While god is not partial, and the value of Jesus' blood covers every soul born into sin from the founding of the world, it seems there is a 'showdown' at the end of this system. It seems that those who worship the beast are not covered by Christ's blood.
Are there actually scriptures that say these ones are pitched into gehenna? Is it possible these ones are resurected thru the value of Christ's blood, to be tested at the end of the 1000 years?
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Josh
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Posts: 55
Re:Acquitted? - 2005/03/24 14:43Eden,
This is the wonderful beauty of being a friend of Christ....we can trust he will do all things with love.
I like to remember the Ninevites of Jonah's day. They surprised him, they repented. And his foreboding thought came true, God forgave them. Who is to know how many will in the end of this system turn to God, who is know how many will repent.
This thought lifts the spirit and gives us hope for all our human brothers and sisters.
Peace and love you, Josh
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DxSharpe
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Posts: 33
Re:Acquitted? - 2005/03/24 15:46Hi Phi!
I'm going to suppose what you believe on this scripture Romans 6:7.
Based on the principle "he who has died has been acquitted of his sin", would that mean that the world of mankind that is ignorant of the 'good news' has already been credited with the ransom?
It's been taught by the Society that if you die your death pays for your sin. Wrong! This scripture is speaking of "being baptized into" Christ's death or the "old man being crucified with Him". It's actually dying to sin. Not a literal death.
I have this saved in an email but I can't remember where I got it from. If I ever copy from something I always want to give the credit to the author. But unfortunately I don't have it. I just want to make it clear that this is not what I have written. But it breaks it down.
"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"
God's Gift Of Eternal Life (6:22-23)
INTRODUCTION
1. An familiar verse is that found at the end of Romans six...
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ro 6:23)
2. This passage is often used to suggest that eternal life is... a. A gift given when one becomes a Christian b. A gift requiring no effort on the part of the recipient(s)
3. It is true that elsewhere we learn that.... a. Eternal life is described as a "present possession", enjoyed now by the Christian - 1 Jn 5:13 1) Referring to a relationship made possible by knowing God and Jesus - cf. Jn 17:2-3 2) A feature of that which Jesus describes as the "abundant life" - cf. Jn 10:10 b. Salvation is not merited or earned - cf. Ti 3:4-7 1) Even though it does require obedience - He 5:9 2) The gospel contains that which must be obeyed - cf. 2 Th 1:8; 1 Pe 4:17
4. But in the context of Romans six, the gift of eternal life as described by Paul... a. Is not a present possession, but something received at the end of life! - cf. Ro 6:22 b. Is received not without effort, but as the result of a holy life! - cf. Ro 6:22
[As we carefully consider verse 22 along with the rest of the chapter, note first that eternal life is...]
I. GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN
A. BY DYING TO SIN... -- Paul begins chapter six by revealing: 1. One who dies to sin should no longer live in sin - Ro 6:1-2 2. He who has died has been freed from sin - Ro 6:7
B. IN BAPTISM... -- He then explains how and when one dies to sin: 1. Where we are baptized into His death - Ro 6:3-4 2. Where we are united together in the likeness of His death - Ro 6:5 3. Where our old man was crucified with Him - Ro 6:6 a. That the body of sin might be done away with b. That the we should no longer be slaves of sin
[Those who have died to sin in baptism have been set free from sin. But now note that according to verse 22 eternal life is...]
II. GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME SLAVES OF GOD
A. NO LONGER SLAVES OF SIN... -- Consider what Paul wrote: 1. We have died to sin - Ro 6:1-2 2. We now live with Christ - Ro 6:8-11 3. We are not to let sin reign and have dominion over us - Ro 6: 12,14
B. NOW SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS... -- Consider what is now the duty of Christians: 1. We are to present ourselves to God as alive from the dead - Ro 6:13 2. We are to present our members as instruments of righteousness to God - Ro 6:13 3. We have become slaves of righteousness through obedience - Ro 6:16-18
[As slaves of God, we are now to be obedient slaves of righteousness. From verse 22 we learn that eternal life will therefore be...]
III. GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE FRUIT OF HOLINESS
A. WHO WERE ONCE SLAVES OF SIN... -- They were slaves of sin: 1. When they presented their members as slaves of uncleanness and lawlessness - Ro 6:19 2. When they were free in regard to righteousness - Ro 6:20 3. When they produced shameful fruit leading to death - Ro 6:21
B. WHO ARE NOW SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS... -- They are now slaves of righteousness: 1. For the purpose of holiness - Ro 6:19c 2. For the fruit leading to holiness - Ro 6:22
[Finally, from verse 22 we learn that for those who have the fruit of holiness, eternal life is...]
IV. GIVEN AT THE END OF LIFE
A. AT THE END... -- Eternal life is given to those: 1. Having died to sin - Ro 6:22a,1-11 2. Having become slaves to God - Ro 6:22b,12-18 3. Having had the fruit of holiness - Ro 6:22c,19-21
B. ETERNAL LIFE... -- Some observations concerning that which comes at the end: 1. Some translations say "everlasting life" (KJV, NKJV), but it is the same expression translated "eternal life" in verse 23 2. Here Paul speaks of our "future hope", given at the Judgment: a. Of which Jesus often spoke - Mt 25:46; Mk 10:29-30 b. As Paul did elsewhere - Ro 2:4-7; Ti 1:2; 3:7 c. Pertaining to that life with God we enter into in the age to come - cf. Re 21:3-7
CONCLUSION
1. From our study of the context of Ro 6:22-23, we have seen that eternal life is... a. Given to those who have been set free from sin b. Given to those who have become slaves to God c. Given to those who have the fruit of holiness d. Given at the end of life
2. If so, then how is eternal life called a "gift" (or "free gift")...? a. Because it requires the kindness, love, mercy and grace of God - cf. Ti 3:4-7 b. Despite our obedience, we have not earned or merited this gift of eternal life
3. Do we desire to receive "God's Gift Of Eternal Life"? Then one must ask... a. Have I been set free from sin by dying to sin in baptism? b. Have I become a slave to God, presenting myself as a servant of righteousness? c. Am I bearing the fruit of holiness in my life?
Let Jesus be your author (source) of eternal life as you humbly obey Him... - cf. He 5:9; Mk 16:15-16
Hope this helps.
Christian Love, Dina
Post edited by: dxsharpe, at: 2005/03/24 15:47
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DxSharpe
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Posts: 33
Re:Acquitted? - 2005/03/24 15:59Hi Digging,
I'm glad to see you posting again. Regarding your question the scripture that first comes to mind is the scripture ...
Luke 12:48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
So, in Luke it looks like those who have little to no knowledge are punished less severely.
Also ...
James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.
But, we also have verses that "seem" to state ignorance isn't going to help you in the "end".
Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
We also have ...
2Thes 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
It states God seeks vengeance on those that do not know God. I think though we should be careful with terms like "do not know God" because it could very well be a Jewish idiom.
When I read the gospels I notice that Messiah doesn't really speak of judgment of pagans or people that really truly never heard of YHWH. He's always honing in on people like the Pharisees and Saducees. Leader type people who sat themselves in Moses' seat and burdened God's people or the rich among God's people that never helped the poor or the unmerciful.
I think if we went through every one of Christ's parables regarding future judgment it's always in regards to those who had been given much spiritually, materially or both and chose not to obey the Master (Jesus Christ) and help others with it. In those parables those who are judged adversly have a connection to Jesus or the Father. The characters in the judgment parables certainly aren't strangers to each other.
I think the overall picture is that the judgment from God is based upon what we know and what we have been given.
And I also think that really knowing how God will judge is so beyond our realm of comprehension there is just absolutely no way to know. Which I think is the gist of the wheat and the weeds. Don't try to pluck out the weeds because they could be a wheat and we don't have the divine attributes to be the judges as fallible human beings. We don't have a right to walk on such divine terrority.
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