What I Really Want to Know...
About two years ago I placed a notice on the Harvest Herald web site indicating that I was then investigating the notion that the Bible may in fact teach the ultimate reconciliation of ALL to God. Even at that time this was not a new concept to me but something I had struggled with for years.
This was not an investigation which was undertaken lightly, carelessly, or quickly. In fact, the ultimate reconciliation of all creation back to the Creator was not a subject I had originally intended to investigate at all, but was in fact what I felt was the inevitable conclusion of my studies concerning the immortality of the soul, the resurrection, and the final judgment and punishment of the wicked.
Finally, last year I updated the notice on the Harvest Herald web site announcing my conclusion that I did in fact believe that the scriptures taught this glorious truth; that all creation will eventually be reconciled back to God.
No single article or opinion expressed on the site has ever generated as much email as this one little paragraph. Most of the email, while not hostile in tone, has pleaded with me to reconsider or to reinvestigate this view. It has been expressed both implicitly and explicitly that I am in danger of spreading heresy.
It was not, and is not, my intention to try to change anyone's mind. But to those who have so much difficulty believing that God will actually save everyone I would ask one simple question - Do you believe that the Bible contradicts itself?
I'm going to assume that every believer who loves God, loves truth, and loves the Bible is going to answer with an emphatic 'NO'. Although the unbelieving world often levels this charge at us, no true Christian actually believes that his Bible contradicts itself.
Holding fast the firm conviction that Bible does NOT contain contradictions, please consider these two groups of scriptures:
Group 1:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(Mat 25:41)
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Rev 20:13-15)
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
(2Th 1:8-9)
Group 2:
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(Col 1:20)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(Rom 5:18)
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(1Ti 2:4-6)
What we have here in these two groups is what appears to be a contradiction.
Now be honest with yourself. Taken at face value, don't the verses listed in Group 2 appear to teach the ultimate reconciliation and salvation of EVERY ONE? I hear this all the time -'Yes, those verses at first may appear to teach that everyone will be saved, BUT...'
On the other hand, those who teach the salvation of all will look at the verses in Group 1 and say, 'Yes, those verses appear to teach the eternal destruction (and/or torment) of the wicked, BUT...'
My point is simply this - That in either case someone is going to have to explain why certain scriptures do not mean what they appear to say. Both assertions cannot be true, and if we hold that the Bible does not contain contradictions then someone is clearly misunderstanding one of these two groups of scripture.
What I really want to know is this:
Why, given two sets of scripture such as these, do the vast majority of Christians seem to assume that a doctrine in favor of eternal destruction or torment is more valid than that which teaches the ultimate salvation and reconciliation of all?
I am often asked - 'Where does the Bible say that ALL will be saved?'
'...even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.'
'But,' you say 'that doesn't really mean ALL MEN, only all SAVED men'
or,
'...by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. '
'But,' you say 'all things doesn't really mean all things...'
But WHY, my friends, do you find this type of reasoning more valid than that which would do the opposite? For example:
Given:
'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...'
one might say:
'Well then obviously 'everlasting' doesn't mean 'for ever'...'
Why to you is one form of reasoning more valid than the other?
I'm not going to attempt to explain one set of scriptures or the other. What I would ask however is that you examine your heart. If you're honest enough to admit that these two groups of scriptures seem to teach contradictory views, then be honest enough to ask yourself why you think one set of reasoning which takes one group at face value at the expense of the other is the more valid of the two.
In an unprejudiced analysis, is your reasoning clearly superior? Is it free from outside influence, personal prejudice and guided solely by a love of God and a desire to know the truth? Is your reasoning so obviously correct, and the other so obviously flawed as to close this case without further investigation?
Examine your own heart...
This was not an investigation which was undertaken lightly, carelessly, or quickly. In fact, the ultimate reconciliation of all creation back to the Creator was not a subject I had originally intended to investigate at all, but was in fact what I felt was the inevitable conclusion of my studies concerning the immortality of the soul, the resurrection, and the final judgment and punishment of the wicked.
Finally, last year I updated the notice on the Harvest Herald web site announcing my conclusion that I did in fact believe that the scriptures taught this glorious truth; that all creation will eventually be reconciled back to God.
No single article or opinion expressed on the site has ever generated as much email as this one little paragraph. Most of the email, while not hostile in tone, has pleaded with me to reconsider or to reinvestigate this view. It has been expressed both implicitly and explicitly that I am in danger of spreading heresy.
It was not, and is not, my intention to try to change anyone's mind. But to those who have so much difficulty believing that God will actually save everyone I would ask one simple question - Do you believe that the Bible contradicts itself?
I'm going to assume that every believer who loves God, loves truth, and loves the Bible is going to answer with an emphatic 'NO'. Although the unbelieving world often levels this charge at us, no true Christian actually believes that his Bible contradicts itself.
Holding fast the firm conviction that Bible does NOT contain contradictions, please consider these two groups of scriptures:
Group 1:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(Mat 25:41)
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Rev 20:13-15)
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
(2Th 1:8-9)
Group 2:
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(Col 1:20)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(Rom 5:18)
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(1Ti 2:4-6)
What we have here in these two groups is what appears to be a contradiction.
Now be honest with yourself. Taken at face value, don't the verses listed in Group 2 appear to teach the ultimate reconciliation and salvation of EVERY ONE? I hear this all the time -'Yes, those verses at first may appear to teach that everyone will be saved, BUT...'
On the other hand, those who teach the salvation of all will look at the verses in Group 1 and say, 'Yes, those verses appear to teach the eternal destruction (and/or torment) of the wicked, BUT...'
My point is simply this - That in either case someone is going to have to explain why certain scriptures do not mean what they appear to say. Both assertions cannot be true, and if we hold that the Bible does not contain contradictions then someone is clearly misunderstanding one of these two groups of scripture.
What I really want to know is this:
Why, given two sets of scripture such as these, do the vast majority of Christians seem to assume that a doctrine in favor of eternal destruction or torment is more valid than that which teaches the ultimate salvation and reconciliation of all?
I am often asked - 'Where does the Bible say that ALL will be saved?'
'...even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.'
'But,' you say 'that doesn't really mean ALL MEN, only all SAVED men'
or,
'...by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. '
'But,' you say 'all things doesn't really mean all things...'
But WHY, my friends, do you find this type of reasoning more valid than that which would do the opposite? For example:
Given:
'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...'
one might say:
'Well then obviously 'everlasting' doesn't mean 'for ever'...'
Why to you is one form of reasoning more valid than the other?
I'm not going to attempt to explain one set of scriptures or the other. What I would ask however is that you examine your heart. If you're honest enough to admit that these two groups of scriptures seem to teach contradictory views, then be honest enough to ask yourself why you think one set of reasoning which takes one group at face value at the expense of the other is the more valid of the two.
In an unprejudiced analysis, is your reasoning clearly superior? Is it free from outside influence, personal prejudice and guided solely by a love of God and a desire to know the truth? Is your reasoning so obviously correct, and the other so obviously flawed as to close this case without further investigation?
Examine your own heart...
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