Universal Salvation

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by mfblume

That is my point. A UR man I know claims that we must strive to serve God right now, and learn all we can in order to be led of the Spirit, but in an age ahead of our own, God will redeem everything and everyone ever lost, including devils. So we posed to him this note: If this is the case, and we still have to strive to serve God, then all this is useless information. I think it diverts people away from the more important issues. Philosophizing and theorizing and wondering about things that have nothing to do with our duty now is a great tool of the enemy, I think.

Consider that every person MUST go thru the process of purification, and the more sin, dross and chaff that is allow to attach itself to a person the more fire it will take to effect a final purification. So the good news of the gospel is the "ministry of reconciliation", we have been reconciled to God so why persist in sin that will just make the process harder and more unpleasant?

This process is easily observable even in this life, the more junk a person allows in their physical life be it, overeating, unhealthy physical lifestyles, sexual perversion makes it very hard to be restored to a healthy and satisfying life even when the person is born again. So don't be self destructive be reconciliated to God.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Consider that every person MUST go thru the process of purification, and the more sin, dross and chaff that is allow to attach itself to a person the more fire it will take to effect a final purification. So the good news of the gospel is the "ministry of reconciliation", we have been reconciled to God so why persist in sin that will just make the process harder and more unpleasant?

This process is easily observable even in this life, the more junk a person allows in their physical life be it, overeating, unhealthy physical lifestyles, sexual perversion makes it very hard to be restored to a healthy and satisfying life even when the person is born again. So don't be self destructive be reconciliated to God.

What has that got to do with my need to yield to the Spirit right now, in practical living, and my need to walk in the Spirit? I think the entire issue UR's are trying to make is how God is perceived. I think God is more concerned with our need to become more spiritual, and less carnal, since THAT is practical. UR is not practical.

I am currently walking in covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, so... I am universally saved.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by mfblume

What has that got to do with my need to yield to the Spirit right now, in practical living, and my need to walk in the Spirit? I think the entire issue UR's are trying to make is how God is perceived. I think God is more concerned with our need to become more spiritual, and less carnal, since THAT is practical. UR is not practical.

Practical? Is it more practical to embrace and love a god that threatens "endless torment" if you don't obey. Or is it more practical to believe the God is a loving Heavenly Father that has allowed His creation to experience the horrible consequences of sin and evil, so that the creation can be redeemed with understanding from what it has been redeemed. Only then can man truly love and worship his Creator.

Have you seen the videos of those that "obey" Saddam, bowing and kissing his hands and hoping like crazy the he doesn't pull his pistol and shoot them on the spot. Reminds me of how some Christians "worship" God. Those pictures are the saddest examples of humanity I have ever seen, so degraded and disrespected, broken. As soon as they were out of Saddam's sight do you think they really loved or worshiped him? I assure you they have the hottest hatred imaginable for him, as displayed when he was hanged.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Practical? Is it more practical to embrace and love a god that threatens "endless torment" if you don't obey. Or is it more practical to believe the God is a loving Heavenly Father that has allowed His creation to experience the horrible consequences of sin and evil, so that the creation can be redeemed with understanding from what it has been redeemed. Only then can man truly love and worship his Creator.

I disagree. I cannot see how it is more practical to believe in UR when our madate is to reach the lost and dying. UR will lessen our efforts, whether consciously or subconsciously, as does Calvin's predestination and election. They are polar issues, but oddly will lessen one's drive to reach the lost.

I saw how the issue captivated the minds of people and how they should have occupied themselves more with practical needs to learn how to live spirituallky and resist sin and reach the lost.

Have you seen the videos of those that "obey" Saddam, bowing and kissing his hands and hoping like crazy the he doesn't pull his pistol and shoot them on the spot. Reminds me of how some Christians "worship" God. Those pictures are the saddest examples of humanity I have ever seen, so degraded and disrespected, broken. As soon as they were out of Saddam's sight do you think they really loved or worshiped him? I assure you they have the hottest hatred imaginable for him, as displayed when he was hanged.

I think that is moot to the issue. Again, I NEED TO STRIVE IN FAITH TO BECOME MORE GODLY AND SPIRITUAL. There is enough involved in THAT to not allow me to consider whether God wil redeem everything in a future age which the bible does not talk about.

God is practical. He does not say anything in plain language in His Book for us to study along those lines. I think we should match our focus with what the the bible says in plain language.