MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

“But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for ALL OF THE PEOPLE; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for “all the people”. Both Jew and Gentile are included in this salvation. And the savior would later tell how he would save us...

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32)

We should not celebrate the birth of our Savior without celebrating his love for “all the people”, which amazingly includes the "ungodly" for Paul tell us in his letter to Rome...

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:6-9)

The wrath of God upon sinners is finished in death for we are told in Scripture...

“For all have sinned” and “...the wages of sin is death” and "it is appointed until men once to die” (Romans 3:23a; 6:23a; Hebrews 9:27)

But this little baby, born in Bethlehem of Judea over 2000 years ago, grew up and saved the world in His death, burial and resurrection. That is the true joy of Christmas, the gospel for "all the people", including his enemies.

“While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life...For it is by Grace you have been saved and not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God...the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:10; 6:23b)

ALL YOU PEOPLE - HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

And Happy New Year! In it may you come to "a knowledge of the Truth"!

"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." (1 Timothy 4:3-8)

How To Become Rich

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

True riches are not the result of what we do for ourselves, but are the result of what Christ Jesus has graciously done for us. The word "grace" is the Greek word "charis" which means a gift producing joy. Jesus has done something for mankind that will bring us all joy...eventually. 

"For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5)

God was in Christ reconciling sinful people to Himself...

"Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5)

Believing this brings great joy and peace. The following is often sung during the Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it was not written about his birth, but about his glorious return...

Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing!

The final words of Jesus recorded in the Bible are...

"Yes I am coming swiftly..." (Revelation 22:20)

And the final words of the Bible is from John in response...

"Amen, come Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints! Amen!" (Revelation 22:21)

One morning when my oldest grandson was 10 he came running into our den, jumped in my lap, hugged me and said. "I can't wait to get to heaven and see God" and then off he went. 

Pure JOY "comes with the morning" - we will then be rich indeed!

Suggested Sermon Outline

Introduction:

"Just because your preacher will not preach it does not mean the bible does not teach it."

Message read from the Scripture without comment:

"Lo! the Lamb of God Which is taking away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 CLNT)

"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." (1 Timothy 2:5-7 CLNT)

"...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." (Collosians 1:20 CLNT

"...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of conciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 CLNT)

"...this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Savior, God, Who wills all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4 CLNT)

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:9-12 CLNT)

"Lo! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall be seeing Him - those also who stab Him - and all the tribes of the land shall be grieving over Him. Yea! Amen! I am the Alpha and the Omega, is saying the Lord God, Who is and Who was and Who is coming, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:7-8 CLNT)

"For Christ, while we were still infirm, still in accord with the era, for the sake of the irreverent, died...God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for our sakes." (Romans 5:6-8)

"For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being conciliated, we shall be saved in His life. Yet not only so, but we are glorying also in God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ through whom we now obtained the conciliation." (Romans 5:10-11 CLNT)

Conclusion:

"If God loves you that much, when you have never been worse, He really love you - trust him!"

Will The Devil Be Reconciled To God?

“…For his mercy endureth forever.” (Psalm 136:1 KJV)

In Psalm 136 the Lord’s mercy is said to last forever 26 times. If so, what are we to do with the doctrine of eternal torment in hell, or eternal separation from God?

Here is what someone suggested is the answer to that question? 

"In God’s mercy and loving kindness He wants to forgive and save, however, His Justice requires Him to eternally separate unrepentant sinners from Him and torture them forever. BUT He will graciously block it from the memory of those who make it to heaven."

That to me makes no sense!  

Justice from the God who has revealed Himself in Nature, as well as the Bible, loves His creation and deals with sin in perfect righteousness, not with cruel and unusual punishment.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands...For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse." (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20)

There is no "excuse" for such a doctrine!  Where in nature is there evidence of eternal conscious torment, nor is there any evidence of such in Scripture properly translated within its context. However, if the doctrine of eternal conscious torment is a “destructive heresy"  "secretly" introduced by "false prophets"...

"...false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies..." (2 Peter 2:1)

then all is well with a loving Father God dealing out His Justice in disciplining His sinful children - eventually forgiving, saving and reconciling them…and that is exactly what the Bible teaches me after studying it in detail for over 40 years...

