And now… a word from some brothers.

NOTES ON THE ABOLITION OF DEATH, PART 3

Salvation is the work of God.
Salvation, ultimately speaking, is salvation from the clutches of death.
God might save you from falling in a ditch.
God might save you from a terrible car crash.
God might save you from believing the false doctrines of the modern christian church. But ultimately, salvation is from death.
And only God can pull that off.
Salvation is the work of God. It’s not a shared-cooperative work that God does in conjunction with your freewill. No.
The abolition of death… cannot be done by freewill.
We are totally at the mercy of God concerning these things. He saves us, in His own gracious way, in His own gracious time.
The abolition of death began on Calvary’s hill, with the cross of Christ.
Three days later, the stone was rolled away. It has begun.
“Christ is the firstfruit of them that repose.” (I COR 15:20)
The abolition of death — begun at the cross… is God’s greatest achievement.
Death is the opposite of life.
It is not another form of life. It is the opposite of life.
We are dependent on God for life.
We are dependent on God for the abolition of death.
The abolition of death is the greatest of all the prophecies of the Bible.
“For even as in Adam, all die.”
Not to worry…
So, “In Christ shall all be vivified.”
Don’t be fooled by the “freewillers” in the modern day “church”… who take that little word “ALL” and tuck it BEFORE the word “Christ”… so that it reads…
“All in Christ shall be vivified.”
That is not what it says.
It clearly says “In Christ all shall be vivified.”
The death and resurrection of Christ SAVES all.
It was not done as an “offer” to save you… IF you do the right thing.
It was done to eventually abolish death itself.
God does not “offer” to save, He saves.
Nobody can raise himself from the dead. Beyond the reach of death.
This is God’s work. And God will not share the glory of that work with anyone… even if some claim, they got “saved” by their own freewill.
Salvation is God’s work.
We’re going to have to trust Him about this matter.
When death is abolished, everything changes. Every heart. Every mind. Every doubt disappears.
Romans 5:12 hints at the power of death to cause us to sin.
“…and thus death passed through into all mankind, on which all sinned.” (CLNT)
If we were immortal, we would not steal food. We would not get upset of someone pushed us off a cliff. If we can’t die, we can’t FEAR death. We wouldn’t even fear gossip. Or participate in gossip.
When Adam sinned, death passed through into all mankind. And it is this mortal nature that causes all to sin. It’s not that we were born sinners, it’s that we are born dying. The very day you are born, you begin the dying process. Death passed through. Therefore, you’ll sin.
Every attitude changes when God abolished death.
Paul says that one day… “this mortal will put on immortality.” (I COR 15:54)
Paul says that one day… “death, the last enemy, will be abolished.” (I COR 15:26)
Of course death is an enemy.
But it’s part of the package, until God completes His eonian purpose. (Eph. 3:11)
Until then we must…
…rely on the living God, who is the savior of all mankind, especially believers. (I TIM 4:10)
It’s useless to rely on our own strength. And our own freewill.

https://acetheologicalco.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/notes-on-the-abolition-of-death-part-2/

REFERENCE:

NOTES ON THE ABOLITION OF DEATH, PART 2

From I Corinthians 15:26
“The last enemy is being abolished: death”

The Freewill Chick has asked me in the past to name just one scripture verse which proves the salvation of all. If I give her one she is quick to say, “That doesn’t mean what it says.”
Then, she gives me all kinds of Freewill Theology as to why my verse is wrong and her verses are right as rain.

She calls me a “universalist.”
So I call her a “limitarian.”

Lately I’ve been thinking about the POWER OF THE ABOLITION OF DEATH.

I can’t quite use this verse (I COR 15:26) to “prove” the salvation of all, because this verse goes beyond the salvation of all. Way beyond.

