It appears to me that you folks, or some of you, are very much willing to assume that you understand my experience and motives, interestingly without having made any inquiry of me regarding them. It appears that because I've used the word, argument, that you assume I want to argue, whereas I understand that word as pertaining to the sphere of discussion. I have looked into some of the points you raise, today reading about the Greek word 'anthropou', and though there's easily another way of looking at this word as referring to man non specifically, without construing it to mean all of mankind, I'll let the matter drop, because I can sense no openness of mind here. I'm looking into each of the things you've raised, but I detect no willingness to consider anything that I've presented and, after all, I have agreed not to argue. So please do remove me from your forum membership, while I continue to acquire what I perceive to be the necessary support in scripture for universal salvation. Still, in closing, thank you Extol for a nice list of direct statements in this regard. I think this is a very important issue, and I want to be able to defend this position well, across all of scripture, including that which is easily construed as suggesting a selective salvation. What's adequate for you as sufficient is not necessarily adequate for others.
In Christ,
Mark
Mark,
You really have to read everything to understand where we're coming from. If you find the same understanding, then it will make sense. If you don't, then you aren't meant to.
Ray Smith (prophet or not) was at the very least a man who desired something so much that he wrestled with his Creator for wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures. Ray spent a lot of time on his knees (literally and in his heart) and God showed him many wonderful and amazing truths.
These truths are hard for some to accept as you can see from the many emails on the home page. I pray that God will open your heart and mind, but you will have to do the work and read, read, read. If it's God's purpose that you should see the Truth, you will, and it will make you hunger for more.
This place 'Bible-Truths' is probably unlike anything you've ever experienced. Bringing "our" truths here for debate isn't the purpose of the forum, it's to revel in the Truths that Ray spent so much time (years of his life) searching for, through prayer and worship.
That's why we're here. You don't have to defend anything - but you do have to read. My guess is that as interested as you seem to be in finding Truth, you will, if you read and pray. I think my first visit here consisted of 8 or 9 straight hours of reading, with my jaw hanging open.
Read!
Peace
Jeff
[Edited slightly]