“…and through him to reconcile the all things to himself -- having made peace through the blood of his cross -- through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20 YLT)

God "disciplines" his children, all of us sinners, along the way to His goal to "reconcile" all things to Himself.  That discipline will satisfy the Justice of our Father God, while keeping intact His Love, Grace, and Mercy.

"For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and he punishes each one He accepts as His child.” (Hebrews 12:6)

Now back to the Devil...and some of you reading this might as well go outside and pick up a few choice stones…because I am fixing to drive you over the edge. 😊

I read a post on Facebook which admitted "that no created being could be tormented forever by a loving God, EXCEPT the Devil and his angels". 

That is a step in the right direction toward the truth I must say, but the Bible says God will “reconcile the ALL things to Himself” whether “the things upon the earth or the things IN THE HEAVENS”.  That covers all of God's creation. The "blood of his cross" is far more powerful than Christianity seems to understand.

I will say no more. Heck , if after over 600 posts on Facebook, I cannot convince but a handful of Christians that God will eventually save and reconcile ALL MANKIND...just think how hard it would be to convince them that “the things in the heavens” must include the devil and his angels. 😱

Paul,the Evangelist

The apostle Paul was an "evangelist" in the true meaning of the word - a bearer of the good news from God. I do not find any evidence that those who consider themselves evangelists today even know what the "evangel" (good news) is so here it is from Paul, the evangelist.

"God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son.” (Romans 5:10)

“For the wages of sin is death,but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20)

“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)

"...there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who have himself as a ransom for all." (1 Tim. 2:5-6)

“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men.” (1 Tim. 4:10)

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE EVANGEL (GOOD NEWS)

"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Tim. 4:11)

Then What?

"Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

OK, so after believers have met the Lord in the air, then what?

“Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation…” (Ephesians 3:2, 10-11)

Most likely, you have not heard about it in Church. I didn't…I read about it in the letters of the Bible written by Paul…

“His intent was that now, through the ecclesia (out called) the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Ephesians 3: 10-11)

You are aware that we are not alone in this Universe, or are you? The Bible tells  of the Angels, Seraphim, Cherubim, Satan, Demons, and most likely other created beings who are not human and are under those "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (among the celestials)".  The "mystery" is that we, the out called at the return of Jesus will make known "in the heavenly realms" the wisdom of God which is "to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ". That is our purpose after we are "caught up...to meet the Lord in the air".

“With all wisdom and understanding he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ”. (Ephesians 1:8-10)

We are to be a part of Christ’s work in bringing "unity to all things in heaven and on earth"!  Not now, but AFTER Jesus returns.

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

So there you have it…those of us "caught up... in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" will tell every created being "in heaven and on earth" about Christ Jesus, revealing his saving Grace, and play our part in finishing the glorious good news of the reconciliation of the whole creation to God by the blood of Christ, shed on the cross "so that God may be All in All".

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
(2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

So if you are among those who "will be caught up" (some call it the rapture), go outside on a clear dark night and look up at the amazing view of your destiny, think about that "mystery" Paul shared with you, and then shout with John…

“YES, COME LORD JESUS!” (Revelation 22:20)

But you say, I thought we are to save the world in this life...nope, you just are not capable of such a thing, that's why Christ did it himself. 

So, what are we to do until we're "caught up"...glad you asked and I will again let Paul tell you...WARNING the following may be more Bible than you have read at one time, and probably not what you learned in the last evangelism conference or from the Democratic socialist party...

"Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another and aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-18)

Faith in the Grace of God

The Bible says this about Jesus Christ…

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:19-23)

“Before the creation of the world” God chose to RECONCILE sinners to God “through the blood of his cross”, “if” we “continue in” our faith. NOTE: He is talking about the gospel (good news) of “reconciliation” (being at peace with God).

It is said in the Bible that mankind was predestined before creation to be adopted as sons of God..

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious GRACE, which He has freely given us in the one He loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

Note that mankind was “predestined” to become Sons of God “in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace”. That too is the gospel (good news) which gives joy to those in this life if we have “faith”. 

