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In Reply to: Re: A small question. posted by #####
: #####
: this is the way I look at it. First, I
: don't think Universalism is a biblical slam
: dunk.
: They have as many holes in their position as
: do the hellers and we annihilationists,so I often
: say I'am not really sure. I tell new converts
: that I lean towards the annihilation position
: and believe that the eternal position is a real
: possibility and hold out hope that the Universal
: teaching is right. I mean what if we find
: out on judgement day that Universalism was wrong?
: And find out that there were men that rejected
: Christ because they were told by you that they
: would be saved someday anyway? If the hellers
: are wrong, then what real damage was done - all
: will be saved in the end. To me,for the sake and
: love of our fellow man, we must error on the side
: of caution. So let's lift up Christ and be
: prudent in how we present the final fate of
: men, because we could very well be wrong....-------
Charlie:
But you already know my story, #####. When I believed in the glad (?) tidings of Arminianism I was full of despair, exhaustion, rage, lust and you name it. I could keep up the APPEARANCE of righteousness--for short seasons, yes. But I had no REAL obedience happening, because I couldn't love or trust God from my HEART.And why? All because I believed that God (Unfailing Love?) demanded that I love Him with total commitment (heart, soul, *mind* and strength) while His commitment to me and my eternal well being was CONDTIONAL.
Horrors! I had been trained to believe that God required that we love Him MORE (with greater commitment) than He loves us. Sheeesh! Talk about spiritual abuse...
But now that I understand that He is COMMITTED to reconcile us all? I love him from my heart and my ability to trust and obey Him has increased--to an astonishing degree. My manic depression is gone. I have NO DESIRE for booze. My sexual obsessions and perversions are gone.
Ha! If I were to entertain even the smallest question... if I were to believe that the slightest chance existed that My Good Father would abandon me to hell forever... I would cease to love Him. I would be back in the condition I came out of--full of fear, despair and rage. So then, what would be the point in "serving" Him? Will God accept only the APPEARANCE of righteosness while the heart is far removed from Him? Would it make Him happy if we TOLD Him we loved Him while our hearts harbored rage and resentment against Him? Would He gladly receive the mockery of our groveling and worshipping and praising Him for His merely giving us a "chance" (!) to "make it to heaven?"
That is what the Arminian gospel demands of people--when SERIOUSLY believed. It demands outward conformity to an appearance of virtue--an APPEARANCE of worship--while leaving the heart in a mega mess.
That is, when it is SERIOUSLY believed--and CONSTANTLY born in mind--it does.
#####, many many people have come to Christ under our ministry since we've been preaching this full gospel of universal reconcilation. In fact, we just got back a week ago from ministering in one church where 4 college-age students re-dedicated their lives to the Lord --JOYFULLY!-- *after* hearing of His UN-conditional love to reconcile them NO MATTER WHAT.
Praise the Lord--I just got an email from two of them this week. (Tim and Kyle.) And these guys have fallen "out of love" with booze and are telling all of their old partying buddies about this fantastic love of Jesus Christ. And--tears are coming to the eyes of the ones they are sharing this good news with--and--they are asking to learn MORE.
It is God's KINDNESS that leads to repentance. Not threats of His hopeless abandonment.
EXPERIENCE, TALKING HERE. The fruit that this whole gospel of reconcialiation has born in my life tells the story. And someone once said a true saying that is worthy of all acceptance: A person with an experience is never at the mercy of the person with an argument.
Keep seeking the Lord, bro. God WANTS to show you a height and depth and length and width of His love that will blessedly break your heart and boggle your mind. He loves you--far more--than you think!
Yours with love and prayers,
Charlie