By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:40:07 +0000

A great question – thanks for asking it!
If everyone was going to be saved, ultimately, then the death of Jesus on the cross seems rather irrelevant. May I explain?
You are suggesting that God could, hypothetically, gather all the world’s criminals, despots, murderers, molesters and every filthy, depraved soul into His kingdom, and there they can live, along with the holy angels and all the saints, and all the people who have suffered and been tortured for Christ. Do you not think that there’s something wrong with this picture?
There are many passages in the old and the new testaments which draw a clear line between the saved and the unsaved. I suggest you read the gospel of John and draw a pencil line beside the relevant verses.
The other aspect of this question has to do with free will. There are millions of people who do not WANT to go to heaven. They hate the idea. They love their sin so much they would rather have a short life with sin in it, than eternity with Jesus Christ. They would rather indulge in the moral decadence of this age, than enter the eternal glory of life with the joy and peace and holiness of the future.
If, hypothetically, God did FORCE everyone to be saved, there would be war in heaven. Factions of miserable, sinful, disgusting people would gripe and grumble against God, clawing at the walls to get away from Him.

By: Steven J. Thompson

Steven J. Thompson — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:44:18 +0000

As I recall, C.S. Lewis summed up such arguments as “believe this, not because it is true, but for some other reason.” There is no obvious reason to suppose that truth is whatever you find most pleasant or optimistic to believe. Indeed, if I’m going to follow the “grounds for optimism” argument, shouldn’t I embrace the view that God will grant salvation to everyone in due time, and not just to some miniscule “elect?”

Comments on: Evolution Exposed 87sm

By: Richard

By: Steven J. Thompson