But let’s see where these thoughts go…

1. Death is the “wages of sin” (KJV).
2. The Concordant Version says death is the “ration of sin” — which would make more sense… as you “earn” wages, but a “ration” is given out whether or not you’ve earn it. And some folks, (like little babies) get death even though they don’t “earn” death. Thus, it’s a “ration”.
3. And if the “wages of sin” is to be abolished… it’s powerful thought. It more or less proves that something big is going on here. Even if we don’t understand it, it’s something big. That the wages of sin is temporary — to be abolished one day… WHAT COMES NEXT???
4. What comes next, indeed. If death is to be abolished, what about THREATS?
5. I think it can be argued that THE THREAT OF DEATH is the prime motivator for most of our lives. The threat of death equals slavery. The threat of death makes us go to work each day. The threat of death forces us to stick with the clan for fear of rejection and the death that may result from that rejection of the clan.
6. The fear and threat of death makes us cling to mommy. Or daddy.
7. The fear and threat of death is really the motivator behind such sins as GOSSIP… and back-biting.
8. But if God can abolish death, and make all alive, beyond death’s grasp (because death no longer exists)… doesn’t this meet even the minimal definition of “salvation” ??
9. AND GET THIS: If God abolishes death, it has to include all. Why? Because it the nature of language… THE DEAD ARE DEAD…
10. The DEAD are not alive. Christian mythology has some concoction about the dead are still alive and go to either heaven or hell. But NO… THE DEAD ARE DEAD.
11. Christian mythology has some babble about “death will be no more” (from the book of Revelation)— in other words, it will not advance beyond this point, but they don’t dare embrace I CORINTHIANS 15:26. — the total abolition of death.
12. The only way to abolish death is to make the dead alive. All of them.
13. If some are dead, while others are alive, then death has not been abolished.
14. And if death is finally abolished, then threats of death are abolished as well. And our behavior radically changes.
15. No more gossip. No more begging for food or stealing anything. If death is abolished, no one needs to rule over us. Nor can they. Rule and the threat of death go hand in hand.
16. Thus, when death goes, there goes the rule of all, including Christ’s rule and reign. (See I Corinthians 15:20-28)
17. Does the abolition of death prove the “salvation of all”. Yes, and more.
18. The abolition of death takes us into a realm of unexplored thought. What IS life, when only life exists?
19. Right now, our little minds know that life is mostly about the avoidance of death. We’re running from death all the time.
20. But what is life, when death is abolished? Oh my.
21. Could it be that two verses later, when the THREE BIGGEST WORDS in the Bible show up… that, that, IS life?
22. Could it be that life really begins when God is all, in all? (I Corinthians 15:28)

Find part 1, here:
https://acetheologicalco.wordpress.com/2021/01/29/notes-on-the-abolition-of-death/

NOTES ON THE ABOLITION OF DEATH.

1. Everything wants to live. Bumble bees. Dandelions. Baby birds. Young children and old men. Everything wants to live.
2. Prior to the so-called “civil war” a bunch of yankees wanted the abolition of slavery. So… Why hasn’t anyone called for the abolition of death? Now there’s a cause for ya.
3. Didn’t Jesus campaign on that issue? Didn’t He say “I am the resurrection and the life.” ?? As I recall He didn’t get many votes on that. Instead, He got the cross. That’ll teach Him.
4. Of all the crazy prophecies in the scriptures… (mark of the beast, colorful horsemen riding off in 4 directions, etc)… the prophecy about the abolition of death is the craziest. Yet, it’s the one prophecy that makes the most sense.
5. How lovely that the one main passage in the scripture — that promises the abolition of death — is just two or three verses away from the promise that God will be all in all. Almost as if the two ideas a connected in some way.
6. If death is abolished, none can be dead.
7. If death is abolished only life can found everywhere.
8. If death is abolished, so much for the “wages of sin”.
9. If death is abolished, threats can be no more.
10. If death is abolished, it all started on Calvary’s hill. And Christ’s cross.
11. If death is abolished, a deep sigh of relief is called for.
12. “I am the resurrection and the life” indeed.
13. “If I be lifted up (on the cross) I will draw all men to me.”
14. “Oh grave, where is thy victory? Oh death, where is thy sting?”
15. Death is no friend of life. And is in fact listed as an enemy of God along with rulership, authority, power — death, “the last enemy to be abolished”.
16. Thank God for Christ’s work on the cross. He met death there. Gave death every advantage. Humbled himself. By all appearances death won.
17. Then, 3 days later. Oh my.
18. Christ in you, the hope of Glory.
19. For even as in Adam, all die.
20. So in Christ… shall all be vivified.
21. Death, the last enemy, abolished.
22. That God may be all… in all.

Grace to you.
Jones.

REFERECES:
“I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25,

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” I Cor 15:55

God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this secret among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.—Colossians 1:27.

20 (Yet now Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing.
21 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.
22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.
23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ’s in His presence;
24 thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power.
25 For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy is being abolished: death.
27 For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him.
28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.) I COR 15:20-28

I POSTED THIS ON ZENDER’S CHANNEL THIS MORNING. THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT:

HERE WE GO AGAIN…
“AND CERTAIN MEN CAME FROM JAMES” (KJV)

Yesterday, it happened again.
Martin gives a talk, folks start making comments,
and then…
“certain men came from James” …
remember that verse from Galatians 2:12 ???

Well, in the comments section yesterday, some dudes from James showed up and were all hyped up about some long-ass old testament bible passages that were all about works, works, works.

The James Gang loves works.

