My testimony concerning the restitution of all things
I was visiting a church up by London ONT. and was hanging around with some of the young people at that church, I was only about 17 years old a young man at the time myself.
One of those young guys I was with asked me to read a portion of scripture ( don't ask me which one it is though, to many years ago ) he never said anything about what he saw ,just asked me to read and tell him what I saw, when I read it a light went off and the first words that came out of my mouth was , hay its talking about a second chance , being young that was what my first impression of what I later ( much , much later ) came to know people called UR.
Anyway he said that's what I see to; we both got pretty excited about it.I asked if the rest of the group saw it to, he said he did not know as he just saw it himself.
Why he would ask me (basically a stranger to him) to read those scriptures instead of someone else from his group I’ll never know. (Must have been the Lord).
Anyway we decided to tell the others young people from the group about what we saw.
Mistake number one, we both only had just begun to see this, and were not scripturally sound in our understand of it yet.
The others lambasted us with a load of scriptures that seemed contrary to what we saw.
We got our rear end kicked scripturally, because we were not prepared in the word ourselves for this opposition.
The young man I was with ( I don’t remember his name , again to many years ago ) was persuaded to return to his old understanding forsaking what God had shown him.
Even though I was soundly defeated by the multitude of scripture that was thrown at us I could not let go of what I saw.
I started to look into it more fully in order to have a answer to the scriptures that were used against what God had shown me.
Mistake number two, I brought this up to my parents who are both preachers, and believe in eternal torment.
I thought those young people kicked my rear end scripturally, boy was I in for a treat
You ever want to get into a good fight just try telling a preacher what they believe is wrong, want to get into a even better fight, try it with the preachers you live with.
Again I was soundly defeated. But it did not matter to me, if what I saw was of God He would increase my understanding, I left it with him.
For the next 24 years of my life, I walked down a road all alone except for my wife and children to whom I taught Jesus Christ was the saviour of every man.
My one brother also came to see what God had given me, and it was with him and my wife and children that I could speak freely of what I had seen.
I knew God had to have shown this to others also but I never came across anyone else until about 3 years ago I got hooked up to the net.
I found my way to my first Christian web forum.
And was promptly kicked off.
So I went to another forum , which was where I first heard the term universal reconciliation or universal salvation.
People kept calling me a universalist, so I asked them what they meant by it, and was told it was a term used for people who believed all men would be saved.
So I thought to myself, that there was probably a forum with those of like faith as me so I went looking for some.
What a blessing for me after so many years of walking alone to find others that believed as I did in everyone being saved.
Oh I still have the odd argument with my parents about UR, I have been at them for 27 years, you know like the little widow woman who asked the unjust judge to change his mind kept coming to him until his mind was changed. That’s me and my parents.
P.S. this was written a few years ago, since then 3 of my 4 sister and my mom have come to believe in the salvation of all.
All praise to His name.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Breath of Life
Genesis 2:77 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Many believe that this is speaking of how natural man was created. They believe that God took dust from the ground, breathed His spirit into the dust and that this union of dust and spirit is the make up of man who is then called a living soul.
But is that what God said?
Let’s look closely at this scripture.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.
It says plainly here that God formed MAN of the dust of the ground before He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and before MAN became a living soul.
Now we know that man is made up of spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:2323 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This man of dust already had a spirit, soul and body, for is not man made up of spirit, soul and body?
And if this man of dust spoken of here did not already have a spirit, soul and body can it be rightly called man?
Cannot we understand by this that man was already created? And that God is doing something other then creating a natural man here?
Brothers and sisters God is not creating a natural man here as in the creation of the first man Adam, but He is shaping man to be in His image and likeness here.
We read in Genesis 1:26-2726 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
The word created here comes from the Hebrew word bara and formed from Genesis 2:7 is the Hebrew word yatsar.
So why does the scriptures use two different words if they are both dealing with the creation of man?
Because the man being formed in Genesis 2:7 finds his fulfillment in Gen.1:26-27 in being created in the image and likeness of God.
Yatsar comes with the weight of something being squeezed into shape as a potter molding the clay.
Genesis 2:7 is telling us the process of how we are being formed into the image and likeness of God, it is not telling us how natural man was created, but it is telling us how the spiritual man is being created.
Genesis 2:77 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Now we have always read this scripture (me included) as to how MAN was originally created. And I believe we have been understanding it all wrong.This is not speaking about how man was originally created, but rather it is speaking of how God is making the MAN he originally created into His image and likeness.
