Paul's gospel must be accepted

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Sorry, but you did not even respond to the scripture I quoted (2 Cor 5:20), yet you say I contradict myself.
To reply you though,

Let's look at it again:

2 Cor 5
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Paul TAUGHT:
1. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (not counting men's sins against them)
2. Be ye reconciled to God

This shows God did something AND we also NEED to do something in response.
Paul DID NOT just stop at "God has reconciled us"


Our maturity?? How can an UNBELIEVER mature in Christ when he has not even be clothed with Christ's righteousness??


Again, 2 Cor 5:20 answers this plainly. It teaches that God reconciled us to himself while we were his enemies (not counting our sins against us), yes.
But then goes further and says "Be ye reconciled to God.
You seem to ignoring the part that says "Be ye reconciled to God"

Don't you see how you contradict yourself?? If someone who has not believed in Christ has the same justification as someone who has believed in Christ, then, why should the unbeliever go through a "fire"??


Whether the fire is symbolic or not, why should an unbeliever go thorugh a "fire" that a believer does NOT have to go through since they have both received justification from God??

"Be ye reconciled to God". What do you think this is??? This is the process of one coming to maturity in Christ, this is the fire. And don't forget, I said all will be "...salted with fire..." Both believer and unbeliever, to complete right relationship to God. A believer starts the process here and now, unbeliever's may in the future hear, or in the age to come. Both will come to maturity thru God's dealing with man thru the ages. So, you can drop the argument that I am saying believers don't go thru the fire. God deals with believers thru the problems and issues of this age. "All will be salted with fire."