And yesterday… they were trying to beat up the saints with this long-ass bible passage that was suppose to PROVE…
once and for all…
IF YOU HAVE THE EYES TO SEE…
AND THE SMARTS TO UNDERSTAND… that…
you MUST do thus and so…
you MUST see things exactly THIS WAY…
or you’re not part of “us cool Israel-types”…
and we’re way cooler than you ‘cause we see the deep, mystical truths, and you guys are just hanging around here with Martin “cause it feels good” and “you’re into your feelings.”

Those “certain men from James” are so cute.

They peer into quaint Old Testament (and New Testament) passages, clearly meant for Israel… and they magically fancy that THEY are now the fulfillment of whatever it is they are reading. They fancy that THEY ARE SPIRITUAL ISRAEL… that THEY HAVE THE BLESSINGS AND YOU DON’T !!!!!

Listen… It’s easy to go down that road. I’ve been there, years ago.

The end result of that type of thinking is “FREEWILL” and “WORKS” … which leads to PRIDE, PRIDE, PRIDE.

They are so proud that they are special. They are part of the TRUE CHURCH and you’re not. They fast twice a week and give alms, and pray standing on one foot… etc. Whatever it is, they are proud and you suck.

So, these guys show up yesterday “to spy out our freedom, which we have in Christ.” Just like in Galatians 2:4.-(first half)

They want to enslave us to that works mentality, just like in Galatians 2:4-(last half)

The problem with the James Gang is they tend to see salvation as “WHAT YOU MUST DO”… and they don’t see that GOD IS THE SAVIOR.

I TIMOTHY 4:10 — CLEARLY SAYS GOD IS THE SAVIOR.

Yes, it’s God’s business to save. It’s part of His creative work. He began creation, and he will finish it up.

But the James Gang tends to be “freewillers”… insisting that God has done all He can do… and now the rest is up to you.

Don’t fall for that crap. Salvation is the work of God’s. Therefore trust God to pull it off. You don’t save yourself. You’re doing great just to see that you (or humanity itself) needs saving at all… but you can’t save yourself. It’s God’s work. Trust Him to do it all.

That dude from James posted some 1,700 words… and he never mentioned the cross of Christ one time. See what I mean? These guys are all about what YOU must do… to please this edgy God who just might go off. (Too much caffeine for a deity, right?)

They come to spy out our freedom, and enslave us again to works.

They get so mad when you say “Hey, can you pass the cookies.”
They are so sure they see things you can’t see.
If you fall for their traps… you’ll either be filled with pride that you did it yourself… or you’ll feel guilt ridden that you’re not living up to some ever-shifting, standard of holiness.

Just stick to the evangel of grace.

It too is right there in the Bible… just like all that works crap.
But… It’s all bunched up for you in Paul’s 13 letters.
GRACE AND FAITH as oppose to GRACE AND WORKS.
It’s so beautiful and luminous… that it blew Peter’s mind.
Peter said of Paul’s message… “It’s hard to understand”
Of course it is, when you’ve spent a lifetime around “works, works, works” mentality.

If you want to get clear on this… get Martin’s book THE FIRST IDIOT IN HEAVEN.

It will show you that there is a BIG DEAL between the message meant for the Jews and the message meant for us gentile types.

Here is the order page:
http://martinzender.com/books/first_idiot_enlarged.htm

Here is a book review I put together:
https://acetheologicalco.wordpress.com/2020/11/04/never-judge-a-book-by-its-cover-huh/

ONE MORE THING: It’s important. Those dudes from James… never say…

“GRACE TO YOU”…

But I do… Paul did.
Grace to you.
All of you.
Jones.

POST SCRIPT:
I love MZTV 615 — the story of brother Roger, at a funeral home, trying to raise the dead… back in the 1970’s or 80’s. What a hoot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p56MXaK8hKM&t=649s

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Leave it up to Paul to smack our minds and hearts with an explosive thought that couldn’t possibly get more rich, more sweet, more life-changing… then… he finishes the sentence and you realize… “WAIT A MINUTE, THIS WAS A SET UP.”

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

Could there be a sweeter thought?
It’s not that God was in Jesus, no, it’s more rich than that.

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

Keep in mind, Paul is the only brother to use the phrase “CHRIST JESUS”. Peter, James and John were still stuck in the ole “Jesus Christ” mode. They didn’t get the memo that this thing is BIG. Bigger than we ever imagined. So big that Paul says…

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

What was God doing there, in Christ? Was He confused? Lost perhaps? Did not God see the ultimate rejection that just happened? The mocking? The betrayal? The beatings? That stupid crown of thorns? And that crucifying stake? What was God thinking? And yet…

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

It’s just four little words. Why do they sound so pregnant?
Because they are. Everything is about to change. Everything. You see…

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

… conducting the biggest operation since creation began. He was doing something totally complimentary for the whole creation. A “surprise, mystery gift” you might say. For, the whole of creation will see, will confess, and will bow the knee with amazement once they realize that …

GOD WAS IN CHRIST.