Now when God formed MAN He formed MAN from the dust of the ground.Now this MAN God formed from the dust of the ground already had a spirit, soul, and body. He is the flesh man or the old man or the man of sin, a living creature/beast man that lives unto itself, this is that MAN we are/were before God breathes the breath of life unto MAN.
Now Gods breath is the brimstone (Is.30:33) spoken of in the second death and here it is called the BREATH OF LIFE. Now why would that which is seen as part of the make up of the second death be called the breath of life?
To understand why a part of the second death is called the breath of life let’s look at the meaning of the word BREATH.
It comes from the Hebrew word n\eshamah which is rooted in the Hebrew word nasham which means to destroy but also carries the weight of a woman in travail.
When God breathed the BREATH OF LIFE unto MAN it was for the destruction of the MAN that he was by birthing in the MAN of dust Jesus Christ.
It is because of this MAN became a living soul.
Now living soul and living creature come from the same Hebrew word nephesh.
The MAN of dust was a living creature/nephesh, living its own life until the BREATH OF LIFE was breathed upon him. Once the BREATH OF LIFE which is the birth/manifestation of Jesus Christ in the MAN of dust, MAN became a living soul/nephesh or a new creature in Christ.
Many believe that this is speaking of how natural man was created. They believe that God took dust from the ground, breathed His spirit into the dust and that this union of dust and spirit is the make up of man who is then called a living soul.
But is that what God said?
Let’s look closely at this scripture.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.
It says plainly here that God formed MAN of the dust of the ground before He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and before MAN became a living soul.
Now we know that man is made up of spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:2323 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This man of dust already had a spirit, soul and body, for is not man made up of spirit, soul and body?
And if this man of dust spoken of here did not already have a spirit, soul and body can it be rightly called man?
Cannot we understand by this that man was already created? And that God is doing something other then creating a natural man here?
Brothers and sisters God is not creating a natural man here as in the creation of the first man Adam, but He is shaping man to be in His image and likeness here.
We read in Genesis 1:26-2726 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
The word created here comes from the Hebrew word bara and formed from Genesis 2:7 is the Hebrew word yatsar.
So why does the scriptures use two different words if they are both dealing with the creation of man?
Because the man being formed in Genesis 2:7 finds his fulfillment in Gen.1:26-27 in being created in the image and likeness of God.
Yatsar comes with the weight of something being squeezed into shape as a potter molding the clay.
Genesis 2:7 is telling us the process of how we are being formed into the image and likeness of God, it is not telling us how natural man was created, but it is telling us how the spiritual man is being created.
Genesis 2:77 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Now we have always read this scripture (me included) as to how MAN was originally created. And I believe we have been understanding it all wrong.This is not speaking about how man was originally created, but rather it is speaking of how God is making the MAN he originally created into His image and likeness.
Now when God formed MAN He formed MAN from the dust of the ground.Now this MAN God formed from the dust of the ground already had a spirit, soul, and body. He is the flesh man or the old man or the man of sin, a living creature/beast man that lives unto itself, this is that MAN we are/were before God breathes the breath of life unto MAN.
Now Gods breath is the brimstone (Is.30:33) spoken of in the second death and here it is called the BREATH OF LIFE. Now why would that which is seen as part of the make up of the second death be called the breath of life?
To understand why a part of the second death is called the breath of life let’s look at the meaning of the word BREATH.
It comes from the Hebrew word n\eshamah which is rooted in the Hebrew word nasham which means to destroy but also carries the weight of a woman in travail.
When God breathed the BREATH OF LIFE unto MAN it was for the destruction of the MAN that he was by birthing in the MAN of dust Jesus Christ.
It is because of this MAN became a living soul.
Now living soul and living creature come from the same Hebrew word nephesh.
The MAN of dust was a living creature/nephesh, living its own life until the BREATH OF LIFE was breathed upon him. Once the BREATH OF LIFE which is the birth/manifestation of Jesus Christ in the MAN of dust, MAN became a living soul/nephesh or a new creature in Christ.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Covenant with death and hell
Has anyone really looked at what the covenant with death and hell IS?
I mean not just read it but REALLY looked at it.
Isaiah 28:14-1814 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Those who have made this covenant with death and hell are those that say when death and hell pass through that it shall not come upon them. They have hid themselves in lies and falsehood.
But we are told in the next few verses that this pact with death and hell will be disannulled and shall NOT stand and when the overflowing scourge shall pass through those who have made this pact with death and hell will be trodden down by it.
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Thus death and hell comes for everyone and some are HURT/trodden down by it, and others overcome it and are not HURT of it.
