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Craig_SOtW -> RE: Can a Universalist be saved? (7/28/2007 2:29:40 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: figmentPez quote:
ORIGINAL: floydette I believe that most people have a portion or two of the character of God that they misunderstand. For example, I grew up in a church where the god that was taught was more like a policeman waiting for you to mess up, rather than a loving father. Did they preach a false god? No, I don't think so. I believe that they misunderstood alot about God. I know many people that would fall into that category. So, IF universalists misunderstand a portion of Christ's character, they would not differ from some Baptists, Lutherans or Catholics that misunderstand as well. I assume that your church didn't actually teach that God is not loving father? If they did teach that God is not loving, they would be preaching a false God. Let me give some concrete examples of the serious errors I'm talking about that seem to be inherent to believing in universalism. I know of two major groups that currently try and combine a thing they call "jesus christ" with universal reconciliation, Mormons and the "Christian" Universalism Association (previous "christian" universalism groups eventually became Unitarian Universalists and dropped any pretense of being Christian). There is Christian Universalists and Unitarian Universalists. They are not the same. The "Christian Universalism Association" is an association which was created in May of 2007 in order to distinctively seperate itself from the Unitarian Universalist Association as being solely Christian. To combine Mormons with Christian Universalists, is poor judgment. It is like saying Voodoo Priests are Anglican Priests. Simularities do not unite them as being one and the same in essense. quote:
Both of these groups deny the triune God of the Bible. Just as some Pentacostal's deny the triune God, some do not. Do we group all pentacostals together because of the Oneness crowd even though the other group believes in a Trinity? Hasty Generalizations, are not very good proof. Have you been to Vegas? If you have, then you must be a gambler. quote:
They both teach false things about who Jesus Christ is, they deny truths about who Jesus Christ is. They are blatantly teaching a false God, even though they use Christian sounding words to do it. It seems that denial of accurate doctrine about God's triune nature, in some fashion or form, is central to belief in universal reconciliation. I spend a good time myself investigating doctrines and traditions, and I believe it perhaps is the ones you have met so far that belief this and no, it is not central to the belief in Universal Reconciliation. Christian Theology, Church politics and history is facinating for me as well. I understand your passion. quote:
That is my concern about universalism. Not merely that someone might undersell the importance of spreading the Gospel. Not that someone might fail to see the importance of faith in relation to justice. Not that someone might fail to put the proper emphasis on all the attributes of the infinite God of everything. My concern is that belief in universalism is such a radical departure from what God declares to be true, that following universalism seems to inevitably lead to denial of the real Jesus Christ. Well, then your concern will be destroyed if I introduce you to a Trinitarian Christian Universalist who understands and knows the need of the great commission to go and make disciples of all mankind, bringing the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world so that they too may be saved Gehenna Judgment (Hell [Gehenna Judgment is what Jesus warns about in the gospels and is always mistranslated in our bible's as "hell"]). The one thing we cannot judge is the heart of any, especially those who announce they follow Jesus Christ. Those who walk by the Spirit, there is no law. 1 John 4:1-3 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. How do we test the spirits? Galations 5:16-26 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. I understand your concern Fig, it is a great concern to me when I see people deny Jesus Christ in favor of a doctrine that pleases their comfort zones. I do not believe Christian Universalism has proven to enivtiably deny Him nor (as I have shown previously to this) is a radical departure from the Gospel. It holds the same premises as Calvinism and Ariminianism, which in themselves have a radical departure or seperation concerning their views of the Gospel. I also understand your concern, with those who believe that the grace of God is a freedom or license to sin. We know that people have slipped among us, godless men who have changed grace as being a license to sin. Such men, are destined to destruction. Jude 1:4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. We both know that their place is in the Lake of Fire (Gehenna Judgment), and will not inherit the Kingdom of God. What we do not know for sure, is exactly who these men are, because they exist in orthodox and traditional Christianity, both protestant and catholic. So we know together, that God is the Lawgiver and Vengence is His. James 4:11-13 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? One day, I hope for unity in faith as well, there is way too many individuals who hold claim to what is true. The only thing I know for sure, is there is no other way to the Father except through Jesus Christ. He is at least our Lord and Savior, I believe this very much and I hope you do too! :D Peace brother.
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