What was He doing there? Taking a long shot? Some suggest as much. But I think not. It was a sure thing. And the proof? You may have heard, the stone was rolled away. The curtain rent from top to bottom. Christ walked out of there “flesh and bone.” And as if that weren’t enough. The story gets more rich and mind-blowing as the layers are peeled back.

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

…changing His operations from one of sin and death to one of grace and life. Every knee will bow. You’ll see. All will be headed up in the Christ. Mind-blowing I know, right? This event touches all, from one end of the universe to the other.

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

And nothing else matters really. This is enough to answer any query.

GOD WAS IN CHRIST…

And when you realize it, don’t be surprised at that lump in your throat. It’s a big thought. Big enough to get your attention? Let’s see exactly what God was doing there. Consider…

This from 2nd CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 5:
18 Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation,
19 how that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.
20 For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ’s sake, “Be conciliated to God!”
21 For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God’s righteousness in Him.

Can it get more rich and sweet than that?
No wonder Paul was in the habit of saying…

“GRACE TO YOU.”
All of you.
Ace.

POST SCRIPT:
From Philippians 2:
9 Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name,
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean,
11 and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.

From Ephesians 1:
10 to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ —

From Luke, the last chapter:
1 Now in the early depths of one of the sabbaths, they, and certain others together with them, came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they make ready.
2 Now they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 Now, entering also, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it occurred, at their being perplexed concerning this, lo! two men stand by them in flashing attire.
5 Now at their becoming affrighted and inclining their faces to the earth, they say to them, “Why are you seeking the living with the dead?
6 He is not here, but was roused. Be reminded how He speaks to you, being still in Galilee,
7 saying that ‘The Son of Mankind must be given up into the hands of men, sinners, and be crucified, and the third day rise.'”
8 And they are reminded of His declarations.
9 And, returning from the tomb, they report all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 Now there were the Magdalene Mary and Joanna and Mary of James and the rest together with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And these declarations appear in their sight as if nonsense, and they disbelieved them.
12 Yet Peter, rising, ran to the tomb, and peering in, is observing the swathings only. And he came away marveling to himself at that which has occurred.
13 And lo! two of them in the same day were going into a village which is named Emmaus, sixty stadia away from Jerusalem.
14 And they conversed with one another concerning all of these things which have befallen.
15 And it occurred, in their conversation and discussion, Jesus Himself also, drawing near, went together with them.
16 Yet their eyes were held so as not to recognize Him.
17 Now He said to them, “What words are these which you are bandying one with another while walking?” And they stood with a sad countenance.
18 Now, answering, the one named Cleopas said to Him, “You are sojourning alone in Jerusalem and did not know what things are occurring in her in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “Which?” Now they say to Him, “Those concerning Jesus the Nazarean, a Man Who came to be a Prophet, powerful in work and in word, in front of God and the entire people,
20 so that both our chief priests and chiefs give Him up to the judgment of death, and they crucify Him.
21 Yet we expected that He is the One about to be redeeming Israel. But surely, together with all these things also, it is leading in this third day since these things occurred.
22 But some also of our women amaze us. Coming to be at the tomb early
23 and not finding His body, they came saying that they have seen an apparition of messengers also, who say that He is living.
24 And some of those with us came away to the tomb, and they found it thus, according as the women also said, yet Him they did not perceive.”
25 And He said to them, “O foolish and tardy of heart to be believing on all which the prophets speak!
26 Must not the Christ be suffering these things, and be entering into His glory?”
27 And, beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, He interprets to them, in all the scriptures, that which concerns Himself.
28 And they draw near to the village where they went, and He does as though He were going further.
29 And they urge Him, saying, “Remain with us, for it is toward dusk and the day has already declined.” And He entered to remain together with them.
30 And it occurred, at His reclining at table with them, taking the bread, He blesses it, and, breaking, He handed it to them.
31 Now their eyes were opened up, and they recognize Him. And He became unapparent to them.
32 And they say to one another, “Was not our heart burning in us as He spoke to us on the road and as He opened up to us to us the scriptures?”
33 And rising in the same hour, they return to Jerusalem and found the eleven convened together and those with them,
34 who said that “Really roused was the Lord, and was seen by Simon!”
35 And they unfolded the events on the road, and how He is known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36 Now at their speaking these things, Jesus Himself stood in their midst and is saying to them, “Peace to you!”
37 Yet, being dismayed and becoming affrighted, they supposed they are beholding a spirit.
38 And He said to them, “Why are you disturbed? And wherefore are reasonings coming up in your hearts?
39 Perceive My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and perceive, for a spirit has not flesh and bones according as you behold Me having.”
40 And saying this, He exhibits to them His hands and feet.
41 Now, at their still disbelieving from joy, and marveling, He said to them, “Have you any food in this place?”
42 Now they hand Him part of a broiled fish,
43 and, taking it, He ate before them.
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words, which I speak to you, still being with you, for all must be fulfilled that is written in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms concerning Me.”
45 Then He opens up their mind to understand the scriptures,
46 and said to them that “Thus it is written, and thus must the Christ be suffering and rise from among the dead the third day,
47 and there is to be heralded in His name repentance for the pardon of sins, to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 Now you shall be witnesses of these things.
49 And lo! I am delegating the promise of My Father on you. Now you be seated in the city of Jerusalem till you should be putting on power from on high.”
50 Now He led them out as far as to Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blesses them.
51 And it occurred as He is blessing them, He put an interval between Himself and them, and He was carried up into heaven.
52 And they, worshiping Him, return to Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they were continually in the sanctuary, praising and blessing God. Amen!