Revelation 2:1111 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Isaiah 43:1-2
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Does not matter how one read this****
Isaiah 28:14-1814 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
**** it is plain that death passes over everyone.
And Here is a perfect example of DEATH passing over both Israelite and Egyptian alike but only those who had the blood applied to door and lintel where not HURT of it.
Exodus 12:22-2422 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Do we not see here that DEATH passed over both the believer and the unbeliever?
Can we not understand by this that even though DEATH passes over us that it has no POWER to HURT us?
Do we not see that we are to remember this example?
And if we are to remember it, to what purpose are we to remember it?
Is. 28:14-18 tells us why we are to remember it, and that reason is because some will tell you that death will not pass this way, that we are safe from death.
So what will happen to your faith in Jesus Christ when you find that death will indeed pass over you, your faith will be shaken and you will be HURT of that which you should never have been HURT of.
But if you had known that death would pass your way, you would have remembered that you are safe because the blood was applied to the door and lintel and you would have known that it cannot HURT you and your faith in Jesus Christ will not be shaken.
When I think of all God people in days of old I do not see that God kept them from the judgments, but kept them safe IN the judgments.
I look at Noah, being kept safe in the ark as judgment passed over.
I see lot as being one pluck from the fire.
I see Jonah as one who passed though the judgment and was spit out on dry land.
And most importantly of all I see Jesus Christ who took the judgment of sin upon Himself pass through death and death had no POWER to hold Him.
If the overcomers do not pass through the lake of fire and are not HURT of it, how do you explain Jesus Christ tasting death for every man?
After all He is the first of the first fruits unto God.
All these things tell me Jesus Christ keeps us safe IN the judgment and does not keep us from the judgment.
I can’t but help look at the other view(eternal torment) as some kind of twist on the rapture, for those who believe in the rapture also believe that they are not to be in the judgment but are raptured out of the way.
I mean not just read it but REALLY looked at it.
Isaiah 28:14-1814 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Those who have made this covenant with death and hell are those that say when death and hell pass through that it shall not come upon them. They have hid themselves in lies and falsehood.
But we are told in the next few verses that this pact with death and hell will be disannulled and shall NOT stand and when the overflowing scourge shall pass through those who have made this pact with death and hell will be trodden down by it.
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Thus death and hell comes for everyone and some are HURT/trodden down by it, and others overcome it and are not HURT of it.
Revelation 2:1111 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Isaiah 43:1-2
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Does not matter how one read this****
Isaiah 28:14-1814 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
**** it is plain that death passes over everyone.
And Here is a perfect example of DEATH passing over both Israelite and Egyptian alike but only those who had the blood applied to door and lintel where not HURT of it.
Exodus 12:22-2422 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Do we not see here that DEATH passed over both the believer and the unbeliever?
Can we not understand by this that even though DEATH passes over us that it has no POWER to HURT us?
Do we not see that we are to remember this example?
And if we are to remember it, to what purpose are we to remember it?
Is. 28:14-18 tells us why we are to remember it, and that reason is because some will tell you that death will not pass this way, that we are safe from death.
So what will happen to your faith in Jesus Christ when you find that death will indeed pass over you, your faith will be shaken and you will be HURT of that which you should never have been HURT of.
But if you had known that death would pass your way, you would have remembered that you are safe because the blood was applied to the door and lintel and you would have known that it cannot HURT you and your faith in Jesus Christ will not be shaken.
When I think of all God people in days of old I do not see that God kept them from the judgments, but kept them safe IN the judgments.
I look at Noah, being kept safe in the ark as judgment passed over.
I see lot as being one pluck from the fire.
I see Jonah as one who passed though the judgment and was spit out on dry land.
And most importantly of all I see Jesus Christ who took the judgment of sin upon Himself pass through death and death had no POWER to hold Him.
If the overcomers do not pass through the lake of fire and are not HURT of it, how do you explain Jesus Christ tasting death for every man?
After all He is the first of the first fruits unto God.
All these things tell me Jesus Christ keeps us safe IN the judgment and does not keep us from the judgment.
I can’t but help look at the other view(eternal torment) as some kind of twist on the rapture, for those who believe in the rapture also believe that they are not to be in the judgment but are raptured out of the way.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Free will choice between life and death.
Deuteronomy 30:15-19
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
There are three schools of thought concerning the choice given forth in the above scriptures.
1. That there is no choice really given because God is in total control of all choices.
If this be true then God chooses life for some and death for others. V.15 & V.19
If this is true then God only want some to love the LORD and to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. V.16
If this is true then it is God that turns the heart away which ultimately brings about death. V.17
If this is true then it is Gods will that some perish. V18 and yet we know that it is not Gods will that any should perish. 2Pet.3:9 Herein lies the folly of this belief.