But we do not choose God, or Christ, God chooses us. And God has “predestined” mankind to be “holy and blameless in his sight”. Obviously that has not happened yet, but awaits our resurrection from death, not some decision we make. The final salvation, reconciliation, and glorification of all mankind is a promise we have now to be finished in the future when all will be “blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”. 

What we have available to us now is our “faith” that God will do what He says.

There is precious little of this faith in our world it seems to me, even among Christianity. Nevertheless, the eventual salvation, reconciliation and glorification of all is guaranteed by God’s “glorious GRACE”.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men...For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all...” (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Reconciled To God

"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Paul tells mankind that they have been reconciled to God through Christ. Not that they can be, but the whole world has been reconciled. Those of us who hear and believe this good news are the share it with others as ambassadors.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

God is reconciled to the world. But most of the world doesn't realize it yet because few are telling them about it. The church doesn't do it. It focuses on what the world must do, not on what God has done in Christ Jesus. We are told in Scripture that we are saved by grace and are the work of God...

"For in Grace, through faith, are you saved...for his achievement are we..." (Ephesians 2:8-10).

He has the ages in which to complete His work of making us in his image. This will occur even for those who seem too evil to change, or too stubborn. In time He will successfully complete his plan of becoming All in All.

"He who undertakes a good work among you will be performing it...that God may be All in All" (Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 15:29).

God has entrusted judgment to His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; II Corinthians 5:10; II Timothy 4:1; Romans 2:16). He died at the hand of both secular and religious men and yet prayed for them to be forgiven...

"Father forgive them, they do not understand what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

God resurrected Jesus to life and Jesus promised he would return to resurrect mankind to newness of life. SINNERS ARE FORGIVEN, and from God's point of view are reconciled. In studying the Scripture we should interpret passages which are hard to harmonize with that in mind. Those passages which we do not now understand fully we should just wait for an explanation until the Lord comes...

"...wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God." (I Corinthians 4:4-5).

Don't be "Myth-taken"

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord...instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths… It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:1-20)

You can search all you want but you will not find a single verse in the Old Testament that even hints of a penalty for sin consistent with Christianity’s morbid concept of “hell” (eternal conscious torment). It is a myth.  The penalty for sin is DEATH in the Bible.

In the New Testament the references of Jesus to Gehenna (translated "hell" in English) refers to the garbage dump outside Jerusalem where trash and some dead bodies were burned up. He was not talking about some never ending mythological torture chamber. In the garbage dump the worm does not die nor is the fire quenched until its job of consuming it contents is done.

Why Christians would make Gehenna a figure of speech for the Greek mythological hell is beyond my comprehension.  The only explanation is they were deceived by the one whose job it is to deceive...Satan.

Jesus came into the world to save sinners from DEATH - the penalty for sin. But for more than 1900 years there have been an abundance of leaders in the church like “Hymenaeus and Alexander” shipwrecked in regard to their faith by strange doctrines and myths. In embracing the myth of eternal conscious torment they blaspheme God it seems to me.  In effect they deny that Jesus is the Savior of the World.

It is not that anyone will escape judgment or condemnation.  It is just that all of God’s dealings with mankind in regard to judgment is with a view to the eventual reconciliation of ALL...even Hymenaeus and Alexander and their modern day counterparts. That is if you read and study the Bible, not some commentary or sermon of "Myth-taken" men (pun intended).

“…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...” (Colossians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5)

There is absolutely no thought in the minds of the writers of Scripture with regard to eternal conscious torment in hell.  Such punitive retribution was introduced centuries ago by corrupt theology and is being passed on as truth by many today. Churches are full of good people doing some good things...but teaching myths and strange doctrine is not among them.

God will do what is necessary after the resurrection to set everyone right with God and changing us into His image.

I understand the frustration of Paul with these men, and why Paul simply had to hand “Hymenaeus and Alexander" over to Satan. They refused to listen to the Scripture and preferred their own religious doctrine to the truth. That is why I write this blog and quote Scripture to back up my thoughts. Too many are simply unaware of the mythological guilt trip these false teachers impose on people...