2,000 YEARS AGO THERE WERE TWO FELLOWS WITH THE INITIALS J.C.

One was a murderous a-hole.
The other was an innocent man with a real purpose.
The murderous a-hole killed many, many, thousands of peoples… perhaps millions.
Flat out killed them. Men, women, children. dogs, cats.
To this day he is held in high esteem… honored… by the world.
They want to imitate him, if they can.
The other guy, the innocent man with a real purpose… he killed no one.
Yet, he was strung up on a cross by the state.
And to this day, he’s dismissed as some kind of nuisance — not worth the bother.
And if you personally, are more interested in the innocent J.C. rather than the murderous J.C. — you’re dismissed as well.
Julius Caesar.
Jesus Christ.
The funny thing about this “story” is…
Julius Caesar was really a blip on the screen, in the grand scheme of things.
Quite forgettable. Brutus did us all a favor.
Whereas Jesus Christ… He is the firstborn of creation. In Him all is created. He is before all. And all has it’s cohesion in Him. (COL 1:15-20)
No one will be forgetting Him. All have an appointment with Him in the future.
His work. His purpose. It effects all in the heavens and all on the Earth.
Remember, He flipped the cross around to be the very blessing mankind needed.
The sacrificed, became the Savior.
Hey Julius, we remember you, but not much.
Christ — at your name, ever knee will bow. And it will be perfectly timed. Too late for no one. The Father will be so honored. (Philippians 2:9-11)

REFERENCES:

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20
15 Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, 16 for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him, 17 and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him.
18 And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first, 19 for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell,20 and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.

PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11
9 Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name,
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean,
11 and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.

Three Rules For Understanding The Bible.

Dear Stacy, (The so-called “Freewill Chick”)
I know you are trying hard to piece this thing together in your mind and all.
But what if you can’t?
What if you can’t answer each question, each puzzle, each query, to your’s or anyone’s satisfaction???
Isn’t it truly God’s responsibility to save?
After all, God is the savior, agreed?
Not you !!!
When I was a young man, going to church, (mostly evangelical churches, the kind you hang out with) I would ask the minister questions… questions that puzzled my little mind.
And generally, they gave me two kinds of answers.

1. They would kind of stomp their foot, and say with an emphatic voice — “It’s this way, young man, and don’t you forget it!”
2. Or, they could say, “Just keep coming back to church, and you’ll catch on, you’ll understand it eventually.”
   I was too young and naive to argue with either kind of answer.

But, over the years, I discovered a model, to filter the bible’s message through.
And this model, seems to satisfy my deepest questions and deepest longing, as it paints God in the purest light.

Here is that model in a nutshell:

1. Clean up mistranslated words. Especially when those words hold such significant power in our understanding of things. For example: the word AION — it cannot mean both unlimited time and limited time. If you don’t clean up that mess, you’ll “forever” have no footing… a slippery slope of slosh will be yours… when trying to understand God’s word. (See Kirk’s study of the word AION here.)
2. “Rightly divide the word of truth” — In other words, divide that message which belongs to Israel from that which belongs to the nations. If you mix them up, again, there’s no end to your sliding around in every direction and any direction theologically.
3. Understand figurative language. Figures of speech are so important in every language. Especially the language of the scriptures. Brother Bullinger wrote an amazing book on figurative language in the bible. Look for it.