2. That there is a choice but we do not make it but our old nature or God makes it for us.
That simply is NO CHOICE at all for the choice is taken out of OUR hands by our old nature or by God. Which simply means we do not really have a choice at all, which then leads back to the folly of the first line of thought.
If this is true then old nature in us is stronger then God and causes us to turn our hearts away.
3. That man has a free will and that a real choice is given to man, and man makes the choice by his free will.
This is the only school of thought that lines up perfectly with the scriptures above.
We read: I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
God does not set before Himself life and death, and God does not set before our old nature life and death, for the old nature must die.
So who is it that God gives the choice of life and death?
The only answer that does not damage the scripture is US, by our own free will we make the choice of life or death.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Who’s heart, who’s soul, who’s mind, who’s strength?
OURS
We read: But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish,
Why does God say ye shall surely perish? When we know that it is not His will that any should perish? 2Pet.3:9
Because in thy heart you have turned away from Him which for this cause He denounces us.
It is not God will that any should perish so why do some perish? Because man has a free will, and by that free will choice he perishes.
Note on perish: This does not mean those who perish cannot be saved all it means is that God places man back under the tutelage of the law which is a ministration of death but also OUR schoolmaster that leads us to Christ.
It is not the Fathers will to spank His children but if the child wilfully goes against Him he will correct His children, for if He corrects them not they are bastards and not sons.
Hebrews 12:4-11
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Joshua 24:15
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Does God compel us to serve Him or does He reason together with us?
Isaiah 1:18-20
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Psalm 32:8-9
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
God instructs us and teaches us in the way that we should go by reasoning together with us, not by compulsion, for if one must be compelled to serve God then one is no better then a horse or mule who has no understanding.
Even a babe in Christ is not given a choice of life or death, this choice is only given to one who is mature.
Galatians 4:1-7Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
A child differeth NOTHING from a servant, a servant does not have a free will but can only do what his master tells him to do. But we are to grow from a child/servant into a full blown son and no longer remain as a servant who has no will of their own.
Jesus said Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Jesus as a full blown son had a free will, He could have called 12 legions of angels and never died on the cross, but He made a choice not my will, but thine be done.
Everything that God gives us must freely be given back to Him, He gave us life and we are to freely give that life back to Him. He set our will free from the slavery of bondage to the old man nature and we are to freely give our will back to Him.
God bless
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
There are three schools of thought concerning the choice given forth in the above scriptures.
1. That there is no choice really given because God is in total control of all choices.
If this be true then God chooses life for some and death for others. V.15 & V.19
If this is true then God only want some to love the LORD and to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. V.16
If this is true then it is God that turns the heart away which ultimately brings about death. V.17
If this is true then it is Gods will that some perish. V18 and yet we know that it is not Gods will that any should perish. 2Pet.3:9 Herein lies the folly of this belief.
2. That there is a choice but we do not make it but our old nature or God makes it for us.
That simply is NO CHOICE at all for the choice is taken out of OUR hands by our old nature or by God. Which simply means we do not really have a choice at all, which then leads back to the folly of the first line of thought.
If this is true then old nature in us is stronger then God and causes us to turn our hearts away.
3. That man has a free will and that a real choice is given to man, and man makes the choice by his free will.
This is the only school of thought that lines up perfectly with the scriptures above.
We read: I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
God does not set before Himself life and death, and God does not set before our old nature life and death, for the old nature must die.
So who is it that God gives the choice of life and death?
The only answer that does not damage the scripture is US, by our own free will we make the choice of life or death.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Who’s heart, who’s soul, who’s mind, who’s strength?
OURS
We read: But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish,
Why does God say ye shall surely perish? When we know that it is not His will that any should perish? 2Pet.3:9
Because in thy heart you have turned away from Him which for this cause He denounces us.
It is not God will that any should perish so why do some perish? Because man has a free will, and by that free will choice he perishes.
Note on perish: This does not mean those who perish cannot be saved all it means is that God places man back under the tutelage of the law which is a ministration of death but also OUR schoolmaster that leads us to Christ.
It is not the Fathers will to spank His children but if the child wilfully goes against Him he will correct His children, for if He corrects them not they are bastards and not sons.
Hebrews 12:4-11
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Joshua 24:15
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Does God compel us to serve Him or does He reason together with us?
Isaiah 1:18-20
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Psalm 32:8-9
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
God instructs us and teaches us in the way that we should go by reasoning together with us, not by compulsion, for if one must be compelled to serve God then one is no better then a horse or mule who has no understanding.
