of persons! So He will restore us just as faithfully as
He will restore Israel, which has VEHEMENTLY denied Him for twenty
centuries. That is because He works ALL THINGS after the counsel of His
will. (Jer.50:5, Rom.11:26-29, Ezk.37, Eph.1:11, Dan.4:34-35 Note what
this amazing promise says of Judas: Matt.19:28)
Heavenly Father, I love You. I am overcome with joy
when I think of your pure and holy heart. I ask that You will cause all
who read this message to know and EXPERIENCE the length, the width, the
height and the depth of Your love as they never have known it before. I
pray You will comfort every sorrowful and discouraged heart. Heal those
who have been wounded by harsh religious traditions that subvert Your
character and erode hope. Strip away the veil of tradition that darkens
the eyes of hearts so they cannot perceive You as as the committed and
loving Father You actually are. Break through to your called out
co-heirs--all around the world--with a life-changing revelation of Your
heart and good purpose. Illuminate our lives with the radiance of Your
Light. Light up our lives, dear Father! Cause us to shine as lights of
Your true glory. Cause us to be the firstborn co-heirs
and--co-world-restorers—-with Christ that You have called us to be. May
Your kingdom come and Your will be done IN EARTH just as it is done in
Heaven. In the Name of our Strong Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
SUGGESTED READING ABOUT OLAM AND AION
"Just What Do You Mean by ‘Eternity’?", J.Preston Eby,
POB 371240, El Paso, TX, 79937-1240
"Eonian: Everlasting or Age-lasting?", Grace H. Todd,
Concordant Publishing Concern, 15570 Knochaven Rd., Canyon Country, CA
91351
"Whence Eternity", Alexander Thomson, Concordant Publishing
Concern