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

The Savior of the World

"Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit ... This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3:2-6)

And what is "the promise"?

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—" (1 Timothy 1:15)

Did he get the job done?

"Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ...And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world's Savior." (John 1:29; 1 John 4:14)

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Yep, he got er done!

"He said, "It is finished!" Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:30)

Believing God

The Reconciliation of all:

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19)

"and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20)

Faith and Justification:

“Abraham believed God (had Faith), and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6;Romans 4:3;Galatians 3:6)

"...having been justified by faith (believing God), we have peace with God" (Romans 5:1)

Rewards:

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12)

"For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ...and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; BUT HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Either we believe God or we make up some argument that He does not really mean what He says. What He says is that ALL will be reconciled to God and we are JUSTIFIED and have PEACE when we believe God will RECONCILE all things to Himself.  We will be REWARDED (or not) based on our FAITH in what God says.

Correctly Handle the Word of Truth

“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. Keep reminding God’s people of these things… Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:11-15)

I appreciate those people who have concern about my thoughts and views, at least those who love me and may sincerely think I have fallen into error.  And of course I am referring to my view that all will eventually be saved and reconciled to God.  And that no one will be subjected to eternal conscious torment in the hell of Greek Mythology. 

Most of them have not tried to change my mind, but they do express their concerns to others from time to timed.  I UNDERSTAND and do not feel bad about them doing so. I just wish they would read the Scripture I quote and come to me and explain why it does not mean what it says.

What they do not understand I am sure is that I share my views because I know that they must one day give an account for what they believe about God. I am concerned about them as much as they are about me. My venue for sharing my thoughts is Facebook and www.jrwlakey.blogger.com because it is the only venues I have.

It is not that I have some egotistic need to be correct or listened to, but I really, really, really do not want them be “ashamed” before God in the day of accounting for teaching or endorsing error. Especially the particularly awful heresy of eternal conscious torment in hell. That error says that our God and Father plans to, or allows, the eternal conscious torture of billions of people. And it is accepted and taught without a firm biblical foundation.

I have shown, and continue to show, through my blog and Facebook postings, that those passages of Scripture seeming to imply “everlasting punishment” or reading “tormented day and night, forever and ever”, or mention the “lake of fire”, etc. are either figures of speech, poorly translated into English or can be explained within the context of the clear teaching of the gospel given to Paul concerning the eventual salvation and reconciliation of ALL.

But most importantly, I want my children and grandchildren to hear and meditate on my views should they want, and read the Scripture backing up my views. Then they can make an informed decision whether what they hear in Church is true or not. I encourage them to compare what they hear in Church with what Paul taught in the Scripture like the "Berean Jews" did before they decide whether Christian traditions of men are valid...

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

All Must Give Account To God

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (1 Timothy 1:15; Colossians 1:20)

I think I am sometimes misunderstood by being so adamant about the final Salvation and Reconciliation of ALL mankind to God. I am adamant about it because it is what the Bible teaches and it is not being taught by mainstream institutional Christianity. If I do not share this good news, then who will?

That being said, it is not correct for people to assume that I do not believe there are and should be consequences for sin, including the sin of unbelief, both in this life and in the next.

Bad people should be punished for their sin in this life by enforcing the laws of the Land. Evil people like abusers of children and the Terrorists of this world should themselves be killed and removed from society in my opinion. But even if they are not caught in this age and punished, all of those evil people must give an account to God and endure whatever judgment God has determined is just after their resurrection.

However, His punishment will not include the awful and sadistic punishment of being tortured in hell forever and ever. That is a lie and should be exposed as such.

And even believers must give account to God after they die if we are to believe the Bible. Christianity implies that if one has accepted the “offer” of salvation then the person is saved and will never have to “account” to God for their actions after they die. They seem to believe that saved people just go to heaven when they die and all is well. Nevertheless, they will give an account as do the unbelievers because that is what the Bible says...

