Everlasting Mercy
“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, we have seen the Lord. So he said to them…I will not believe." (John 20:24-25)
Thomas is called "doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe until he saw Jesus himself. Actually, that was true of all of the disciples. None of them believed until they saw him after his resurrection. Such is the case for the majority of people who live in this world. They will not believe until they see him.
"And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came… and said be not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered…My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-28)
When Jesus returns to raise the dead, all will see him and all will confess him as Lord, just as Thomas did...
"...every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Those who believe in this life are "blessed" with the hope of their salvation. They are the few who are given faith to believe in Jesus in this life even though we have not seen him.
"Jesus said to him, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)
People are saved by the grace of God. They are blessed when they believe. But all will "confess" him, "give thanks", and be "blessed" when they see Jesus and enter the Kingdom, not punished forever in the hell of religions.
"For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all....O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Romans 11:32; Psalm 136:1)
God is love and although He has determined that all are to be disobedient in one way or another in this life, He does so to demonstrate His "mercy", which will endure "forever".
Thomas is called "doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe until he saw Jesus himself. Actually, that was true of all of the disciples. None of them believed until they saw him after his resurrection. Such is the case for the majority of people who live in this world. They will not believe until they see him.
"And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came… and said be not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered…My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-28)
When Jesus returns to raise the dead, all will see him and all will confess him as Lord, just as Thomas did...
"...every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Those who believe in this life are "blessed" with the hope of their salvation. They are the few who are given faith to believe in Jesus in this life even though we have not seen him.
"Jesus said to him, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)
People are saved by the grace of God. They are blessed when they believe. But all will "confess" him, "give thanks", and be "blessed" when they see Jesus and enter the Kingdom, not punished forever in the hell of religions.
"For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all....O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Romans 11:32; Psalm 136:1)
God is love and although He has determined that all are to be disobedient in one way or another in this life, He does so to demonstrate His "mercy", which will endure "forever".