Click to access Bullinger-Figures_of_Speech_used_in_the_Bible_b_.pdf

or here:
https://archive.org/details/figuresofspeechu00bull/page/n19/mode/2up

Some things are literally true… but some things are only true as to “feeling.”
When God said to Adam, “Where are you?” — It’s ridiculous to suggest that God literally did not know where Adam was. Some things are true as to feeling. But not as to fact.

Some things are ABSOLUTELY TRUE and some things are only RELATIVELY TRUE.

For example: It is absolutely true that NOTHING is condemnation to those in Christ. And it is relatively true that we are NOT walking according to the flesh — because sometimes we do walk according to the flesh. (Romans 8:1)

You can see the difference in these two NEGATIVES in the Concordant Literal New Testament… as they indicate a difference in the two negatives from the Greek of the New Testament. (An absolute negative, and a relative negative.)

Regarding the universal state of man… “Death passed through to all mankind” — in other words, all are mortal… “on which all sinned”… in other words, being mortal causes us to sin.
I think you have it backwards… you’re saying “we all sin, therefore we all die.” — Now that’s an understandable boo boo… but truthfully, even little babies die. Little babies who have not sinned. So, it would make more sense to say that the phrase “on which” all sinned, is more a RESULT of death/dying/mortality than a CAUSE of it.
In other words, we sin because we are mortal.
If we were immortal, we would not steal for food, We could not die if someone pushed us off a cliff. So there’d be no hard feelings there. If we were immortal, we wouldn’t even gossip.
Romans 5:12 is a key verse to consider.
Death passed through…thus… all sinned.
Again… the little 5-day old baby dies… and had no ability to “sin”… but it dies BECAUSE DEATH PASSED THROUGH ONTO ALL MANKIND.

Some things are universally true. Adam’s sin. Christ’s redemption. Both universally true.

Some things are relatively true. Some folks don’t appreciate Adam’s sin. But Adam’s sin effects them anyway. Like it or not. Believe Adam’s act or not… The result is… DEATH PASSED THROUGH ONTO ALL MANKIND… You don’t need to believe Adam’s sin to order to die.

Now, some folks believe Adam’s folly. And it helps them see what’s going on in God’s eonian purpose. But God’s purpose stands, whether or not they believe in Adam’s fall.

And similarly with Christ’s redemptive act on the cross. Some folks don’t appreciate it or believe it… but the result effects them anyway. The result STANDS. The result is… LIFE’S JUSTIFYING FOR ALL (Romans 5:18-19) — just six verses away from your V 12.

So what if they don’t believe Adam or Christ… the results of both men (the first Adam and the Last Adam) are universally efficacious.

“No one gets outta here alive.” — one might say. And…
“No one stays dead forever.” — one could also say.

After all,
“God vivifies the dead.” (Romans 4:17)
As in Adam, all die, so in Christ ALL SHALL BE VIVIFIED.” (I Cor 15:22)

I know you are so fond of limiting the redemptive work of Christ on the cross — to all those who cooperate…
But you don’t limit the destructive work of Adam in the garden. Why?
God’s man, Paul, pits those two in perfectly effective equations. (Romans 5:15-19)
In fact, Paul reveals that Christ redemptive work has EVEN MORE POWER than Adam’s destruction work.
Note his words on V.15:
But not as the offense, thus also the grace
And note his words on V.16:
not as through one act of sinning is the gratuity

Yet, you make a lopsided equation… giving Adam more destructive power than Christ’s redemptive power. Shame on you.

You say you “believe” in Christ, but your belief is more in Adam than in Christ.

Not as the offense, thus also the grace…
and…
not as through one act of sinning is the gratuity

Powerful words.

The Grace to all who sin — SUPERABOUNDS.
And the GRACE is out of many, many offensive acts, into a just award. Wow.

I hope this helps.
Ace.

SHOULD YOU BELIEVE GOD? OR BELIEVE IN YOUR BELIEF?

NOTES TO THE FREEWILL CHICK:

YOUR QUESTION:
“May I ask…are you hoping to persuade me to become a universalist?”

MY REPLY:
No. I do not want you to become a universalist.
Instead, I want you to believe God.
God told Abraham he’d be the father of many nations.
Abraham was 100 years old. His wife was 90.
Impossible conditions, right?
Yet, Abraham believes God. And God “spoke of what is not, as if it were.”
God said “A father of many nations have I appointed you.”
Abraham had NO CHILDREN and was too old.
But God spoke of what is not as if it were.
Sensibly… Abraham was too old for God to speak in such a way.
“A father of many nations,” indeed.
Yet, Abraham believes God.

God speaks, in His word, of many great things… and you don’t believe Him.
God is the savior of all. And you don’t believe Him.
God will reconcile all. And you don’t believe Him.
God will justify all. And you don’t believe Him.
God will ransom all. And you don’t believe.