“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God...For this reason also, God highly exalted Him (Jesus), and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...(when) the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.” (Romans 14:10-12; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 4:5)

So when I emphasize the Salvation and Reconciliation of All, I am referring to the final condition of all mankind after God dishes out the chastening and discipline of a righteous Father. This may last for thousands of years but when God is finished, all will agree that the chastening that they endured was JUST. The final result will be that all creation will "bow" and "give praise to God" and all will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father". 

God will then be “All in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

The Word Of Reconciliation

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19)

So what is this "word of reconciliation"...

"He forgave us all our sins…which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken them away, nailing them to the cross…Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival...for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 2:12-3:1-4)

When Jesus was buried and raised it guaranteed our resurrection also. God now sees us as already resurrected and is "not counting" our sins against us. 

We are not to let those who have various religious rules and holy days judge us and tell us what we can and cannot do. We are no longer subject to religious rules and are guaranteed that when Jesus appears we "will appear with him  in glory".  

I know what some of you are thinking....So should we or can we just live any sort of lifestyle we want?

Come on man! How could one who is aware of what God has done for him live any longer selfishly for himself. It is my experience that this knowledge changes the way we live to one which is better for all those around us, starting with our families…and that pleases God!

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?...How shall we who died to sin still live in it?...we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection…so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him…so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts…but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:1-14)

Spin Doctors

At the end of the ages I find that the Bible teaches that ALL are saved and justified...

“So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to ALL MEN, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to ALL MEN.” (Romans 5:18)

 And I find that ALL are alive and reconciled to God...

“For as in Adam ALL DIE, so also in Christ ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE...and through Him to reconcile ALL THINGS to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Colossians 1:20)

 And I find that there is no more death or sin when ALL are immortal and God is ALL in ALL.

“...our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel...at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin...the last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put ALL in subjection under His feet...then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected ALL to Him, so that God may be ALL IN ALL.” (2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 9:26; 1Corinthians15:26-28)

We are not told in the Bible what God has done prior to creating the ages nor what will happen after the ages come to an end. We are simply told that these are...

“...things which eye hath not seen and ear has not heard, and which HAVE NOT entered the heart of man...” (1 Corinthians 2:8-9)

Religious spin doctors of Christian institutions over the past 1700 years have managed to hide most of the glorious truth about the ages by adding their own doctrinal “spin”. Their commentaries will be burned up with this present world but the Word of God will endure for the "olam va'ed” (as far as we can see...and BEYOND).

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed… but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (2 Peter 3:10; 1:25)

So just read the Bible and trust in its good news.  You do not need help from me or the spin doctors...you are the object of this glorious good news - the salvation and redemption of sinners - REJOICE!

Blameless And Beyond Reproach

"God is love…Love never fails" (1 John 4:8; I Corinthians 13:8).

If the God of the Bible, the one in whom I have chosen to trust, is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent…and is Love… what is there to worry about?

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8 38-39)

He is either the God the Bible says He is, or he is the god of religious myth, a god created by man. And if He is the God of the Bible then NOTHING…even poor decisions…will separate us from the love of God. He will not, nor can He fail in His plan…the plan to reconcile and save all through Christ Jesus our Lord…

“For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile ALL things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1:19-22)

Power To The People!

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Use common sense when you read verses like the above. Look around and observe your personal experience with life. It is our experience to grow old, get weaker, suffer from that condition, and then die. None of what Isaiah says becomes permanent in this life. Some suffer more than others, and often it is the very best and most faithful to God that suffer the most like Paul…

“…in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, and I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

He suffered all this for sharing the good news that Jesus is the Savior of All, and will reconcile all creation to God, and that God will become All in All (1Timothy 4:10; Colossians 1:20; and 1 Corinthians 15:28). And when Paul prayed to God for deliverance from his suffering God told him…

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)

So WHEN will the weak get power and gain strength? When will the young who become old and weak have their failing strength renewed? And when will Paul’s weakness become perfect strength?

NOT IN THIS LIFE, common sense tells us that aging, weakness, and death is the plan of God for us all in this Age, and the Hope of all is the "resurrection of the dead"…

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.” (1 Corinthians 15:13-15)

William Blake once said… “When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do.”

