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In Reply to: and Paul, Peter, James, John... at least when
they happened to be writing eh? posted by #####
: #####:
: But when all is said and done, there remains *no explicit teaching* on universal reconciliation, as much as one would like there to be some. Oh yes, I believe that in Jesus God does demonstrate that He forgives and loves all universally.
But if one doesn't receive the divine forgiveness, that one is still a rebel, he has not reconciled *himself* to God, and remains an enemy toward God in his own mind. And enemies toward God do not inherit the Kingdom.Charlie:
Yes there is explicit teaching in Scripture contained in all of the "all" promises that you're now forced to render as meaning "some." Plus the prophets repeatedly saying the the Lord does not remain angry or cast off forever--the very prophets Christ came to fulfill and not destroy. Moreover, the law and the prophets are to do to others as you would be done by and the Lord makes it clear that He and the Father FULFILL that commandment. Neither the Father nor the Son will ever experience "extinction" therefore none of God's offspring will experience it either.
:#####:
: I have no question of *God's* love, ever. But what I
am responsible for is my response to this love. I do not
have faith in my faith, my faith is in God. Real faith only works like that, it's eyes are on the object of desire, not on self. Yet Charlie you keep on implying that because an arminian sees himself as responsible for having faith, that therefore his faithis in his own faith. It is not like that at all, let that thought perish from your thinking.Charlie:
But #####, if YOU are responsible for your faith,
and YOU must keep your eyes on the Object of your desire
(for it is not God's TANGIBLE acts of love that fosters
your faith)--then you MUST keep relying on yourself to keep exerising that faith. So alas, that thought CANNOT perish.:#####:
: And if anyone becomes concerned that God is not
'committed' to *guarantee* that he will be saved, he
should let go of that illusion, because if the time ever
comes that he doesn't *want* to be saved, he won't *care*
about God's commitment to his salvation anyway.Charlie:
I've reached the place of not caring before God revealed His *comitted* love--many times.
So you're saying that I'm "lucky" that a truck didn't run over me when I wasn't caring? Tell you what bro, if it is an "illusion"' that God is more committed to me and and my (and YOUR) eternal welfare than I could ever be to Him--I dare not--let go of it. For if I do--I'm bailing out NOW. Proto, instantly, post haste. For something old charlie HAS learned is that he CANNOT rely on himself to keep on relying and trying to love "God" more than he (supposedly) loves charlie.
(and I repeat--with *unconditional* commitment while His is
supposedly *conditional*.):#####:
: I am frankly surprised that you underestimate the
reality of the Spirit in the world Charlie! If the world
does not receive Him, does that mean He is not present and
active? If men love darkness rather than light, does that
mean light is not in the world If even the saints can
stumble after *receiving* the Spirit, then the world who
has not received Him can certainly act wickedly, even
despite the convicting presence and work of the Spirit in
the world, no?Charlie:
If the Arminianism you're presently enbracing is true that Unfailing Love has planned to turn most or many people over to the "dark powers"--horrors.... "The spirit world" is an indescribably DANGEROUS realm. The Holy Spirit (holy spirit?) is a very weak
and untrustworthy power indeed. And, if Unfailing love has planned to let billons of His own offspring go down the tubes--then NO. God is NOT "ever present and active" in any meaningful sense. Not for people devoid of all ability to hope in themselves to keep hoping in God--it is not. How MUCH hopng is enough? And "hoping" while writing off your deceased unsaved loved ones while also loving your neighbor as yourself? And "hoping" to be "a kind of ONLYfruits" (Jas.1:18, Rom.11:16) of our "lord's" human harvest of souls? The list goes on...Love minus commitment equals abusive nonsense.
And that's all for now from me 2 bro--
Charlie