You go to great lengths to say all these things cannot be true. It’s like you’re saying, “Don’t be silly, Abraham is too old.” Yet, God speaks of what is not as if it were.

You spend a great amount of time saying “These things can’t be true, because God only saves, redeems, reconciles, justifies, etc. those IN Christ, and the way you get IN Christ is to follow THIS magic formula.”

But, if GOD is the savior (of all) then, why can’t GOD figure out how to pull it off. After all, He told Abraham “A father of many nations have I appointed you.” And God figured out how to make Abraham a father — OF many nations.

Concerning Abraham… “he believes it of the God Who is vivifying the dead and calling what is not as if it were.” (Romans 4:17)

Not only do you limit the saving power of God by your excessive use of the term IN Christ… you also exaggerate the power and importance of man’s “free will”… and on top of that… you exaggerate the scope and timelines of the judgments of God… as you propose ‘ENDLESS’ punishment for the wicked and non-believing.

Yet, Abraham believes God (Romans 4:3) and I want you to believe God.

God is the savior of all. And if the magic formula requires the sinner to be found “IN” Christ, it is up to the Savior of all to place all “in” Christ.

Believe God.

God is the redeemer of all. And if the redeemer of all, must find a way to limit any judgment in favor of redemption, then let the Redeemer of all redeem all.

Believe God.

God is the justifier of all. And if the Justifier of all, — has to open each one’s eyes to see that life itself is justified (Romans 5:18), then so be it. Let it be done.

Believe God.

It is not becoming of you to believe myths of exaggerated evils and judgments.

One thing that causes you to not believe God is that you often take various scriptures and cram them all into a blender of things. You turn on the blender and make a smoothy of it all.
Like tossing a big bass fish (head and all) and a bowl of blueberries into the blender, and flipping the switch on HIGH.
Gross.

You see dear one, not all “truth” is the same truth. Some things are “true” at one point in time and are not true at another point in time.

It was once true that “the world is covered in water.” But it is no longer true.

It is currently true that “faith” is required for life eonian. But it is not required when the eons end. Life will then be all… as death will be no more… and will indeed be abolished.

It is currently true that Israel is hardened. But one day “all Israel shall be saved.”

It was once true that the disciples “were not to go into a road of the gentiles.”

Not every truth is a timeless truth But you are forever mixing that which only applies to certain time periods, with what is promised to happen when time as we know it ends. Thus…

You don’t believe God… you believe in your belief.

Your “belief” has it that hell is endless. And entry into salvation is entirely up to the freewill-owning sinner. And that finding oneself “IN” Christ is merely a matter of doing THIS and THAT.

(Please note: “IN” is merely a preposition. Like “through”, “for”, “by”, etc. However, “Christ” is both the noun and the subject of the sentence. And yet, you place your focus on the importance on the word “IN” so that you may limit the redeeming work of our savior. You don’t believe God, you believe in your belief.)

If God is the savior of all, who can stand against the great God of heaven?
If God is the redeemer of all, what can stumble Him and keep the redeemer from redeeming?
If God is the justifier of all, who can condemn what He has justified?

Your faith in man’s freewill will not allow you to believe the God who “speaks of what is not (apparent) as if it were.”

Abraham believes God, and God reckoned it to him as righteousness.

No works. No obedience. He just believes God, with no proof, no evidence, that he would indeed be “the father of many nations.”

Do I want you to “become a universalist?” No, I want you to believe God.
You focus on the sinner… I want you to focus on the Savior.
You “know” all that the sinner MUST do.
I wish you knew all that was done and will be done by the Savior on and through the cross.
You glorify sin and the sinner.
I want you to glorify the savior, the savior of all.
At best, you’ll admit that God is “potentially” the savior of all… but not really the savior of all. Just “potentially” — Only if the sinner does the right thing.

Abraham believed God, who spoke of what is not as if it were.

REFERENCES:
For what is the scripture saying? Now “Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness.” (ROMANS 4:3)
Therefore it is of faith that it may accord with grace, for the promise to be confirmed to the entire seed, not to those of the law only, but to those also of the faith of Abraham, who is father of us all, according as it is written that, A father of many nations have I appointed you — facing which, he believes it of the God Who is vivifying the dead and calling what is not as if it were –18 who, being beyond expectation, believes in expectation, for him to become the father of many nations, according to that which has been declared, “Thus shall be your seed.” And, not being infirm in faith, he considers his body, already deadened (being inherently somewhere about a hundred years) and the deadening of the matrix of Sarah, yet the promise of God was not doubted in unbelief, but he was invigorated by faith, giving glory to God, being fully assured also, that, what He has promised, He is able to do also. (ROMANS 4: 16-21)
God is the savior of all. (I TIMOTHY 4:10)
Reconciler of all. (COLOSSIANS 1:15-20)
Justifier of all. (ROMANS 5:18-19)
Redeemer of all. —“this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Saviour, God, Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for all (the testimony in its own eras), (I TIMOTHY 2:4-6)

MORE INFO:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3HOrC2A7Jb5kHDEae9AAg

THE FREEWILL CHICK TRIES TO DEFINE “HELL”.

