The Universalism, Eternal Punishment Discussion is Useless... Be Obedient, Preach Christ (Mormons, hell)
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We have had a myriad of threads and discussion on universalism, eternal punishment, etc.
We are never told to focus on the outcome. The Great Commission was not about ascertaining who is and is not saved. It is about making disciples.
What was the message that Jesus gave the apostles to preach? He didn't give them one. He told to go and wait for instructions. The instructions received were carried out initially in Acts 2 when Peter addressed the Men of Judea and Israel. It was a message that focused on God's plan, Christ's sacrifice, and their sin, and it resulted in 3,000+ believing in Christ.
The whole debate about God saving everyone is useless. It is discussed as though we actually have something to do with the outcome... as though God is taking poll numbers on the subject and will decide what to do based on public opinion. That's what America does, not God.
If you desire to please God - preach Christ. Read the first sermons by Peter in the book of Acts and check the content. There is nothing about saving all or eternal punishment. Seek to make disciples instead of seeking to win an argument with which you and I absolutely have zero control.
I am not saying you shouldn't have a position on it, but it should not affect unity in Christ.
Christ thought the unity of believers was important enough to pray to God about in John 17.
It is definitely not worth the big food fight that has been ongoing for years.
My friend: Rose is listening to you. I do not know if you have become acquainted with pastor Richard Wurmbrand. His experience with the Christ, I for one cannot stand in the shadow.
Of course, but don't you remove the rotten fruit from the basket?
oh so you can pick the things you think are rotten out of his words out of his mouth , and out of the Word of God also...all that you think are rotten in their mouths ?
But
are you refusing to allow God the same rights with what he created? to remove the rotten fruit from his
own mouth?
The great Apostle, Saint Paul, taught the "outcome" to Timothy & told him what to do with it:
9 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.
10 To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things
You can't do it, can you?
I could sit here and discuss this for the thousandth time - why? We disagree - whoop-de-do. You or I have nothing to do with the outcome. Christianity does not require me to be 100% correct on everything. It does not require you to be 100% correct on everything. It requires God to be correct in 100% of everything. It requires our faith in Him regardless of how He chooses to act.
It gets to a point where we look no different than the rest of the world with the endless squabbling. That's not what God wants from His children.
Again - I am not saying that you shouldn't care, because I care as well... but we simply are not called to have these endless, fruitless debates. We should be about kingdom business first
Well worth repeating!
I agree it is mostly fruitless debating ET and I agree with OP. But what IS that message of Christ we need to preach? Do we make them an offer they cannot refuse?
We have had a myriad of threads and discussion on universalism, eternal punishment, etc.
We are never told to focus on the outcome. The Great Commission was not about ascertaining who is and is not saved. It is about making disciples.
What was the message that Jesus gave the apostles to preach? He didn't give them one. He told to go and wait for instructions. The instructions received were carried out initially in Acts 2 when Peter addressed the Men of Judea and Israel. It was a message that focused on God's plan, Christ's sacrifice, and their sin, and it resulted in 3,000+ believing in Christ.
The whole debate about God saving everyone is useless. It is discussed as though we actually have something to do with the outcome... as though God is taking poll numbers on the subject and will decide what to do based on public opinion. That's what America does, not God.
If you desire to please God - preach Christ. Read the first sermons by Peter in the book of Acts and check the content. There is nothing about saving all or eternal punishment. Seek to make disciples instead of seeking to win an argument with which you and I absolutely have zero control.
I am not saying you shouldn't have a position on it, but it should not affect unity in Christ.
Christ thought the unity of believers was important enough to pray to God about in John 17.
It is definitely not worth the big food fight that has been ongoing for years.
I agree it is mostly fruitless debating ET and I agree with OP. But what IS that message of Christ we need to preach? Do we make them an offer they cannot refuse?
I agree it is mostly fruitless debating ET and I agree with OP. But what IS that message of Christ we need to preach? Do we make them an offer they cannot refuse?
As children of God by faith, we are to be obedient to God (through the Holy Spirit) and either preach the gospel, or use spiritual gifts to support the preaching of the gospel - which leads to making disciples. God will handle if the others accept or refuse the gospel.
As far as the content - look at what Peter preached in Acts 2, 3, 4... if you are a believer and have the Holy Spirit, He will guide you into what God wants yo to do if you let Him. Step 1 would be to make sure you are relating to God on a regular basis.
Obedience? I have no need to be obedient. Not to God, not to man. God is fine with this.
Weak, fundamentalist men stress the "obedience-to-god" thing because it's easier to sell the "man-is-the-head-of-the-household" thing. Keeps the little woman in her place, don'tcha' know.
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