> General Discussions
In need of some clarification.
mharrell08:
I think we may be assuming an 'all or nothing' mentality when it comes to judgment in the next age. Not everyone to be judged in the next age LOF will be judged with wrath & indignation.
Jesus only heavily reprimanded the leaders of the church, not the blind masses. We have to remember that most non-believers didn't freely choose to be non-believers, but rather they were/are blinded [Matt 13:11, John 12:40, 2 Cor 4:4].
Even those who sit in church pews each Sunday and give an 'Amen' to all the souls they believe will be cast into a literal Hell, do so out of ignorance. Almost all would repent just as fast as Paul if there minds were opened at any time.
Those who know the truths of God, but deny them for their own personal gain, will be the ones judged with wrath & indignation. Not because they freely chose to me stubborn, but like Pharaoh, God has hardened their hearts to show His great signs & wonders [Ex 7:1-3].
Marques
Kat:
I most surely believe that the judgment in the next age will be justly administered according to our works. Not all will feel the harshness of His wrath, because God is always fair and just.
Pro 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his work?
Rom 2:14-16 For, when nations that have not a law, by nature may do the things of the law, these not having a law--to themselves are a law; who do shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also witnessing with them, and between one another the thoughts accusing or else defending, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my good news, through Jesus Christ.
Rev 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.
Everyone will give account for themselves before the Almighty and He will most certainly know what judgment each deserves.
All will be accountable for whatever the intent of their heart was in the deeds they have done when they lived. Those that take pleasure in evil (and I do believe there are people that do) will be dealt with much more harshness, as it needs to be. There shall be babies and children resurrected and surely we know they will not recieve wrath, but to be raised up in gentle love and care.
But for those of us that are shown this truth now, you are in the race for the first resurrection! I just don't see how anybody would sit back and think the second resurrection would be okay. I am not saying anyone is not doing the best they can according to how God works in you, but it's the attitude. I just want to encourage us all to have great desire and zeal to be a part of the first resurrection.
Rom 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
v. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
v. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
v. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Heb 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
mercy, peace and love
Kat
daywalker:
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on June 07, 2011, 08:22:37 PM ---
Further, as you know, there is no free will. We do not decide which resurrection we are in. God has already decided, before He created the world, who was going to be in the 1st Resurrection. It is a total futile exercise to wish to be in the 1st Resurrection. You either will be, or you will not be. The Potter has already decided.
John
--- End quote ---
Hey John,
I would have to respectfully disagree with your above highlighted statement. Yes, it is true that "all is of God" and only God knows who are His, but I would hardly accuse our Apostle Paul of practicing this "total futile exercise":
Phillippians 3:8-11:
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
I don't think anyone here would argue that Paul is referring to the first resurrection (i.e. the resurrection of the just). Paul 'gave it his all' every single day of his apostleship wanting, striving, doing all the he could so that "by any means possible" he could "attain" (achieve, gain) a spot in the first resurrection. Personally, I cannot imagine knowing all that I now know and yet NOT "wanting" to be in the first resurrection and be one of the many "saviors" on Mt. Zion (Obadiah 1:21)!
Daywalker 8)
Rene:
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on June 07, 2011, 08:22:37 PM ---
It is a total futile exercise to wish to be in the 1st Resurrection. You either will be, or you will not be. The Potter has already decided.
--- End quote ---
I would like to exercise my right to "futility" by hoping to be in the 1st Reseurrection. ;D
René
onelovedread:
Does the phrase "Judgment is now on the House of God", apply to the House of Israel, as Peter (1 Peter 4:17) was writing these words to mostly Jews, or does it mean the Church or Paul's disciples(to whom he never used this dsignation)?
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