What follows are just snippets of my conversation with her. I don’t quote all of what she says as she tends to go on and on. It’ll make your head hurt.
So enjoy:

MY REPLY TO HER PRIOR COMMENTS:
Talking to you is like talking to Barney Fife.

(SIDE NOTE: FROM THE WIKIPEDIA PAGE ABOUT BARNEY FIFE:

Barney Fife is outwardly smug and self-important, covering up his insecurities and low self-confidence with a display of bravado. He presents himself as an expert on such diverse subjects as firearms, martial arts, women, singing, wilderness survival, psychology and American history. He frequently tries to impress others with his knowledge or skill in areas where his expertise is actually quite limited. He wishes to be perceived as “a man of the world,” but he is actually quite naïve, and his fear of appearing ignorant leaves him easily duped.)

THEN LATER I ASKED HER:
Do you think it’s a sin that I believe that Christ died to save all? And will I go to hell for said sin?

SHE SAID:
I believe you are trapped in an error that comforts you. I do not believe that you will be separated from the presence of God because of your belief but I do believe that it will cause many that hear this teaching to be separated from God if they believe it and refuse to trust God because they heard they don’t have to.
It is not deadly for you, it is deadly for the hearers. Satan is a murderer.

MY REPLY:
So, I’m not going to hell, but I’m causing countless others to go to hell… ain’t that a hoot?
Does Paul ever mention “hell”?

HER REPLY:
Does he need to for it to be true? Didn’t Jesus mention hell enough for us to get the point? Why would Paul need to speak about hell in letters written to believers?

MY REPLY:
YOU SAID: “Does he need to for it to be true?”

1. If it is as awful as you suggest, why didn’t he yak on and on about it? At least he would have told the churches to warn sinners about H.E. double toothpicks.
2. What is the difference between Gehenna and hades? Two words… two different things… but what, pray tell is the difference?

THEN SHE SAID:
Because JESUS already explained it in DETAIL and news travels fast. Jesus didn’t need Paul to repeat what he already taught and explained…Paul was sent with the way of salvation.
Hades is the holding place of those that die without Christ and Gehenna is the place they will be cast into after the great white throne judgment.
Death and Hades will be cast into the lake of fire because they will be of no more use. The ministry is to warn the world and persuade them to put their trust in God by the preaching of Christ Jesus which reveals God’s love…take it or leave it, it’s a gift to be freely received.

MY REPLY:
“Take it or leave it”??? Listen Barney… That is not the good news. No way, no how. “Take it or leave it” is the “good news” of a used car salesman.

LATER I SAID:
Dear Barney, are you saying that GEHENNA is the lake of fire?
Or is HELL the lake of fire?
Can you throw hell into hell?
Hades is a holding place?
Didn’t Christ go to hell? See Acts.
If Christ went to hell, then it’s not where bad people go, right?
And what about this “outer darkness” thing?
A lake of fire wouldn’t be “dark” right?
Are there worms in the lake of fire? Immortal worms?
What about the vale of hinnon, referenced in the old testament, it was the garbage dump outside Jerusalem, right? Garbage dump, with compost worms, right? And they would burn the trash there, right? And toss the dead bodies of criminals there, right?
Isn’t Gehenna just the Greek word for the vale of hinnon?
What exactly is this “hell” you speak of?
The old English word “HELL” meant “covering”. They would “hell” the potatoes for winter. They would “hell” the roof when it started to leak.
I know you don’t think much of the work God accomplished in Christ cross. And you can “take it or leave it”… but come on girl, what is hell exactly?
Didn’t Christ undo all that Adam did?
The first Adam vs the Last Adam, right?
What’s the deal here, sister?
Wed. 6:48 P.M.

THEN, SHE SAID:
Hell is not the lake of fire. Hell will be thrown into the lake of fire. When Christ went to “hell” it still had two sections…Abrahams bosom/paradise and place of torment as explained by the rich man and Lazarus.

MY REPLY:
YOU know so much about hell but so little about the achievements in Christ’s cross.

POST SCRIPT: Get Zender’s book on hell here: http://martinzender.com/books/hell1.htm