Even a babe in Christ is not given a choice of life or death, this choice is only given to one who is mature.
Galatians 4:1-7Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
A child differeth NOTHING from a servant, a servant does not have a free will but can only do what his master tells him to do. But we are to grow from a child/servant into a full blown son and no longer remain as a servant who has no will of their own.
Jesus said Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Jesus as a full blown son had a free will, He could have called 12 legions of angels and never died on the cross, but He made a choice not my will, but thine be done.
Everything that God gives us must freely be given back to Him, He gave us life and we are to freely give that life back to Him. He set our will free from the slavery of bondage to the old man nature and we are to freely give our will back to Him.
God bless
Why preach the gospel at all?
Without a doubt this is one of the most asked questions of Universalist, everywhere we post we come across this question.
Here is my answer to this question
For me the reason Jesus was sent and the reason Jesus sends us is to free people through Him from sin and death. Salvation is not complete just because one believes Jesus died for them. Believing is only the starting point on our journey toward full salvation, for we are reconciled by His death, but saved by His life.
All men everywhere are already reconciled by His death, this is a done deal because He died 2000 years ago for all men's reconciliation and mans belief or unbelief CANNOT change this fact. If someone does not believe Jesus died for then simply does not change the fact that He did.
So then all men everywhere have already been reconciled, but not all men are yet saved from sin and death.
Therefore Jesus send us out in order to proclaim His salvation by His LIFE.His death reconciled all men, but His LIFE is what saves all men, this salvation is not a one time deal as such, but is a long process of walking in His LIFE and forsaking our own. Taking up the cross and following Him and enduring unto the end that we might be saved.
Thus we are told to proclaim His death and therefore His reconciliation for all men as a FACT that cannot be disputed , and we are to do this so that the entire world can have the same hope in His LIFE that we to have. Thus it is not by His death that sin and death are defeated but by His LIFE.
When we witness about that which Jesus done, we are first to tell all men that they have been reconciled because of His death, this fact breathes hope into the world that God does indeed love them. Then after people become aware of the fact of this reconciliation by His death we are to proclaim His resurrection. And it is because of the fact that He was resurrected OUT OF DEATH that the world is given hope of the same resurrection OUT OF DEATH. We are NOT saved from death, we are saved OUT OF DEATH, for it was while we were DEAD in sin that He died and was raised to life again for us.
So the resurrection is a moving from DEATH to LIFE, so as He died for all men, so to did He rise for all men, and this is the gospel of the good new toward ALL MEN EVERYWHERE.
If one believes Jesus died for all men, should it not go without saying that when He rose again that it was for all men also? Can we really separate His death from His resurrection? If so, how then can DEATH be swallowed up of LIFE?
God bless
Here is my answer to this question
For me the reason Jesus was sent and the reason Jesus sends us is to free people through Him from sin and death. Salvation is not complete just because one believes Jesus died for them. Believing is only the starting point on our journey toward full salvation, for we are reconciled by His death, but saved by His life.
All men everywhere are already reconciled by His death, this is a done deal because He died 2000 years ago for all men's reconciliation and mans belief or unbelief CANNOT change this fact. If someone does not believe Jesus died for then simply does not change the fact that He did.
So then all men everywhere have already been reconciled, but not all men are yet saved from sin and death.
Therefore Jesus send us out in order to proclaim His salvation by His LIFE.His death reconciled all men, but His LIFE is what saves all men, this salvation is not a one time deal as such, but is a long process of walking in His LIFE and forsaking our own. Taking up the cross and following Him and enduring unto the end that we might be saved.
Thus we are told to proclaim His death and therefore His reconciliation for all men as a FACT that cannot be disputed , and we are to do this so that the entire world can have the same hope in His LIFE that we to have. Thus it is not by His death that sin and death are defeated but by His LIFE.
When we witness about that which Jesus done, we are first to tell all men that they have been reconciled because of His death, this fact breathes hope into the world that God does indeed love them. Then after people become aware of the fact of this reconciliation by His death we are to proclaim His resurrection. And it is because of the fact that He was resurrected OUT OF DEATH that the world is given hope of the same resurrection OUT OF DEATH. We are NOT saved from death, we are saved OUT OF DEATH, for it was while we were DEAD in sin that He died and was raised to life again for us.
So the resurrection is a moving from DEATH to LIFE, so as He died for all men, so to did He rise for all men, and this is the gospel of the good new toward ALL MEN EVERYWHERE.
If one believes Jesus died for all men, should it not go without saying that when He rose again that it was for all men also? Can we really separate His death from His resurrection? If so, how then can DEATH be swallowed up of LIFE?
God bless
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