That pretty well sums up why I post what I believe to be the truth of the Reconciliation and Salvation of all…and repudiate any doctrine that limits that truth. There are many who reason it must be true of a loving God, yet do not feel equipped to challenge the yoke of tradition. Yet the truth is far more glorious than traditions of men…

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

God sent His Son Jesus into the world to save it…the journey grieved him and he prayed for another way if possible, yet yielded to the will of his Father…

"My Father, if it be possible, remove this cup from me…if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." (Matthew 26:36-46)

The best and greatest man who ever lived was found on his knees in prayer only this one time and sweated greet drops of blood…then stood up, submitted himself to the cross, and saved the world!

For Religions of men to limit this salvation to just a few who join their assemblies is to me heretical. I agree with the Samaritans who heard about Jesus from a women with many husbands, and when they met him they said…

"It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

AND HE IS!

“…one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift…And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:6-11)

The bible says that God is the Father of all and in us all. And that he has gifted some among mankind to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. Why the gift of these persons?

”…for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13)

Equip and edify (build up) saints with the TRUTH of what God has done through Christ Jesus until we "ALL" come to unity of faith in and knowledge of God. And minister the good news message of reconciliation?

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us (apostles, etc) the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION.” (1 Corinthians 5:18)

And what is RECONCILIATION? It is to be at PEACE with God because He is at peace with the world...

“…that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

It is interesting to me that the Greek word translated “reconciliation” and “reconciled” is “katallasso” in the above verses. It has reference to God changing the way he looks at mankind as a result of the blood of Jesus. God is now AT PEACE with the world “not imputing their trespasses to them” as a result of the cross. BUT it is a one-sided peace (God toward mankind) UNTIL creatures change the way they look at God…and ALL mankind will do so eventually.

In Colossians the Greek word for “reconciled” is “apokatallassó”. Notice the “apo” before “katalllasso”. I think it means a two-sided peace because this word is only used in Colossians where it is written that all on the earth and all in the heavens will be reconciled to God…

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile (apokatallasso) all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:20)

TWO SIDED PEACE! When created beings change their view of God as an angry God who in His wrath will torture them for their sins to the correct view of a loving Father who has saved them from sin, they have peace toward God. They trust Him and love Him and rest in that peace.

One day the whole creation will be at peace with God and apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are to minister THIS TRUTH to others. Paul was the first to receive and minister this truth to the world…
“Now then, WE (apostles, etc.) are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore YOU (mankind) on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might BECOME the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

The Apostles, etc are no longer to plead with mankind to be saved…that is a done deal and is a free gift from God Paul tells us in Romans 6:23. They are to plead with mankind to be at peace with God because He has “made him who knew no sin to be sin for us” so that the world might become the righteousness of God in CHRIST JESUS.

Would you save all your children if you could?

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.” (Genesis 1:7; 2:8)

There are certain things God does for mankind just because he wants to, creating Adam and putting him in a garden paradise was the first one of those things we are told about in Scripture.

“…seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat...by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” (Joshua 6:4-7; Hebrews 11:30)

There are certain things that God will do for people only if they have the faith to do the things he says must be done, like blow trumpets and march around the walls of Jericho seven times to get it to fall down.

The critical question in regards to being RECONCILED TO GOD and SAVED from death, the consequences of sin, is simply…Does God reconcile and save people because he wants to, and without them doing anything to get it?

“…Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep…for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…the last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be all in all…Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation…He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

People, it is not what YOU DO, but what God HAS DONE in Christ Jesus that guarantees that mankind, ALL OF THEM, will be reconciled and saved at the close of the ages…Some come to know about it in this life and are full of joy and peace, and others, well you know…they join the various religious groups and do what they are told needs to be done to be saved. Nevertheless, the Scripture says about Christ Jesus…

“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1:18-22)

That is the Good News Gospel that I have been asked NOT to share by church leaders and self-proclaimed watchman, but anyone who is not sharing the above good news is simply watching over and participating in man-made religious doctrine , which is not the gospel of the “ecclesia” (church) at all – at least that’s my opinion after studying the Bible for 40 years…the gospel really is Good News For ALL, not just a few.